The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-06-15
THE "MOONSHIEERS.
THE "MOONSHINERs."
Letter from Senator Hereford Re.
futin1 Atkfnson's vile ISLANDERS
upon the People Of Mercer, Raleigh
and SummePs. 'F
UNION, w. VA, June 7th.

and Summer. 'Fs
UNION, w. Va, June 7th.
Edit rs OF the Register.
Within the last few days have seen
copied into the various newspapers what
purports to DO Washington correspon-
dence to the Cincinnati Commercial, in
which we are told that Collector Duval
has forwarded to the department at
Washington, q report of recent tour
of inspection made by one of his
deputies through the counties
OF Mercer, Summers and Raleigh,
in this State. This Washington CORE.
spondent, in his article, says that Col.
lector Duvsl, in his report to the De-
partment at Washington, reports his
deputy referred TO rs using the following
language IN bis report: ut is an aston.
ishlng fact that every lawyer and officer
of the court in Mercer county is in the
whisky ring. They are a band OF broth
ers, and will, they say, 60 down together.
Thompson, editor of the Hinton Herald,
is member of the ring, and bis paper is
their crgsn. He is also member OF q
gang Of counterfeiters which have
traced from the White Sui
phur Springs to Charleston; and
although this is not part of our business,
l am working it up, and Thompson
knows it. There is more outlswry In
Raleigh, Summers and Mercer counties
than you can imagine. was not at
Raleigh six hours until discovered that
the United States commissioner, who was
supposed TO represent the interests Of
the government, was in league with the
dlstillers and counterfeiters."
l must confess my utter astonishment
and surprise upon reading the above,
''thst every lawyer and officer in Mer-
Ger county is in the whisky ring" l
know. and have known for years, all the
lawyers and most OF the officers of Mer-
Ger county. ! understand that Foley,
the County Clerk elected, has been In
dicted for Illicit distilling. Of his guilt
or innocense l know nothing. If he no
guilty, he should be punished, as all vlo.
lators of the constitution or laws of our
country should be. With that single
exception l never have heard aught
against the uprightness of conduct or
purity OF character of any one OF the
members OF the bar or officers
OF the county OF Mercer; and
the same may be said of the
members of the bar and county officers
OF Summers and Raleigh. For years l
have been brought into the most inti-
mate relations with most OF the
lawyers of these counties, and it
affords me pleasure to say that l have
never known more high toned honora
BILE set of gentlemen in my life; COM
pairing iavorsbly in legal learning,
professional etiquette and honor with the
same number of lawyers in any
rural district IN the land. They
are such men as John A. Douglas
and David 4. Johnston OF Mercer,
Adams, Thompson, Lowrey, Fowler and
Mahood of Summers county, and McGin-
mis- of Raleigh county; some of whom
are worthy members OF different relig-
ious denominations. The charge against
Mr.. &. l.. Thompson Of the Mountain
Herald, regard rs great outrage. No
young man IN the Third Congressional
district stands higher for integrity of
purpose and conduct than he does, being
as believe II sincere, devout and accept
able member Of the church. 1t is burn.
ing shame that such cslumny should be
hurled against such man.
From what / have heard l presume
there is illicit distilling In the counties
referred to, and it should be broken up,
but in order TO do this it Is not necessary
to misrepresent and slsnder whole
counties, rs has been done in this case. l
know the citizens of these counties well,
and have TOR many years, as part OF my
constituency, and, taken as mass, am
proud TO say that l do not know of
more honest, law abiding, generous and
hospitable people. Who the auther OF
the charges is l do not
know, nor can / conceive what could
have instigsted such wholesale
slsnder. It's only effect, if believed, is
to bring disgrace upon our State, and
perhaps to bring US under military rule
again, as in the dark days OF the past.
God forbid that such should be the re-
suit. We have enough OF military rule
in the down-trodden South. Vitupera-
ton. slander, abuse and misrepresenta-
,ion have been hesped on her long
enough by her enemies. We believe
those days have passed away, never to
return; and that in the future we will
have as we ought to have had long since,
the Constitution preserved, the law su
preme and obeyed everywhere, coupled
with fraternsl feeling throughout our
beloved country,
Very respectfully,