Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-07-09
PREPARE TO DODGE !-DoDGE!!5

gress from this district, we remarked that
che had at least the merit of never having
appeared ashamed of his war record" We
did not say that any one of the other candi-
dates-Messr Faulkner, Downey, Martin or
Lucas-had given the slightest evidence of
being ashamed of having taken part either
with or against the late Southern Confedera-
cy. We not only called no names, but we
said nothing from which any one had any
right to infer that we intended to cast a slur
upon single candidate now in the field. Yet
the Martinsbnrg Statesman, the avowed adj
vocate of the claims of the Hon. Chas. Jas.
Faulkner, assumes, in terms which there is
certainly no mistaking, Fiat our apparently
harmless remark was aimed especially at the
Hon. G. i. Faulkner, land might have the
dire "effect of defeating the prospects of the
one whom it (the Convention) might be dis
posed to favor"
If we can not remark innocently that one
candidate for Congress "has at least the merit
of never having appeared ashamed of his war
record" without thereby instantly directing
the eyes of every man in the district to another
candidate whose friends seem to think has not
that merit, we do not hesitate to declare that,
whatever little influence we may possess will
be strenuously exerted to defeat the man who
has SO VIGOROUSLY repented him of having
struck an honest blow, from conviction of
duty, for or against our late Southern Con-
federacy. When man becomes so demor-
allied that, instead of rejecting with gratifed
feelings upon his virtuous deeds, he feels
ashamed of them, he is no longer fit person
to hold position of public trust and emolu-
ment. The Statesman will certainly agree
with US in that sentiment. Why then should
it be SO sensitive and imagine that its favorte
has been charged with wha. the States
man Of least certainly must believe that its
favorite is entirely innocent Of?
This disposition to dodge before the blow
has been aimed, reminds us of story we re.
,mcmber to have heard long ago, and which
we think will illustrate the nervous sensitive
ness of the Statesman. There was in this
country many years ago, talented but very
eccentric preacher named Lorenzo Dowe-
AS he was going through the woods on his
way to preach one day, he saw man sitting
upon VI a log and swearing most cnergeticaiy,
but apparently at no one, and without any
cause. Dove walked up to the man and, after
some preparatory remarks upon the heinous-
ness of the crime of poor, weak mortal tax.
ing the name of his Maker in vain, cnouired
why it was that he was sitting alone in the
woods swearing at no one, and without any
provocation. The wood chopper-for it proved
to be one-replied that after having finished
cutting wood at that place on the evening
before, he hid his axe under the log upon
which he was sitting, and some id rascal
had stolen it. Dove was a very eccentric
man, as we have said, but man of great orig
inal genius. After little reflection, said he
"N1y friend, 1 have not the remotest idea who
stole your axe, or where the thief now is but
swearing certainly will do no good, and if YOU
will go few hundred yards through the
woods to hear me preach Today, think I may
be able at least to show you the thief" The
proposition was eagerly accepted, and the two
walked on together towards the church
j lust before getting to the church door, Dove.
without being observed, put large stone,
about the size of his closed hand, into his coat
pocket. Walking into the pulpit, after the
usual preparatory ceremonies, he announced
to the congregation that he would that day
preach upon the subject of "honcsty" Never
before had the man been SO subimely elo-
quent. The theme was worthy of the
man, and the man of the theme! He
dwelt with wonderful power upon the ir>
religion, and obvious mischievousness to
society of rogue'y. BY the power Of his elo>
quence, the congregation seemed to be abso-
lutely mesmerised. In the very midst of one
of his most impassioned bursts, when his
hearers, in the ecstacy of their feelings, seemed
ready to shrek, laugh or cry alta mere gesture
of his hand, be suddenly ,iand in amanner that
thrilled his audience, lowered his voice almost
to whisper, and pulling the stone from his
pocket, said, "Brethren, last night 4 friend Of
mine had his axe stolen from him. The man
who stole tits now in thischurch and"-raising
his hand to throw the stone and becoming in
tensely excited-"I shall now dash his brains
out with this rock" Instantly, one man in
the congregation was seen to throw his hands
frantically to his head to protect it, and make
desperate scramble to get under the Iench.-
Dove lowered the stone, and turning to the
wood chopper, quietly remarked, "My friend,
there is the man who stole your axe. Go for
him ~
N. B.-A vague rumor had reached us
that there was map, Union or Confederate,
in this Congressional district, who
had appeared heartily ashamed of his war re-
cord. Feeling curious to know who the man