The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-04
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.

As our readers are already aware,
Mr.. HENRY s. WALKER, the designated
Public Printer, has been accused OF
making exorbitant charges for work
done for the State, and an investigation
of his accounts has been had by the
Judiciary Committee of the House OF
Delegates during the past few weeks
An attempt has been made, and will
doubtless be persisted in, to magnify,
color and distort the true circumstances
Of the case for the purpose; OF, first,
accusing the Democratic party OF fraud
and peculation in the person Of one OF
its officers Of State; and, second, OF feed
ing fat an ancient grudge which some
OF the most prominent Radicals in the
State owe agains. Mr.. WALKER, whose
caustic tongue and pen contributed In
some degree to the overthrow of Radi'
calism in West Virginia. 1t will aid,
however, to a correct understanding OF
the matter and tn a proper apprecla'
ton OF the whole transaction If a
plain, straightforward and correct
statement OF the case be here set forth.
Soon after the location OF the State
CAPITAL a. Charleston, Mr.. WALKER
went there to establish and conduct a
Democratic newspaper. There had
been Tor many years prior 10 that time
a Democratic paper published in the
town, but it was then in feeble hands,
conducted with neither industry nor
skill, and although ostensibly owned
and edited by Mr.. JOHN S. MERRILL,
was heavily in debt and liable at any
time to seizure at the suit OF creditors.
That MERRILL might not be able to
complain Of the establishment of what
he might perhap, consider rival Dem.
ocratic newspaper in Kanawha county,
a liberal offer was made for the purchase
of his printing office. but the price he
demanded was 80 far above its value
and 80 absurdly exorbitant that all
idea Of purchasing was at once aban-
doned and the Charleston Courier was
started. Since that time Mr.. MERRILL
has chosen to think himself aggreved
in some way, he hardly knows how,
and to the full extent of his small
ability has persistently. assailed Mr..
WALKER with most Incorporate and un
provoked abuse. Politically he has
kept up sort Of guerilla warfare; pro-
Tossing to be Dem ocrat, he has been
found on all important occasions fight
ing IN the Radical ranks; and he has
been consistent in nothing save in his
hostility to Mr.. WALKER and the
Courier establishment. He has no
social standing in Charleston, and
ENJOYS no honest mans respect, but a
few desperate Radical politicians find
him a convenient, Jealous and I'M
scrupulous tool for the performance OF
whatever dirty work they have to do.
This brief biography Of the principal
puppet engaged in the prosecution Of
the public printer will enable the reader
70 appreciate his zeal and understand the
personal interest he manifests in the
case. The other prosecutors; those who
stand behind the screen and manipulate
MERRILL; are better known to the
people Of the State, and therefore need
no introduction. They are prominent
Radicals who at various times during
their official or political career have had
their schemes exposed or their desires
thwarted by Mr.. WALKER, either edito-
rally or on the stump, and are now
anxious to make capital for their party
while gratifying personal and private
revenge. In combination with MERRILL,
whom they admitted to companionship
for this purpose alone. they have origin
ated and sedulously spread many
rumors Of grave Encouragement in the
public printing Office. Letters were
written from Charleston to the Parkers-
burg Journal, Wheeling IntelEgeneer,and
other Radical newspapers throughout
the State, circulating these rumors
which had been concocted BY the clique,
and swelling their proportions with
every repetition. 1t was represented
that the air at the State Capital was
heavy with stories Of the public print
% sr's extravagant charges for work done
for the State, aud the amount of over
d charge was variously stated at from less
than one thousand to several tens Of
thousands Of dollars. The most deter
mined industry aud devilish ingenuity
were resorted to in endeavoring to
~work up a case" sainst Mr.. Wakes
. and secure its prejudgment BY The
public. > .,..
Are 70 the Jealous combinations EronS
A. prooh Of holy writ" -. e.. az. o.
and thus The eonspirators piled their ar