The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-03-02
Letter from Nathaniel Harrison.

Letter from Nathaniel HafFis0n'
10 tic Hon. Legislature Of Vest Ti'yimd'
The Constitution Of this State gives me
the right to be heard by counsel. Tho
Joint Resolution Of the Legislature, which
ordered trial in my case, expressly 70
coguized and confirmed that right. Il
said / should not only be tried, but heard
by counsel. Upon the faith Of those as.
surances not only employed counsel, who
have faithfully and ably discharged thelE
duty, but have diligently prepared tpl
my defence upon the various questions o.
constitutional as well as parliamenta-
nv law which arose in the case. On
yesterday. only day before my trial, the
Legislature, US l conceive, not only re-
YOkcd the privilege 1t had granted me, BY
limiting my counsel to only ten minutes
In the discussion OF legal points, but 1t
virtually deprived [mel Of my COnstitu'
tionaL right TO bc heard by counsel with.
out any arbitrary Limitation rs to time. Il
the freedom Of discussion had been abused
BY counsel, the Legislature would have
hId the right to correct 1t Ut any stage OF
the triaI, Il had no right TO assume, how
ever. that Il Woild be INFUSED, or TINT either
nv counsel or myself could do justice 10
the case in speech Of ten minutes.
deny lst, That tho Legislature has any
right in Joint Convention TO try my casc.
ed, deny tho validity Of the lnotice. 3D.
| deny the sufllciency Of the service. 4ui,
| deny the right of the Legislature to ar
faign me rs Judge of the 9TH circuit
for anything II 1dfdi or ami supposed TO
have done us Judge Of u different circuit.
6tl. deny the truth Of every material
charge or specification which Is preferred
against me. Upon each Of these four
questions of law;;t.:onIy te1'mtnateS (t!lTe9
and a third minutes 10 each 'gf my cO2nSsl
and mysft0 arc allowed by your resolu'
ton; and only three hO'tS mall to the dis
cussion Of the evidence upon twelve
charges and almost nurnberlcss specitica-
tions, which consumed perhaps at least
three whole days in their preparation.
Such a restriction, It seonis to mo, Is NOT
only mockery OF justice. bat i denotes e
forCgonc conclusion" II summons me,
not 10 trial, but execution, at the &c.
tiun Of tic House, l was not surprised. !
expected something moro, ! confess, OF
tho hands Of the Senate. Ibid not expect
them, as Republicans, 70 slstain mo be.
cause l was d Republican. I did expect
them MS Republicans, not TO permit me to
DO sacrificed us a Republican upon the
altar OF u common enemy, which had
helped them 10 fight rs well as l could ior
the last four years. ! am the first judicial
victim 10 the gtliIlotine Of the new Let
up policy pfthe Republican party. But y
will not stop with me, What commenced
with Individual sacrifice, will wind up N
general slaughter. twill continue to strike
until itlopS Oft the head Of every true
Repnblican In the State, and places 1t Of
the mercy Of the Democracy tits FAST
verifying the proposition that minority
with viii and unity, Is an overmatch for
a majority without either. hope ] may
he hardened for the length Of this letter,
in consideration OF tho .brevity which 1t
lends tO!Dl This Is the. first time l have
had IN opportunity Of saying u word In
nv defence. Up 10 this time, not q
solitary witness ias ever been heard IN
my behalf. In the meantime, and at it!;
fcrcnt times, 7 have been subjected TO oil
the prciudicc Of er parts testimony, both
pubiic and private. Even witnesses
for the Observation-Disclosures who were
expected to act impartially; and to do me
Justice on tile trial, were seen towering
like yulturCs around thc Capitol, injecting
tho public atmosphere, with their poison,
insllIopslY attempting 70 4. influence thS
minds Of members tp my prejudice, eng
seeking TO plunge their cnyenomed ianags
into their victim before the law condemn
cd him. In tho meantime that great pal
ladium Of public liberty-although 1t Is
sometimes an instrument OfdalHiyate
wrong-I mean tho Press had an0t.been
idIesdIt !had carefully published. all the
charges and specifications whiclu,werc
pre(Grrctl against me. II had artEully on.
dGavOrcd 10 work up not only the public
but the legislative mind to n torcgone con.
clusion. Between the open hostility Of
the RtqiSler, Of which I have no right tC
complain, and the Spartan reticence Of the
INTELLIGESCER, which Is beneath com.
plant, | lad but little chance OF getting
Hs ,s'TI nTIrc os snow | could not have escaped
co,I,mnvH MOI only the press and tho
nnblic, but even the Legislative mind, to
s,,, so,nc extent Ind nreindEc,l my case. aThC
prcss in advance Of any trial, Ind not only
STAMPED me as criminal, butit denied me
even tho criminals privilege Of not voIlln'
tnrily putting nv neck into the halter, but
oEwaiting f5r tic public exccutiOner. tc
come and mn Il there for nc, Whilst II
cIInrred me with being a fugitive, (which
I dony,I II omitted to state, that If fugitive
nj alI / was n fugitive not from Justice
IN Int ininstice-that Injustice to which bet.
ter ter men than i am; or possibly even, the
S",. M I "a nv nccnsors, nnder, ille influence
Of Of, prejudice or excitement, arc sometimes
liable Notwithstanding al, thcse !7I alhiSat gu
lies and emDarrassLnents, was lul,S lN'; REs;;