The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-09-15

The Union soldier Who was Recently
Arrested Rt BFHxt0n Court House
Some Reflections After the Hattie Of
DOrklng style. -. 49,.
BRAxroS G. FL, w. Va, Sept. s.
Editors lnteliigeuCer.
There is in Jail atthis place an old man
named Beasly, who was Indicted at the
special term of the Circuit Court of this
county in December last, for shooting a
young man named Fox on the 10th Of
September, 1862. 1t appears that at the
time Of the aGray, Beasly was'a private
soldier in Company F, 10th West Virginia
Infantry, and this fact has given his case
degree Of importance that would not
otherwise have attached to it, the Union
soldiers claiming that the prosecution OF
tho old man at this late day savors strong
lyoi rebel malignity; that he was tried
and acquitted by court martial
soon after the affair occurred,
and should not be held accountable,
and that such prosecution is foreign to
every purpose Of the law, inasmuch as it
tends to revive old animosities and is
fraught with infinite danger to the public
peace Beasly himself has published an
affidavit, in which he intimates that his
connection with the federal army is the
main reason for the action against him,
and must confess that circumstances tend
strongly to support this view. II the
rebel element continues to act upon the
principle OF this prosecution 1t is hard to
tell what will be the result The proba-
Sility is that Union men will be Obliged
10 emigrate to some more congenial local
ity, where the crime OF shooting rebel in
self.defence is considered less heinous and
where the judgment Of court-martial is
held in greater esteem.
Even the Democrats affect to pity Beas-
ly; but their expressions remind one Of
those famous words that Willis put into
the mouth OF the GreciaR painter:
Pity theeH 50 do,
IPlty the dumb victim At the altar,
But does the rObed priest for his pity ialter7 =
They pity the victims OF their vengeance,
but they do not hesitate to sacrifice them
for all that. The Lost Cause has become
the religion OF that great party; and trea.
son, assassination and persecution are the
three special graces that have been sub
sttuted for faith, hope and charity in the
antiquated creeds. It's altars reek with
blood, but its victims have at least the con-
ISOLATION Of knowing that they are pitied
and that is consolation by no means to
be deSpised in q country whose greatest
patriot and statesman has been hOnored
with assassination and pity from the same
respectable source.
Pity lis. Ills Tue. a.
1t would not surprise me much to see
before long in the leading journals some
such paragraph rs this: "There is to be a
grand celebration OF the rites OF the Lost
Cause at Washington on the 10th OF June,
conducted by the President OF the United
States rs high priest. Among the most
interesting features OF the occasion will be
the sacrifice Of three hundred men, the
remnant Of an Ohio regiment that fought
in the late war. The sublime spectacle
the most imposing ever witnessed by
man-will take place in front ofthe Capt.
tol at 3 r. NJ. The magnificent block Of
copper from Lake Superior, lately on ex-
hibtion in the Smithsonian Institute, will
constitute the altar, having already been
placed beside the statue Of Washington
for that purpose. The victims, dressed in
beautiful blue uniforms, are to march in
single file u the altar, op which the Presi.
dent is 10 be seated in his gray sacerdotal
robes; and as they come up they are to
stretch forth their necks, one by one, oyer
n large silver vase formerly owned by
Washington, while the President, with
sharp instrument, will sever the juglar
vein Of each in turn. The vase will be
emptied as often az It Is tillea, and the
blood will be mixed with Consecrated
vine, to be used at a grand love.feast in
the east room OF the White House at sun
set. The perfect harmony that now pre-.
wills throughout the Union affords ample
assurance OF the success OF this splendid
natiouIal religious festival" /" .
Such q paragraph would only indicate
the natuFa and logical result Of carrying
into practice the theory OF Beasly' 'sprosecu.
ton, Il confess j nave no taste for human
sacrifices, buB as they have become part
and parcel OF our free institutions, and are
the strongest evidence Of State Rights 1t
may be well enough to speak OF them.
The custom will probably ripen into a
Constitutionala alamendment, Indeed there
ought 10 be some such provision In the
organic law at the time. 1twould silence
Cr0akers If itdid nothing more.
JAoopus.