Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-10-13

we have been requested to publish the fol-
lowing, written for the Shepherdstown Regis
ter of Saturday week:
Editor Of ShepherdstoHn Register:
DEAR SIR Allow me to say in reply to
an article in your last number concerning
those who anonymously Supplied the States
Attorney with the names of witnesses to be
summoned in the liquor cases, that when the
voluminous subject of lying came up in
regular course some years ago in my Bible
class, the question was rsised-"What shall
one do when asked for information which the
party asking has no right to, Gas 4 e. when
one asks young lady whether she is engaged
to be married) and a refusal to answer would
be taken as equivalent to an answer in the sf-
frmative, and thus the party, by dishonorable
means, learn what he had no right to know Z"
The advice given was this; ''You can
under no circumstances assert that to be true
which is not true, as you believe that fearful
Scripture, Rev 2l: 8, but lay it down as a
principle never to answer such questions at
ALL no matter whether the true answer would
be yes or no; and inform all parties asking
such questions of the principle which you
have laid down to govern you in such cases,
and that your silence will in no wise help them
in any direction"
To take another case-if 1 were asked
whether | communicated to the States At
torney the names of persons to be put upon
oath before the Grand Jury; and sworn to
''tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, upon pain of being indicted
for perjury, with its admitted consequences in
this world if detected, and in the next whether
detected here or not-about any thing within
their knowledge touching the sale of liquor
contrary to law, should feel at perfect liberty
to act myself upon this principle, and should
certainly do so or not according to my discretion
1t Is quite conceivable that one might
anony mously inform the Prosecuting Attorney
of witnesses in case of robbery, arson or
murder from fear of personal injury by those
in some way implicated in the crime. He
might assume that he had at least the same
rights anonymous writers in newspapers,
and that the Attorney knew his duty. And
while in the late causes Of alleged violation of
law | choose to say that had nothing to do
with furnishing or communicating the names
Of witnesses, | think | am not assuming too
much to say in behalf OF the people generally
concerning any parties who furnish witnesses,
that if they believe the law to be violated (as
everybody knows it is violated and if they
believe the witnesses, at least some of them,
(and that they should so believe is certainly
not inconceivabIe,) to the punishment of of,
tenders aud the maintenance OF law. then they
deserve the thanks of the community, as |
for one do most heartily thank and honor them.
1t is credit to any town struggling to re-
deem itself from the idlencss. profanity and
decentralization which charac,erizes such drink
ing cOmmuDity-especially town which we
tO
of education, aud concerning which we hope
aud expect to be able to assure parents that
no Intoxicating liquors are sold in it, either
! publicly or by the arts so commonly resorted
to for eVading the law.
In completing this reformation if our Off
GERS, Commonweslth's Attorneys, Sherifs,
Jurors, &C., have their sworn duties, the citi
zen also has his, which are quite as obligatory;
and if he fails to sustain said officers by suit
able information and moral support. he iorfeits
all claim to the laws protection when him,
self may fall into the hands of the lawless
aud its officers leave him to his fate.
If mention be made of the cost of Super
huOus witnesses, due consideration should
doubtless be had but when this bagatelle is
put in comparison with the fifteen hundred
and seventyfve millions cost annually to
which the liquor traffic puts this country, to
say nothing of the thousands of sorrow stricken
families, it looks like strHiniug at gnat and
swallowing camel.
The sale of whiskey is in this county, con-
traband of law, and it has already become SO
in more than half the counties of this State
In some, licenses have been refused for fifteen
years. In 10 instance but one, that can
learn, have licenses once refused been granted,
and in that but for short time In growing
numbers of the States, afts: fspg SbafFie
which is inevitable and must be resoiutely en-.
countcred. prohibition has become fixed either
by local option or statute law, and in some it
is made part of the Constitution. It is the
noblest monument Of the age in which long
outraged humanity is beginning to assert its
rights.
The traffic in intoxicating drinks tends
more than all other causes combined TO i'm
poverish and demoralize the community
More than all other causes it fills the land
with criminals burdens il with taxes. and
produces more than four fifths of all the mur
ders committed Our Magistrates for their
noble action in May last have received the
thanks of more than nine tenths of the people
of the county, and of the 1omen, (whose voice
on this subject, if on any in the world, should
be listened toy with scarce an exception
Y ou say that ten persons were presented for
selling contrary to law and only one intict-
ment was found. That liquor is sold contrary
to law, in more than one place in the county,
there is probably not man in the county who
doubts
Why then were not more indictments found?
One may give one reason and another another.
but all will have their opinions, and if am
not misinformed, the fact is challenging pub
lie attention, as it never has done before.
The friends, will not say of temperance,
but of public law and of the peace, morals
and temporal prosperity of the county, have
but to go forward, with a resoIute spirit and