Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-09-16
For The Register.
TO THE CITIZENS
Chapline and Shepherd Townships.
SHEPHERDsrowN, w. Va,
Sept. IL, 1871.

Chapline and Shepherd Townships, the
propriety of looking to their future po-
litical associations.
The hardships of which the people OF
Charlestown SO loudly complained, while
the county seat was at this place, are in
the future to be visited upon us.
The changes which the social and
business relations Of the people Of JEFF
terson county have undergone since the
County was organized, have been such,
as to require a change in the political
organization.
The construction of two Railroads
through the County, has wholly changed
the course of trade and business between
the different sections of the County.
The b. q 0. r. r. is now the great
thoroughtare for the trade and travel OF
all Of that part Of the County which
lies north OF the Railroad. Martlnsburg
has become centre Of local trade and
manufacture, which far surpasses any
other town in the State east OF the
mountains. The business relations Of
Shepherdstown and its vicinity, are
much closer with Martinsburg than their
relations with Charlestown or Harpers
Ferry. No man in this part Of the
County has any business in Charles
town except to attend the Courts.
But this is not only or perhaps the
main reason for desiring a change ofour
political relations. The events of the
last two years have thoroughly alienated
the people of the two sections of the
County from each other. The people
of the Southern part of the County
have been almost unanimously imbued
with the most intense feeling of bitter
ness and hostility towards everything
and everybody who was suspected Of
having the slightest sympathy with the
Government of the United States during
the late rebellion.
And all then was Of sympathy with
the Government in Jefferson county,
was north of the B. q O. r. r., and
we suspect the Southern part of the
County charged us with larger share
of loyalty than we were fairly entitled
! to.
This feeling has been aggravated
rather than diminished since the war.
The removal Of the county-seat from
Charlestown to Shepherdstown created
deep feeling of hostility towards the
Northe rn part Of the County. The po-
litical disabilities under which almost the
entire population of the Southern part
of the County have labored on account
of their participation in the rebellion,
has increased ten fold the bitterness
which originated with the war; we do
not stop to enquire whether they have
GOOD reasons for their hostility and bit
terness or not
1t is enough for our purpose that it
exists and is so decp-seated that it can
not be obliterated for generations to
come. We therefore propose, that
Chapline township, and so much OF
Shepherd township,as is north Of the Is.
& o. II. r., shall be taken from Jetfer-
son county and attached to Berkeley.
This can be done by the Legislature
or the Constitutional Convention, both
of which will meet the coming winter.
Let petitions for that purpose be put
in circulation at once, and let the people
of these Townships see to it, that they
vote for no man either for the Legisla-
ture or Convention, who will not sup
port the measure, no matter to what po-
iitical party he may belong. If they
be true to themselves this object can be
accomplished at once.
If it is not done the people OF these
townships will groan under the despo-
tism of the Charlestown oligarchy for
generations to come.
CHAPLINE TOWNSHIP.
Reg MILTON WARD.-A few weeks
ago we gave notice in our columns that
Milton Ward was arrested at George
town, charged with killing colored
man named Lewis,by striking him with
the butt end of gun, both of whom
were employed upon the canal boat OF
L. i. Merten. One of the Reporters
connected with the Republican, lat W ash
ington City, recently called to see him
in prison, and says -
A moment with Milton Ward, con-
fined on the charge of killing one Lew
is, colored, on a canal boat above George
town few days since The request
was granted, and in few moments
young man made his appearance. He
looked about twenty-siX years OF age,
slender and of medium height, having
dark hair and eyes, with a smooth face,
excepting small dark mustache. On
entering into conversation our reporter
was much impressed by his gentle, un-
obtrusive and refined manners, and his
, language and actions showed that his
rearing had been widely different and
associates have been directly opposite to
those with whom he is now compelled
to mingle.
During the interview the following
facts of his life were elected He was
a native of Virginia has father liv-
ing in Berkeley county Of that State,
but lost his mother when quite young.
He was bound to service with Mr.. John
Fleming and remained with him until
the war broke out, when he became a
teamster in the Government service in
Western Virginia, where he remained
until July, 1864, when he enlisted in the
18th Maryland,a three months regiment.
At the expiration of that term he re-en-
listed for the war in the same regiment,