South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-09-04
For Me Inielliqencel

~ "'C Af"ttttJtHCCT
10 tie Subscribers TO u Fund for the De-
.teace IF those pho ,cerc Sued to, Tres
pass growing ont Of the Var:
GgNTLEMEN; Through the aid and in
fuencc of steadfast, confiing aud devoted
friends, such as with whom but few men in
this worll have ever been blessed, |, to :
gethcr with hundreds OF others scattered al
over the State, have been relieved from
persecution in a way, and to co extent no;
contemplated E, the time you SO literally
subscribed your money aud pledged your
support for tho defence of those against
whom Tfespass suits had been instituted for
acts of war.
In order TO secure ultimate success in
these suits it became apparent to every re-
dccting mind that much money must ne.
ccssarily be expended in resisting before
the Courts this wholesale plumber of our
citizens until reaction could take place in
tho public mind, the result Of which would
be the establishment of equal Just and
wholesome laws, meteipg out equal justice
to tho bumblest citizens of our State.
1t was well known that many of those q.
gainst whom these suits had been insti,ut
ed were men of limited meaus, unable to
incur the expense of defence, and when
il became fully understood that this was
struggle between law aud order, on the one
hand, and anarchy, discord and despotism
on the other, in the result Of which every
law-loviug and law-sbidiDg citizen was per-
sonaIly interested, fund was provided by
the voluntary subscription of the citizens of
this section of our State, payable in semi
annual instruments, of twenty per cont zach,
to te expended in resisting the payment of
these claims
Having been compelled, by orr persecu-
tcrs, to occupy the position Of Forlorn Hope,
among those against whom the crushing
laws of the State, as deiermincd by Par,izan
Courts, were being hurled, large portion
OF the money poid by you, upon these sub
scriptions, was placed in my hands, to be
expended by mo in the defence. This mo-
ney | regard ss having been received by
me in q fduciOry capacity as to tho ex-
peudiuro of which it is not only your pr.
vilege, but your duty, to make diligent in
quiry, and my duty to furnish such a state.
mcnt as would be required Of those acting
in a similar capacity under provisions Of
law.
Il will be remembered that nearly all The
defendants were subscribers TO this fund,
and they have paid in some instances more,
aud in some lcss, than the amount subscrib-
ed, directly to the counsel, without placing
il 10 my hands. 10 some instances other
parties have collected some Of the install.
meuts, aud paid it over to me. IL must,
therefore, DO apparent to every one that a
settlement in which so many arc neccssari-
ly made parties, should be made at an car
ly day.
10 order that this may be accomplished,
suggest that the subscribers living within
the counties Of Hampshire, Hardy, Grant
and Mineral, meet during the next term Of
the County Court 10 the county 10 which
they respectively reside, and appoint one
OF their number, who, together with those
appointed by the other three counties, shall
compose a Committee, TO make this settle
mout; or, il they prefer doing so, they can
all unite upon one TO mako this settlement.
The counsel with the exception Of tho
Hon. j. w. i. ALLEN) have, in compliance
with my request, given me al itemized
statement, showing the amount received
from The different defendants (mJself 10
cluded,) and tho balance due them, aud
they arc willing at any time 10 renew the
statement showing tho increased account,
both DR.. aud Cr., since the statement was
msde, and Judge ALLEN will, doubtless,
verv courteouslv complv with INV reducst