Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-08-26
O I'd. r. MARTIN.
A Frank and Manly letter
from Him ON two Subjects.
PRUN YTowN, Aug. IA, 1876.

[From the Wheeling Register.
From what | have seen in some
papers and otherwise learned, a
total misunderstanding exists in
the minds of some persons in re-
spect to my action, or non-action.
in the General Conference of the
M. Il. Church, at Baltimore. /
am charged with delinquency of
duty in falling to reply to a foolish.
infammitory and partisan speech
which was made by Judge Law
renee, of Ohio, in the General Con-
ference. There is no Just cause for
such complaint against me. Here
are the facts: A resolution was Of
fered somewhat denunciatory of
Representatives for the passage of
a bill transferring the management
of Indian affairs from the Interior
to the War department of the
Government, and invoking the
Senate to arrest the passage ofthat
bill in their body. Upon that res-
olution some speeches were made
on both sides. Among others,
Judge Lawrence made a speech
that every sensible man in or out
of that body would condemn. /
know it received very general con-
domination among conference dele
gates. Moreover, the church pa
per which reported the proceed
ings of the Conference did not pub
lish the most exceptionable and
offensive portions of his speech.
This alone was 9 strong and mani
fest rebuke for a political speech
in.the Conference. Though a.matter
of questionable propriety whether
any one should dignity such a
demagogic hsrangue with a reply,
lest he, too, should become obnox-
ious to the charge of making a po-
litical speech in an ecclesiastical
body, / made up my mind to reply
to him; and q number of others
seemed to have come to the same
conclusion, and in the effort to get
the floor we all failed, except one,
of course. Judge Cooley was the
fortunate man, who, after some re-
marks deprecatOry of the introduce
ton of the resolutions into the
General Conference, moved to re-
fer the pending resolution TO a
special committee of five, which
was promptly done, and the whole
subject taken from the Conference.
There the matter ended, the fire.
brand was removed, and nj OPP
portunity for reply by myself or
any one else was left. / felt the
greater anxiety to rebuke the out
rage for l regarded it as a most
indecent and unchristian outrage),
because Judge Lawrence was
among the most unfair and UNI
scrupulous Of those who made
speeches against Col. Ben. Wilson
and myself in our contest in the
43d Congress. / did not reply, be-
cause | could not get the floor. If
this be owardice or q want OF in
dependence, or infidelity to the
Democratic party. L confess ! am
too obtuse to discern it. AS we'll
might every Democrat in Congress
be censured who failed to reply to
Mr.. Blaine. But this wOnld be
wholly unjust to many good and
true men. Some days after in
committee Judge Cooley presently
/ did denounce Judge Lawrence's
speech in strong terms. while dis
cussing another question. What l
have said are facts.
1t is also said that my friends
and myself are attempting to ar
ray one section of this distric
rgainst the other. My answer to
this is, l have not said a word,
done an act, or entertained a
thought that couldllead anyone to
such a conclusions have no such
desire, nor am / aware that my
friends entertain any such feeling.
Our action in the past is the best
guaranty of our Catholicity in this
behalf. In State Conventions we
have most cheerfully supported
our Eastern friends. In the district
we have stood bravely by the NOM
inees, as the poll-books and ballots
will attest. :,
Justice to my friends and myself
.eauires the foregoing statement to
correct what seems to be a mlsap-
prahension. / can hardly think
any gentleman would INTENTIONAL
ly misrepresent me.
Very respectfully,