Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-09-22

simply because we were conscious "a
that he had been notified of Geo. Anderson 8
resignation, and appealed to 10 appoint
roo;stror in his stead. This, Mr.. hoonce
conno. and will not deny. That he is not the
Board. we are well aware, but as member
Of the Board he could easily have taken such
measures as would have secured registrar
for this township, and in failing to do so, he
shirked responsibility that rested upon him
as a member of the Board. The conclusion
so readily jumped at, that we have heretofore
assaied his private reputation, with IMMUNITY,
is not sustained by facts. We have never
assailed his private reputation, because his
political course has always furnished sufficient
points Of attack. A man, if he has the proper
spirit, is very apt to resent any assault unon
his private reputation, unless that reputation
be of so doubtful character as to render
defence of it incxpcdient. IF we have assailed
Mr.. Kooncc privately, how has he met our
assaults? Has he ever called US to account
for anything written or published in this
paper? Not that we are aware Of. Did he
not, more than year ago, without any soll-
citation on our part, come forward and otier
his hand, and say that he was now out of poll.
tics, and hcnceforth wanted to be reader of
the Spirit Of J,:f.rson, and at the same time
request us to send it to him ? Has he not,
for the past year, given US his blanks to print,
and published his calls upon. the tax payers of
his districts in our columns? And was one
single dollar of this patronage ever bestowed
| at our solicitation? Now these are facts
which Mr.. Kuoncc should have had in view
when lie charged us with. having heretofore
assailed his private reputation. We have no
desire to make an enemy of him, or any other
: man, but this much we consider it necessary
to publish for our own vindication. If there
is any gap between Mr.. koonce and the editor
! of this paper, it is on account of his political
course since 1865, which has been. as every
one knows, one of intolerance and unfairness
He admits that our article on the action Of
the Board, is 'a motley conglomeration of
facts, but recklcssly perverted to suit our in
dividual purpose of detracton of him personal
| ly." In what does this detraction consist !?
In a simple narration Of facts. which Mr..
Koonce dare not seek to contrnvcrt. From
these facts we drew differences and arrived at
conclusions that were irresistible, to wit -
that the failure of the Board of Registration
to appoint a registrar for this township, was
concerted scheme to cheat the people of this
township out of their right of franchise
When Mr.. koonce states that "the Board of
Registration of Jefferson positively claim that
their official action, looked, in all things under
the law governing them, to a fair and unbass-
ed polling of the loyal votes of the county,
without allowing their own party prcdilcc-
tions to influence their official action in any
case" he ought to rest that claim upon facts.
If the Board desired "a fair and unbiased
polling of the loyal votes Of the county," why
did it leave an entire township without the
means of registering its voters? Is there
any fairness in such q transaction as this 2
Is it not unfair, end unjust, to the voters of
this township, that they should have to travel
elcrcn miles to the county-seat to have their
names placed upon the list of voters, by the
Board of Registration, when it could have
been done here at home, but for the conduct
of the Board in ncglccting or refusing to ap>
point registrar? To our mind there is little
fairness in any such course, and in our judg
ment it refutes the claim of desire to act
with fIirncss.
He says that he had no authority to appoint
a successor to Anderson, and if he had done
so, he might justly have been charged with
usurpatiUn. We did not expect him to make
the appointment, but We did expect, and had
a right to call upon him, to take such action,
as would secure an appointment lie and
Capt. Grub reside in the same town, and it
would have involved very little trouble for
them to have consulted together, and have
made the appointment, which would doubtless
have received the sanction of the third mem
Der of the Board-or, they could have made
the appointment, and sent it to Shepherds,
town for the approval of Mr.. Cookus, if they
were so puuctilious about acting in an official
capacity. The truth is, that from beginning
to end the effort las been made to prevent
the registration of the voters of this town
ship. Mr. KOoncc had no authority to make
such an appointment, why did he promise to
do so, in this town, two weeks ago? lie must
have thought he had the power, or he would
not have made such Il promise
In conclusion, Mr.. K, ''cannot refrain from
characterizing our article as incorporate and
inecndiary, leading directly to riot violence.
and perhaps bloodshcd." lie is privileged
to characterize it as he pleases, but if there
is riot, violence, and boodshed, it will be the
result of the outragcs of the Board upon the
rights of the people, and not from any thing
that VIC may write or publish. The response