The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-09
THE POWDER EXPLOIT.
An Agreed Case Proposed /
EdltOn Intelligence.

AhHb uhIChh llcS GuH hec HlVHcS III "
Such aro simply tho objects Of pity, an'
here | leave them. But, in nm historic o
romantic point OF view, the powder Quos
ton none of some Importance, and will
perhaps, become increasingly 80 10 pos
tCrity, for generations 10 come. Hence
write. But how isit Mr.. W. c. TroCkunie
puts himself in this mo moment" class
Is Saul also among the prophets?, But, o
course Mr.. u, does attach Importance Il
the question, rs his elaborate article, o
four columns, in the INTELLiGENcEn OF III,
5ih inst, sufficiently proves. Mr.. D., a
your readers understand, Mid otherwise
only for efect-that is, to make me lOoI
small and him big like Saul. But sucl
rhetorical arts are wullun,lentOod. 4. X
lIaving.lcretoiorc lisavowcd any I'M
kind feeling toward Mr.. b., or his friends
and he not having given me credit for sin
cerity, my self respect iOrbids that sllOulC
say anything further on that point than
this: that if.ailer my disclaimer Mr.. H., 0l
any Of his friends-l think most OF then
have too much good sense to do anything
Of the kind-Should see III to put theni
selves among the hoStilcs, then BE- Il 90
have been among thu hostilcs before aud
still survive. This fact, | believe il pretty
well understood In this community. II
they should not do this, however, judging
from the tone and temper OF his late ar
ticle It will be no fault OF Mr.. B.'s
Without pretending to follow Mr.. L.,
through his long md rambling discussion,
OF four columns length, and without at.
tempting TO reply 10 his half column, or
more, OF perSOnaliticS-ilnCallCd for and
unjust, as think-l will simply proceed
to renew 10 him publicly, what | have
sought to do privately, but without sue.
cess, apropOSition Tint We come together,
in quiet way, and get up
ASAGRGEp CASH,
in which the argumcAt on each side oithis
question, shall be clearly and Succinrtly
stated, and let Il in this form 90 to the
public, and down TO pOsterity, and not in
the shape of an lunsccmly wTanglc.j Lam
now past the time of life when mon usual.
ly contend for the barren reStiltsofa boot:
less victory, but dwell in that middle land,
where they are more apt TO rejoice in the
triumphs OF truth--human intirmity aside,
OF course. invite Mr. D., for n short time,
TO this noble field Of observation. Let us
each, for the time being, lay aside the
character Of special plcadGr, and direct our
attention TO ticnakcd question,
WHAT IsTRrTH?
IiMr. r. consent TO this invitation, he
will not find Inc among the hOstilcs, but
ready to receive him with that courtesy
which Is due from one gentleman 10 an.
other; and as u basis, or preparation for
such an arrangement, ! hereby offer for
friendly discussiont the following argument
when Mr.. b. will, Of course, feel at liberty
to accept, or reject, in part, or entire, as lie
may think best. ''-
The propositions contained, in the fol-
lowing series, consider susceptible Of
proof, or rendered highly propable by cir
runlstances, or may be conceded without
further argument, viz: that in historical
investigation, having for It's object the dis
covery OF truth, "iamily influence" is a
subject OF Legitimate inquiry and, II that
inquiry be properly conducted, It should
give no cause for offence; ii this were not
allowed, influential families would often
have things all their own way; that with
er' Chronicles Of Border Warfare was
the original; or tint published history Of
the
sEIGE OF FORT HENRY;
that so fur as appears from the book iiself,
Mr.. WitlIeS never saw, cOnvefsed with, or
wrote 10 Mrs. Gruger-ithen5 Mrs. SheI-
partl; !, TINT in "Ionlcr Warfare" tho ac-
count OF the siege OF Fort Henry, not only
sparkleS, but bristles with the names OF
different members Of the Zane family: that
the pregnant question still remains in all
It's force, From what source did Withers
in 1882 obtain his information in regard 10
the powder exploit? Now there is no
linsinuation here. n isa direct inquiry
after family bias-il thing that in itself is
nerieclly natural, and under some circumj
stances, more or less cxCuSablc. Tho sim
plc question il, did this bus, II II existed,
lead 10 any undue influence npOnthe pub
LEGATION OF Mr.. Witllcrs? II iInpeac hes the
integrity Of no One-ncillIcr OF Withers, or
the Zanes. ] knew Mr.. WitlIcrs person
slIy, and may say intimately, and AIN sui
istied, that he-wOuld- knowingly or
willingly misrcpresent the facts have
known many OF the Zane family-=l may
sav, before Mr.. B. was born. Nlyrelations
with some Of them were very intimate, and
/ can sneak OF them IN tho,highest terms
OF commenIation. liut Withcrs was a
human being, and subject to It's frailticS;
and no were the Z.Gnesl, Now, trust, !
mn understood. Tl'not, cannot make 1t
palmer. sSXyyaI ,sbst,..
man, though an honorable gentleman, Was
not always careful ~ to his iacts, lie dc;
nies writing under "IanO influence. aud
shonld have the benefit OF his disclaimer.
Writing in lSi3, he followed in the wake
Of WitlerS-H TACT OF which was not
aware, at the time the first edition OF "l.e.
gcndS" wns publishc1-and, Il Is probable
he drew largely from that source, ~ pub
fishing his account Of the siege. air. Nc
Kicrnan, by his own admission, saw
number Of persons, With whom he conyeFss'
I'd, Including AIa. Crugcr, mono Of whom,
except her, had any personal knowledge
Of the siege, some OF tho Others being gmere'
IL shows" at tho time, and some oi them,
barhaps, unborn. II would secm then,
that according to the laws Ot evidence, unay
less Mrs. Cruger's testimony can bo sue.
Sessiully impeached on other grounds--tt
being clear, distinct, pointed, circumstan'
tIal and positive, founded on personal OBJ
..ryation and actual participation within
Inc fort, and at the age Of II years=.hor
testimony outweigls that OF all the Others
nut together, as named by A!r. klcrnan,
their's being OF tho "hearSay" kind, sort
Of EVIDENCE that In civil and criminal pro-
reeiings, IL generally ruled out ot court, as
leinV IN tie main, utterly unreitaDIes
/ Start ruInor, circulate II ireelyist1ck 70 Y
and swear TO II. - =
TURN RED, Is TlIE FACE, ,'''V
yet angry and insult everyone that ven.
turcs to doubt It, and the chances arc tliat
| In time the majority may 10 brought over
10 believe Il. Mr.. McKiernan does not
suv, nor will 7hG say positiVely-as nave
roason 10 know-thn he had any CONVEX
Saiion with Mfs. Cruger expressly on uie
subject OF the powder exploit, or US
heroine. The evidence therefore fails q
show that Mrs. Crnger made different
statement in 1882 from that OF 1912 ant!
Mn, Lists testimony, as towhat she hearu
Mn. Cruger say In lSg2, and Mrs' Iolnilh.
sons through her, established tne iaSi
beyond areasonahle houOt that lestor! ,It ,H "
Mrs. Crugcr was always uniformity the
Sti,s,,r S SrSITns,Sy, Mra. -islat'a iSatImony
reiStcS 10 n timc when the mental capacity
~ Wrs Cruper was sound beyond n qtIcs'
tion and m yiewcoi this TACT, II Is note
~orthV that ALr. b. Jorpd to refer TO Mrs,
Tisi's testimony at aIl. Mr.. Draper, to