The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-07-15


raj interesting local items by this time:
bat local items are scarce as hens teeth
in this neighborhood. 4 may find few
items laying around loose in few days
the 4th of July is coming-and if so,
I'll send them up. RusTIc
Written for the Spirit of Denocracy,I
Letter from washington County,
NJ MARlErrA, O July 10, 1879.
DEAR SpRIT: Some time ago prom
ised to write yon, whenever | gathered
facts sufficient to lay the foundation for
a letter. l can't say that have them
now, but if l fail in. facts, I'll draw on
my Imagination heavily, to supply all
deficiencies One year ago the subject
of conversation here was railroads. Go
where you would you could scarcely hear
aueht else In law offices, in bar rooms,
on street corners, groups were collected,
excitedly discussing the merits Of the
Boesel bill, and what was likely to result
from it. Day by day the excitement
rose, until several active spirits, seized
the opportunity, called elections. organ
lied the "Ohio Valley Railroad and
prepared most vigorously to build val
ley road from Bellaire to Cincinnati--
Elections were held in all the cities,
towns, counties and townships from Gin
cinnati to Marietta, and money, without
stint, was voted to aid the enterprise
The managers were jubilant, aud only
waited the election Of a few townships
before commencing the work of grading.
Meanwhile the opponents of the scheme
we're not idle. In Ross County, where
an almost unanimous vote had been
given in favor of building road, d,trouble
had arisen. The Commissioners of that
county had been enjoined from levyiug
the tax, aud the matter had finally heen
sent to the Supreme Court for a decision,
The Directors of the Ohio Valley Rail,
road felt no apprehension; they argued
that the Supreme Court, in the celebra-
ted case Of Walker vs. the Southern
Railroad, had settled the question be-
yond controversy, but merely as a mat
ter of prudence they would suspend OPP
eratious until the matter was set at rest
for all time. And the matter was settled,
but not as they anticipated. The Su-
preme Court, contrary to the precedent
set in the Southern Railroad case, ,declar--
ed the Boesel law unconstitutional. For
the time being that decision settled the
Ohio Valley enterprise. believe law
yers everywhere acknowledge the decis
| ion to be in accordance with the Consti-
tuition. 1t may be said that the adherents
| of the Boesel Bill had good reason to
believe that the Court would prnnnnnce
in favor of its constitutionality; they
had already done so in like case. and
the bill was substantially drawn to meet
the requirements Of that decision. Peo
pie who had expected to see Marietta
"blossom as the rose," when the Ohio
Valley should pass through her borders,
dcspaired, and the talk changed from
railroad to duh times. The profane used
''cuss words" the pious rolled upward
their sanctimonious eyes, in despairing
resignation, while the philosophical por
tion logged happily onward, not caring
a copper for daddy Boesel, his bill, or
say this without malice-the Supreme
Court either. 1t was in this manner that
the Ohio Valley Railroad "passed in its
checks - - H'f sqFil
Tie past week Marietta has been en-
ljoying her annual commencement. Old
graduates were here renewing college ac-
quaintances "A BIS, M. AS aud d. DIS
from the heather world round about
we're here, looking as solemn and digni-
fed as becometh man with a tail to
his name Sparkling bellies, resplendent
in silks, satins, ribbons. laces, jewelry
1 and thousand and one other nameless
gewgaws that to make up complete
set Of female toggery, were here, ,dispen-
sing their smiles among the crowd OF
beaux surrounding them. The beaux
were here, looking as out of place, as
a young fellow always does with his best
store clothes on. They look as if they
would be pleased to have their feet and
hands taken off, and out of the way ,and
they themselves safe out Of the muss.--
Boys of the age of eighteen or twenty
do look and act very awkward in theil
new clothes, and the serious part of the
business is, they feel just as awkward as
!. they look However, College Commence
ment is a adelightful season despite the
drawbacks. SEQ ''e
Since the failure of the Ohio Valley
Railroad and the smash-up of our rol
| ling mill company, business of every ma
!, ture has been exceedingly dull. We are
: ssnguine people,have great faith in the
3 future greatness of our town, and al
q that; nevertheless, the fact remains that
: we are as dull here as two hours ser
mon on a hot Sabbath.
Al The political ,cauldron hasn't even
r reached a simmer yet, and weeks viii
| elapse before it comes to the boil. i no
a tice that the Democracy of Allen Coun
3 ty have taken ''new departure Thi!
J., may be all right for Allen County, but il
/ seems to us to be a very poor move JUS
i on the eve of an election II the lead
E ers there we're honest in desiring &.
!. change, why not refer it to the Conven
: ton of the Ohio Democracy to meet il
Columbus August 6, e..-,
II Again, ask, wherein does their plat
form differ from the Radical platform
outside Of their endorsement Of Grant
t The Radicals denounce corrnption,so d.
A they; then where is the difference?
know the leaders of Allen Democracy
and have but little faith 10 their. judgmen
s or honesty. would like some one t.
satisfy my curiosity by showing th
v good of these yearly county departures
r / simply desire this to satisfy my curl
n osity, nothing more. l have othe
things to write of, but desist for tn
present, with the promise OF comm!
again. G.