Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-03-11
COMMUNICATED.
yesterday

d(r. Spiri Permit me tho use Of y our
columns to reply to Register of last Satur-
day. Under the head of Injecting at Charles
town." Register says, sit liked to have been
an uproarious affair, and, strange to say,
aggravated by our States attorney, whose
legal duty is to prosecute others for breaking
the peace" The insignia of Office is not
badge of servitude under which We lay our
man hood and Independence to sleep. DIFF
ferent planets rule our birth and prompt our
actions. l walked into that meeting with
no intention of participating in its proceeds
iDgs, but justice and my own self-respect
demanded the course [ pursued. Immedi-
ately upon my entrance into the meeting the
chairman commenced strain of remarks,
which could not but construe as directed
against myself, and to those remarks made
just such response as [ hold myself ready
always to make to such attacks Register
says, further, that "there are very strange
freaks and anomalous acts done by men of
tho present day." Yes, Nr. Register, you
hold your paper up the advocate of truth
and Justice and, strange anomaly, it is devoid
of both; and you remember you were Con-
federato soldier onco, and afterwards you
aided in vilifying the cause. Aud, again,
Rcgisfcr says, sour Commonwealth Attor-
ney, ,chOse duty 1t is under the 1n,c, in soma
cases, to prosecute the railroad company.
turns out to be its most zealous champion"
In what cases, NJ. Register, is it my duty to
prosecute the railroad, and point out to the
people wherein have failed in my duty in
this respect. My duties as prosecuting at
torney are defined by the law, and are per-
| formed in the presence of courts but before
| a public assembly have that great chartered
right of freedom Of speech aud freedom of
I -
| respect arc on par with its complaints
against the railroad, and both are founded in
malice and Misrepresentation. When the
railroad is indicted, am ready to do my
duty; when Register is indicted, which is
tho more likely, am ready to do the same.
have tried not TO be found wanting in my
duty in the past, and hope shall not in the
future but my duties prosecutor with
railroads and with men commence when the
grand inquest have said they should be put
upon their trial. l may have to prosecute
my dearest friend, but that does not debar
me from approving his good acts. | think
my worthy predecessor will join me in the
assertion that during our terms of office no
indictment has yet been found against rail.
road. If Register thinks there ought to have
been, then let him cast the blame on the
grand jury. where it properly belongs.
Now, in regard to Secrctary's proceedings
in Register, | am free to cay, that [ was of
opinion, until l the proceedings, that
the meeting was public but it seems from
them the "large" and "respectable" meeting
was under tho control of Mr.. Mason and that
fair>minded, truth loving Secretary, that All
Sin, so childlke aud bland, whose verify as
reporter is only equalled by his pugnacity as
soldier reports "Mr Mason invited Geo.
fka IN hob ,H
of the B. 30. r. R." II Secretary report be
true, why am blamed for doing what was
invited to do doubt not that this meeting,
in fact, was Msson's meeting, and the reso-
lutious were cut and dried by him, and were
never reported by the committee appointed.
1t is, however, not true that spoke on Mr..
Mason's invitation. l spoke as a matter of
right, and was heard as matter of right. l
opposed then, as oppose now, and as tho
majority of our people oppose the appropria-
ton of the peoples money to carry on suIcI>
dial litigation for Mr. Mason's benefit, and
the-meager support that Mason's resolution
found, and the almost universal reputation
of the action of that meeting by our shippers
and business men by their petition signed
and forwarded to our delegates, fully attest
their views on this subject. And now, in
conclusion, Mr.. Register, you should re-
member that not many years ago we enlisted
in the same cause with like obligations and
like duties, and when the hour of trial and
of danger came. you violated your oath and
forsook your oolors. You should remember
that in the days of this peoples adversely you
were basking in the smile of their oppressors
and reaping the golden reward of your
treachery, and it i'll becomes you now to cen>
sure my conduct. All can ask of the people
whom l have never yet deserted, is not to do
me the great injustice and wrong to judge
me BY your standard of honesty and integ-
rity. GEORGE BAYLOR.