Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-01-22
Letter from Col. Thompson.
PARKERsUURG, Jan. IA, '76

TAhhEhSOO1sS3 ooH' II, 1o'
w. T. Logan, Esg.,
Mdrttnsburg, w. 70,
MY DEAR SfR-I have your fa-
vor of the 18th inst, and hasten to
reply.
/ am surprised that any one, es-
democrat, should be ex-
citing any feeling by reason of the
Democratic Eek. Committee select
ing Charleston for the next State
Convention. 1t is especially un-
just and ungeperous to you, as you
had nothing Whatever to do with
the selection. You expressed to
me, as q member of the Commit
tee, an earnest desire to have the
Convention held at Martinsburg,
but before the question was reach
ed for determination, your engage
ments had called you home, and
you were not present when the
matter was discussed and settled
My preference had been for Mar
tinsburg, and there seems to have
been rather a general concurrence
of opinion that your city would be
selected, and my impression is,
that this was rather the under
standing when you were present
with the Committee. In the mean
time, and after your departure,
Messrs. Moffett, Walker and Sni-
der, representing the Third Dis
trict, were very urgent that the
Convention should be held in that
District, as measure of pacifica-
ton as the Committee might rea-
sonably offer. Il number of intel
ligent and worthy gentlemen from
that District, had taken occasion to
urge the same reason upon my at
tention, notably Messrs. Eastman
and Sehon, gentlemen of unQues-
tionable prudence, intelligence and
unfaltering democracy, who assur-
ed me its effect would be largely
beneficial. Desiring to put an end
to the feeling engendered in the
Third District by the removal of
the capital, so far as the Democra-
tic party is concerned, and sympa-
with the people of Kama
wha in the loss they had sustained,
knowing the Importance, indeed,
necessity for harmonious and uni
ted action by the real friends of
democracy in all the sections, l
moved that Charleston should be
selected, and my recollection is
that every member of the Com
mittee present, with single ex-
moved by these consider
ations, voted for Charleston. Hav-
ing no "axe to grind" seeking no
office, only anxious for the success
of the democratic party, in so far
as its policy is just and generous,
and its principles conducive to the
welfare of the people, 1 was, and
am willing to make any conces-
sion to allay any irritation felt by
any portion of our people arising
from any cause, provided it does
not involve a sacrifice of princi-
ple-I heartily concurred in the
disposition manifested by the
members from the Third District
to disassociate this capital question
from the politics of the State, and
Notwithstanding the foolish, I'M
generous and improper editorial
in the Courier upon this subject, 1
thought then, and still think, the
action of our Committee was judi
ciOus and proper. / am confident
the result will prove beneficial -
We are perfectly willing to go
down there. and when there is a
general council of our people helu
there TO deliberate for the welfare
of the State, the generous and sem
sible democrats of the Third Dis
trict will not visit upon the party
that they have always so nobly
and which is the true ex-
ponent of their political faith, any
vengeance for supposed offences
committed by fe,o gentlemen
who were not acting at the time as
representatives of the democratic
party in any policy authorized by
its convention or regular autheri-
ties. / learn with regret that there
are persons dissatisfied with the
action of the Committee in this
matter, but I have found in our
party quite a number of persons
who never suggest any sensi-
BILE line of voting themselves,
but wait until some action is
upon, and then give
vent to i'll natured criticism with
out according to others the right
ofindividual opinion or conceding
proper motives to those charged
for the time being with the regu-
Iations of the party machinery. l
think their employment must be
very limited when they attempt
RI sn,oka a mountain ont Of q unOln