Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-12-24


jurisdiction Of Virginia p or were they
to stand forward in This momentous crisis
and 10 show themselves The true repre-.
sentahves Of the people who had enru,t-
ed their most sacred rights TO their safe
keeping
l. vas, IN our judgment. their impera-
fiUe duty to act. and they would have
been false to their trust; faiihless 10 the
high representative duty which devolved
upon them, if they Gid no, sdop. the
most appropriate and decisive measures
to vind,ca,e the true position and .enti.
nenls Of the people Of Berkeley.
II so, wha. could they have done with
propre.y and effect, other than that which
they did do? It's true they nigh, have
adopted series OF resolutions expressive
Of The sense Of The people which would
be proper enough in itself or proper 10 be
laid before legislative body, but how
bring them before The Court, or how in.
corporate them into it's records ! There
was but one mode by which they could
&C, with effect before a Court. and tina.
was 10 authorize some one to speak be-
fore that tribunal in their name and on
their behalfa their counsel. This is
the only agency through which Court
is addressed or the rights Of Party can
be heard.
As an appropriate and necessary part Of
such procedure, i, was proper tina, some
Limited compensation should be prsscrib-
ed for counsel. Now in this case it lie
apparent that the compensation prescribed
was purely nominal. That The State IL
sell. Through its Executive had recognized
il as State debt. and that if the county
ever should be called upon for it, i, was
almost matter of positive certainly that
i, would be refunded TO i. by the State.
But as far az we have learned The facts, II
never was The intention Of The counsel
employed, really to receive from the
counties the compensation prescribed.
He felt. no doubt. very grateful TO the
counties for The confidence thus reposed
in lis legal ability and integrity and
thought their action greatly fortified his
position before The Supreme CoIr, as the
! counsel Of the State, yet II was TO the
STATE lhs, he looked for his compensation
and only valued the action Of the Board
as expressive OF the interest which the
counties felt in the controversy. We In.
fer this TO be his view OF the matter IRON
the fact that on the day after the action
of the Board 10 Jefferson and when the
Sheriff called upon him TO pay The sun
ordered, he declined TO receive it, and on
the day after the action OF The Board IN
Berkeley. when the Sheriff called upon
him for his taxes, he paid them in full
without the slightes, reference 10 The Or
der Of this county. 1t is well known
that Mr.. Faulkner has been the counsel
for the Sale for two years and i. is an
undenisbe fact, that he has never recelv'
ed one cen, from the State for his services
nor even had refunded TO him his cash
expenses in attending 10 the case. The
entire fund appropriated by The State has
been paid over to the other counsel.
Bu, it lie said lhs. Berkeley has no in.
terest in this question. other than that
which is common TO all West Virginia
that she is no party TO hi: suit and that
her position in the controversy does not
differ from tat of GreenbTier or Monroe.
Is this rue! Has Berkeley no interest
in the question other than what Is con-
mon TO the whole State? l. it matter OF
indifference TO our people whether they
remain in West Virginia, or are uansierr'
ed 10 the State of Virginia Will we be
no greater sufferers by the transfer OF our
county to Virginia. than The people OF The
counties OF Preston and Marshal II 1t
had been asserted that this is a great Sfdle
question which the State is bound TO take
charge Of. The proposition is lndlspu'a'
BILE, and the Stale has so held and regard
ed il, but O say that we have not deep,
special and vital inleres, in the question
an interest far hey ond any other coun'
~ in the State excep, Jefferson. is to
characterize i, 10 The midesl terms rank
sbsurdity. In our judgment tits almost
life and death with US. Let the transfer
be made and we feel satisfied that lands
will sink in This county 25 per cent IN
value. That immigration will cease, and
emmigrs.ion will commence. That The
bouv an, spiri. of energy and enterprise
which has SO eminenily marked our coun.
~ for the las, five years. will lnger and
perish under the same influences which
have parslyzed trade. commerce and
proc penty in our adjoining counties OF
Virginia 10 the Valley. God knows we
wish no i'll to Old Virginia. She is our
mother. and We love her accordingly. II
our hearty prayers could accomplish It,
we would have her condition far ditieren'
from VIVA, it lie. But We cannot change
tina, irreversible condition tina, fowslr from
her redundan, negro population. and The
plain laws of Self-Preservstlon JUSTLY us
in remaining where We now ere anu
where, under new auspices and New
Constitution. We may expec. 10 see Lib
er,y and Universal Prosperity flourish
ing under the blessings oil Tree and Uni
ted People.