Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-12-10
CCoxHrxIcAzED.
OAxvnLH, Nov. =, 1874

OAxvnLE, Nov. =, 1874
70 tie E1isoys Of he 81. Nasy's Bsa-
eos-DesY 6sss II always recognize
TIE right Of al men to differ with me
in opinion. and viii extend the utmost
respect and courtesy 10 all those who
may honoably eentrovert my theory.
But the articlsvhich appears IN the col
umns Of yom paper, above the initials
&C. S. deem invective and replete
with false imputations. Had the au-
thor been endowed with sufficient moral
courage to have signed his name, /
should have been prepared to answer
him more appropriately, but a ! am
not Of spirit 10 quail before aristocra-
cy, / have determined to throw back
into his teeth those accusations, let his
name be what it may. 1t seems that
he has affected to notice nothing in my
communication except that which he
thought a partial commentator and
which would effectually poison and in
fame the minds of the ignorant and i'm
petuous classes. How well he seems to
understand human nature when he talks
about ''office-seekers," murderer" and
"going in the dead of night to spread
death and desolation among his fellow
men!" He says, Il suppose Mr.. Graves
must be one Of these oiIics-seekers, and
would like to live at the cost of the pub
lic." Now, all that I have to say in
that connection is simply this-I have
thrice already resigned Office under the
State Of Maryland, and my letters Of
resignation can be seen BY &c. s." by
referring to their proper files. Besides,
I have had more than once an Office un-
der the General Government rendered
me, and many times been solicited to
become o candidate before the repub-
lican party of this county, all of which
l have declined. Now, can any man
truthfully say that I am an office.seek-
err: But he saws that he really did not
think that there was another John
Brown on earth, especially on the soil
of old st. Mary's, and had he such man
in his neighborhood he would prepare
himself for any emergency. Now, the
most appropriate retort that can give
to this unmerited assertion is, that the
wicked feeth where no man pursueth;"
and whoever the parsonage may be al
luded to in my article, and whatever
may be the conclusion arrived at by my
adversary respecting the same. I have
NO explanation to make and no apology
to offer to the distinguished resident of
St. Mary's city. But as regards John
Brown and the enormous crime which
&C. s." attached to that individual. !
will simply remark, that the cause
which actuated him was sustained by
the national arms, and the voice of the
nation sealed the same by creating it
the fundamental principle of the coun-
try. But what nation Endorsed the acts
of the assassins, one of whom crept be-
hind his victim and fired the fatal pistol
at his head. whilst the other stealthily
wendell his way to q sick mans cham
Der, with dagger in hand, cut him to
death a. he thought, and then with the
celebrity of coward fed beyond the Po-
tomac to the bosom of his parent p
None bat the defunct Southern Confed-
eracy, of which &C. s." can boast of
having been a sympathiser! This is
the cherished hope and the spirit that
he rejoices to think is gaining ground,
a spirit peculiar to the man who enjoys
malignant pleasure in attaching muir
derous epithets to his fellow-men, sim
ply because they differ with him in
opinion. He must be lineal desccn-
dant of Nero, who put Peter and Paul
to death, besides many others, on &C.
count of~their belief, and shortly after.
with remorse of conscience, attempted
to take his own life. but being as mean
spirited and dastardiy as he was wicked
and cruel, he had not the resolution to
do that piece of justice to the world,
and was forced to beg assistance. 1t is
fortunate indeed for humanity that his
race is nearly extinguished. But how
ever dangerous l may appear to be in
his estimation, will not emulate his
iniquitous example, and call him an as
sassin because the tenets of his party
embrace the belief that Booth and his
accomplices were martyrs to the cause
of the South, but cannot refrain from
expressing surprise that there has not
been a cenotaph erected, long ere this,
to the memory of the aforesaid assas-
sins in the virgin city of St. Mary's.-
But in justice to &C. S." l wish to re-
mark. for l would not detract anything
from his name, that as be has done ME
the honor to ascribe to me the character
Of Paul and assume that Of Festus him.
self, declare unto him, in the language
of St. Paul, II am not mad most noble
Festus. but speak forth words of truth
and soterness.
Yours very truly. &C.,
JOHN N. GRAVES.