The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-09-05

Just here is found the weak spots Of
this Jscobin accusation-the fstal fee
bleness that causes the instructive cow
ard to thwsrt the crafty scamp. The
Governor took no steps that would
bring the matter to test either before
the Legislature or the courts He
made a report which was as much in
justification OF his own candidacy IS in
condemnation OF the printer, but lie
never hintcd at suspension or re-
movsl; he neither instituted nor recon-
mended prosecution or suit. His busi-
ness relations with the printer repeated
ly and constantly belied the charges he
made as q candidate. Large sums ot
money claimed by me from the State
could only be paid upon his approval /;
if I were the States debtor, he had il
in his power to equalize the account.
But tie authority which, if l were
q delinquent, he should have interpos-
ed for the protection Of the State, he
never attempted to exercise. He did
not care to risk nGndamus. And so
it came that within the period covered
by his raid upon my reputation he has
caused to be paid me over twelve thou
sand dollars for work done by his Or
der-a very substantial proof that my
accuser holds his own accusation-not
to say his own veracity-iu profound
contempt. Within less than three
weeks after Jacob signed the report
that declared me guilty OF peculation,
he commence the brief course OF toady-
ism to the Democracy which SO deeply
disgusted his Republican supporters in
the early part OF the last session OF the
Legislature he placed in my hands or
ders for work amounting to more than
four thousand dollars, almost on
the very day that he sent bls
bury the hatchet" message to the Leg
islature. And although in the struggle
which followed, payment upon that and
a large amount OF work for the Legis-
lature was suspended, yet when the
contest was finally ended in my favor,
Governor Jacob was prompt to settle
those Of my accounts over which he
had control. Inasmuch, then, as Gov
ernor Jacob filled my hands with pat
ronage during my term, and conceded
bis defeat before the Legislature by a
prompt settlement of my accounts-ln'
asmuCh as he has known, without
complaint, that ! nave received large
orders for State work since ceased TO
be State Printer and even contributed
thereto himself, does he not appear in a
pitiabe attitude, when he enters dem
onstrative order that because Of my de-
linquencies during my term, | forfeit
his favor for the future2 The printing
contracts are to be awarded October Sd.
Pending that event, the value OF the
orders given out will be too small for
consideration. In the last eighteen
when the State patronage
amounted TO many thousands OF dollars,
| have been thought fit and worthy TO
receive it. Now, when the work is
sll done, and the money paid for
it, he vslorously exploits his hon.
esty by shutting off the six-penny jobs
hat NAV be given for the next few
weeks. II there has been any thieving
in this business | do not see how Ja-
cob is to acquit himself Of connivance
with the thief. lie keeps the rascal in
as long as there is money
10 be made, turns him off at q time
when business has ceased to be profta.
Die, etruts to the front, and vaunts
himself 'the savior OF plnndered
State.
His farccal pretense OF a removal in
behalf Of public interests, partskes quite
reely Of the mock heroic. If be had
desired to remove, he had an abundant
opportunity before the expiration OF my
erm, and the lapse OF the office which
held. That would have brought an
esue before the Legislature. This does
Tot. The peculiarly Jacobin proposition,
If by construction of law" Walker is
Printer, then Walker is remov-
ID, has all the flavor and genius OF the
ate Congressional certificates and
TO about as mitch. Instead
If making a parade Of turning a man,
whose term kas expired, out Of an o.,
ice which has been abolished, the
Governor could have displayed his
moral courage to better advantage, by
rying the removal experiment when
le had authority to remove, and | was
q a position where it could be brought
o bear npon me. Rather than do
hat, he allowed me to serve out my
erm undisturbed, and now, VIXEN |
rave passed beyond his reach, sets up
or a hero on the strength OF an er
,ost facto removal. The trick is das-
ardly, but it will deceive nobody.
call the attention OF the public to
he provoking cause Of all this chica-
iery. In series OF articles published
n the Courier / have lately replied TO
ertain attacks which have been level
d against me by reason Of the Gov
rnor's charges. l have maintained |
hat the proper means to determine this
was an appeal to a Court
# Ju-tice, and that my accuser. il he
we're an honorable man, respecting
like his obligations to his oath and to
,is ftllow-msn, would appeal to that
tribunal. Ny belief has been freely
md frequently stated, that Governor
Jacob had neither the fairness nor the
to order a prosecution; that he
;uew himself a dafamer and did not
Isre to risk exposure and defeat. |
These points | have urgel because
Governor Jacob has persistently sought
o built up his own reputation, at the
OF mine; because he has as-
ailed and bounded me in the most
,indictive manner, and because knew
i'm TO be as cowardly as he was un-
crupulous. The publication Of those
.rticles placed him in g position that
vas at once unpleasant and discredib
,ble. He feared 10 60 into the Courts
nd give me an Opportunity to con-