Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-06-11
For the spiri, Of jefferson.
The Martinsburg Convention.
Negro kquaHy-TAe JudyesAtp.

This motion only found two advocates on this
side of the Alleghanies-Messrs. Faulkner
aud Hoge.
We are credibly informed Morgan county
and the country people of Berkeley are dead
against negro equality, and it is certain this
heresy will not get twenty white votes in
Jefferson.
The authors of this internal doctrine in
| suited the intelligence of their constituency
when they thought they had shifted their po-
litical fortunes to the strong side. The blun>
der was discovered too late No wretched,
abominable trickery compel the white
voters of this district to endors that heresy-
this is task beyond human ingenuity.
The friends of negro equality have sought,
| by precpitate action, to commit the Con-
servative party to support its chief advocate.
Heavens ! what indecent haste, eleven weeks
! before the election.
Why such hurry to pledge the party to
| support this odious doctrine2 Say-gentle-
make Massachusetts Sumner President
The judgeship under the new Constitution,
lasting eight years is the highest, most re-
sponsible, longest term and hest paying office
in the gift of the people. Then why don't
you give the people chance to look around
and select the most suitable and acceptable
man?
Certain it is, if the people had a chance to
| speak, now that this negro question is I'M
derstood, no one who advocates negro equal>
ty can command 500 white votes in the three
counties.
The question presented is, whether the peo-
pie will submit to the grossest outrage ever
perperated in the political world. This
question has two branches
i. Is the party morally or legally bound by
the Martinsburg Convention
2 Is it policy for the people to knock down,
with the strong hand this nelarious plot?
.. Let this inquiry be fully, fairly and
dispassionately considered
First, then is the party committed to sup
port Mr. Hoge for Judge?
In regard to Jefferson the facts are these
| The Executive Committee requested the
Townships to send representatives to County
| Convention. to elect delegates to Parkersburc
and to Senatorial Convention.
In the call there was not word about the
| Judgeshp.
On the 25th of May these Township dele
gates met and selected delegates to Parkers-
| burg and to Senatorial Convention
Then this County Convention, composed as
it was of persons whose authority was limited
to naming delegates to nominate State offices
and Senators, assumed to NEEDLE with the
judgeship
Worse still, it mixed and complicated the
| political office Of Senator with that of Judge.
and entrusted to the delegates to the Sena,
torial Conyention, the delicate task of selects
ing judge also.
| In view. of these facts, it is evident the
| County Convention of the 25th of May had
no more business to mcddle with the judge
ship, than with the Office of sheriff There
fore 1t results, the people have never had the
sembiance OF chance to speak their wishes
about this Office aud it cannot be pretended
that they were bound by the acts of an unau>
thorized delegation.
A"t'.mcgro eq"dlty Doter-"Who told the
senatorial delegates to nominate Judge"
Pohtician-sThe County Convention that
was called to select men to represent Jefferson
at Parkersburg and in Senatorial Conven>
tion."
IOter-"Where did the county meeting,
whose powers were limited by the call of the
| Executive Committee. get authority to med
die with the Judgeship"
Politician 1.-THE wire workers thought the
people were asleep and usurped the power ::
l admit it was all wrong, admit it was usur>
| patton, but it is too late now to save yourself
the people are sold"
T0ter, indignant-"I am supreme it is
ten weeks before election day No one had
the right to pledge my vote. 1 have been
submitting to political trickery too long, but
will awake now, and utterly repudiatc the
| prits of your usurpation.
Exit Politician-crest fallen.
Thus, reach this result:
L. The party is pledged so far as the dele
cation to Martinsburg had authority from the
people to act, and no further.
2. That the extent of its power was to nomi.
nate Senators.
B. The question who shall be the Conserva-
tive nominee for Judge is still open, and on it
the people demand to be heard.
Next as to the policy of throwing overheard
the unauthorized act of the Martinsbure Con-
vcntion. 1t resulted in naming for Judge a
gentleman who Is the avowcd champion of
permitting negro to hold office, aud no per,
sonal popularity of the candidate will carry
this doctrine through the canvass
If the friends of the nominee persist in
foistins him on the party. refusing to give the
people any voice in the matter, they will split
the conservative vote into spiinters If elect.
ed, their man must be elected by the negro
vote. They may depend upon it, negro equal.
ity Is the most odlous doctrine in the radical
creed and the man does not live strong enough
to travel in this valley with that load on his
back.
Very true the judgeship is not a political Office
mattSrt NOT whether the aspiran Mt for judicial hon.
ore b. w hig or Democrat. but there certain fun.
damenta principles on which our people stand as a
unl; ana no man who differs from US ON these great
! cardinal questions upon hch we predicate our
ideas OF CIVILIZATION can expect support Tor
| public office " 10y
Who would dream ofselecting for Judge the ad.
vocate OF an empire instead OF a republic-a king
Instead OF a president? s
Nrgr" equality is not political test; it lie a So
cal per Qua qua LITIGATION, and expect the man
don't live who, being. committed to that doctrine
viii ever receive the support of the white people Of
| TINS valley Tor any position of public trust
In conclusion we give it our deliberate opip-
ion that there should be free discussion of this
| question before the people. Then and not before
the voters of each precinct in the three counties