The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-06
A Parting salute from Taxpayer.
Editors Of the Register: NY

I - xbkt11B
Editors ofthe Register:
I told you in my communication OF
yesterday morning, in reply to Mr..
Sweeney, that that article was my last
one, and that would not trouble you
again. so intended.
fully recognized the fact that as
far as an expression OF those who
voted was concerned, we had been
beaten. We, that is, eleven of US in our
township, had met the enemy, and We
were theirs. acknowledged the corn,
threw up the sponge. and was going to
retire from the polls with disgust, and
from the columns OF your useful paper as
correspondent, fully convinced that
my articles were like pearls thrown
before swine, and not appreciated. I
have often thought that was not
appreciated before, and am more than
ever convinced of it now, since l
have failed as Q correspondent to carry
conviction where people did not want
to be convinced.
This is my first attempt, however,
and were j. not for the reception | have
met with, it certainly would be my last.
don't know but what it will be my
last one still, if they-that is, the enemy
will only give me an opportunity OF
retiring gracefully. / was met and
handled by the very ablest of the
speakers at the Court House on Mon
day evening last; and even before that,
Mr.. Editor, / may say you, yourself,
although you kindly gave my maiden
article place in your paper, took issue
with it, and in the adjoining column to
which you assigned it, in the same
! edition, fred one OF your twentyfour
Founders right into it, and ever since
TAX Payer" has been catching it right
and left, either on the street or through
the papers. And now the unkindest
cut OF all comes in this morning from
your contemporary on Quincy street.
Although he had nothing to say while
the fight was thick and hot, he now
comes in, after it is all over and the
smoke cleared, my guns limbered and
ready to be put away, forever perhaps,
and makes an attack. not upon my
arguments or position on the question
at issue at all, but upon me and my
business. He says it is understood the
trouble with TAX Payer is that he is
afraid the opening Of this road will
cheaper the price of coal, and thinks
this apprehension is well founded, &c.
So SAYS the editor Of the Intelligeneer.
Why, my dear sir, I would not want
any better fun than for the editor OF
the IntelIgcncer to invest all his loose
change in the nine miles Of manufac-
turing sites and coal fields along the
line of this road so much boosted OF,
and get him for competitor in tn e
coal business in this market. am
fully satisfied that he and would
become good friends in less than a
month, and that instead Of his reducing
the price of the article on me he would
over persuade me to put the price up,
for, know ye! every body, that this is
the cheapest coal market to-day in the
United States care not where you 60.
Pittsburgh, in the heart OF the greatest
coal region the world ever saw. is to-day
paying l24 cents per bushel for coal,
while we are selling at 9 cents. Wfat
do YOU think Of that Mr.. Intelligence
man? Have you any notion OF invest
ing? Ifyou have, pitch in
In conclusion, hope our friend down
on Quincy will the next time pitch In
while the thing is warm, when a fellow
feels like striking out both right and
left, and not wait until fellow is van
auished, down, and cant get up; and
when he does pitch in he should make
no side issues like this but tackle our
position and our facts and arguments in
favor of the position we occupy.
We tell you, good people, that we
thought nothing OF our business or OF
the effect this road would have on it.
l thought nothing OF selfish or private
interests when spoke out against the
iniquity as have before called 1t and
call it again.
recognized in the measure some
thing that is wrong in my opinion and
therefore | tackled and opposed it and
now say that if it is followed out and
contaminated that il is a precedent
established that may do this community
much harm in the future.
And now repeat that, in my opinion,
it can be prevented. i don't know just
exactly how, but the hooks and crooks
of the law might be brought to bear
on it in some way to stop it. But as |
am neither a lawyer nor the son OF a
lawyer, can't tell how without more
information than | am possessed Of at
this time. am willing for one to have
it tested if others will join me.
TAXPAYER.