Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-10-06
nI;ET MS HAVE PEACE"

Z ,nan,her of the BOARD Oh heStsdatioh Vi sne
county of Jefferson, ayails himself of the col
INNS of the Free Press to publish letter,
which he addresses to the editor of the SPu't
Of Jc6erson. In the opening of this remark
able epste, the writer avows that he is sim
cere in not wishing to continue the contro"
vcrsy, which he alleges was forced upon him
by an editorial in this paper of the 10th OF
September. We have no doubt of MIR. KS
sincerity, and wonder that he permits himself
to stand forth as target for weekly news
paper attacks and photographic slursj' and as
friend, we would advise him to withdraw
from the field, as we hope to make it apparent
to his astute understanding that he has nothing
to gain by prolonging the controversy.
ii e most graciously, and in the spirit OF
true knight, returns US thanks for the publ
cation of his card fortnight ago, vindlcatlnG
his action as member of the Board OF Regis
tration, and says that =" it was written with
the hope and intention that it was and should
be in good temper and spirit" In our reply
to that card, we differed somewhat from Mr..
Koonce for we were not material whether or
not our remarks were in good temper and
spirit" We looked at the fact that our com
munity had been outraged, and that the au-
thor-or at least he who claimed to be the
author-of that card, was party to the ont
rage, and that too, when he had been appeal
ed to to avert it. Mr.. Koonce's own conduct
drew forth the article of the 18th of Septem-
Der, in which he was charged, in common
90 -, rlr,Ith
attempt to cheat the people of this township
of their right of franchise, by failing to pro-
vide registrar, as the law requires. So far
from retracting that charge, we reiterate it,
and every man in this community has the
same opinion of Mr. KS conduct that we
have. We do not intend that he shall escape
this judgment of his course, but will hold
him up from time to time, as enemy of
civil liberty, so that posterity may pilory his
memory as one of the men who dared in the
inetcenth century to tamper with the rights
of free born American citizens; so that when
in after years his name is mentioned at all, it
will be mentioned only in connection with the
| tyrants and usurpcrs who have risen to the
surface in this Of oppression and mlsru!e.
In his last card the &c late member plays
the sycophant in the most artistic style, and
attempts the role of % Grand Pacifcator" be-
fore he has studied his part with sufficient mi
! nuteness to play it to perfection. Ben Ma
ginley when he enters the ring has his jcsts
at his tongues end, and the acrobats Of the
circle are trained to their special feats. Not
so with our new actor. Unused to the part
he assumes, he fails, and with chagrin will
soon retire.
We wish to draw picture, or two Of them,
| if they cannot be blended tremendously. In
this county, in this year of 1868, when the
triumph of the Democratic party is toregonc
| conclusion, we have a gentleman named
Koonce-spelled with a K.-who is so anx-
ious for the restoration of peace, and harmo-
ny, and good will, that he is even willing to
take by the hand rebel editor who has &c re-
pcatcdly assaulted his private reputation. y
He wants to forgive aud forget, and let by
cones be such. He is ovcrfowng with the
I milk Of human kindness TO such an extent
that he is ready to sing,
While the lamp holds out to turn,
The vilcst sinner may return"
No ''pent up Utica contracts his out
gushing aspirations for peace, but he wants it
here, everywhere in our common country
"Shout shout, gaining ground!>
George Kooncc wants peace, happy peace
He wants it from tie Ar;stoOk to the Rio
Graude-from the Atlantic to the Pacific
slope-all over the wide expanse Of our ma
tioual domain, he would like to sec the white
winged messenger bearing her gentle and
tender offerings. These holy aspirations in
| spirc his patriotic bosom on the 2Gth day of
September, 1868.
| Let us go back little over period not
at all remote. In October, 1866, the people
of this county, by fair vote, elected Mr..
Yantis to the Legislature over man named
Koo0ce-also spelled with K.-and obtain
cd the certificate from the Board of Super
visors, who counted the vote. Awaiting him
self of the existence of a radical Legislature,
Mr.. X. contested the seat awarded to Mir. Y
and in January the case was decided as every
case of contest is bound to be decided by
radical body-Koonce went in and Yants
went out What did he do as Il member p
He sustained every prOscriptive measure in
troduccd in the body of which he was men,
Der, voting for the odious Constitutional A.
mendment that operates perpetual disfrau-
chsement of four ffths of the Taxpayers of
the county for the rihdctive registration
laws which he has since violated for the OBJ
noxious test oaths which the Supreme Court
of the United Ststes has declared unconsti-
tutlonal !; and in every way used his influence
to rlvet the yoke of oppression upon the neck
OF an oppressed people. More than this-in
every election held in this county since the
spring of 1868, lie has acted with that party
whose motto is-or ought to be- for the sake
Of consistency" Sup with the negro and down