Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-09-12
DEFERRED ARTICLES.
HON. B. F. MARTIN.
A Frank and Manly Letter from Him
on two Subjects.

The following letter we copy from the
Wheeling Register. We did not get hold of
it in time to publish previous to the meeting
OF the keyser Convention, but give it to our
readers now that they may understand Mr.
Martins position in a matter which had been
endeavOred to be used By some to his dlsad-
vantage:
P~RUSTTTOwN, Aug. If, 1876
From what l have seen in sume papers and
otherwise learned, a s":s. tu1auud45s;a.d,n,
exists in the minds i som per-uo~ IN respect
to my action. Or uou as:i"o. n me General
Conference nf the Vi f t,hnrcn. =, Baltimore.
am charged wi:n s!".'squ ucs BE. -tuti IN iIil,
ing to reply to q fu,:u-h, lnfAga.ns,nrt and
partisan speech which 49, , Ni- ny Judge
Lawrence, of Ohlu. in to & .-.-t ;.rt-y,
eDce. There Il no jus. "-- -aa' con-
plant against ue. Here <r- --a sgss :
resolution was offered someata ,isaunc,srrt-
of Representatives for the ua4s..e of . nj
transferring the management If tnd;as, 81.
fairs from the Interior ia the Var Depart
ment of the Government. aud .Dsnk:.,, the
Senate to ares. the passac" "t thss bifi in
their body Upon that re<nlu,.n" -.,ns soecc1-
es we're made "u both 4idas. Anon a,-s--
Judge Lawrence made n sreect. .fst avrfv
sensible man IN nr ont Of that body would COZ
denim. know it received perS gene.e. cao-
demnae1ou smUng conference delegates More
over. the church paper which reported The
proceedings of the Conference did no. unb.
lish the most exceptionable aud offensive nor
tions Of his speech. This alone was a strong
and manifest rebuke for a political speech in
che Conference Though a matter of oues-
tionable propriety whether any one should
dignity such = denagogic harangue with . re-
ply. lest he, too. should become obnoxious TO
the charge of making = political speech in an
ecclesiastical body. | made up my mind to re-
ply to him and a 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 fortu-
nate man, Who, after some remarks depreca.
tory of the introduction of the resolutions
loto tho general Conference. moved to refer
the pending resolution TO . 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 NO opportunity for reply by my
self or any one else was left. 1 felt the greater
anxiety to rebuke the outrage (for 1 regarded
ltas q most indecent and unchristian outraged.
because Judge Lawrence was among the most
unfair and INSCRIPTIONS of those who made
speeches against Col. Ben. Wilson and myself
in our contest in the 43d Congress. 1 did
not reply. because I could not get the floor.
If this be cowardice or a want of Independence,
or fidelity to the Democratic party, 1 confess
l 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 would
be wholly unjust to many good and true men.
some DAYS after In committee (Judge Cooley
presently did deuouuce Judge Lawreuce's
speech in strong terms, while discussing
another question. What have said are facts,
1t is also said that my friends and myself
are attempting to array one section of this
district against the other. MY answer 10 this
IS, L have not said a word, done an act. or
entertained = thought that could lead any one
to such a conclusion 1 have no such desire,
nor am | aware that my friends entertain auy
such feeling Our action in the pas. is the
best guaranty of our Catholicity in this be-
half In State Conventions we have mos,
cheertully supported our Eastern friends. In
the district We have stood bravely by the NOM
lnees, as the poll-books and ballots will attest.
Justice to my friends and myself REQUIRES
the foregoing statement to correct what seems
to be = Misrepresentation. 1 can hardly think
any gentleman would Intentionally misrepre>
sent me. Very respectfully,
b F MARTIN