West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-08-28
-SAM. EnMuNnSCAN WRITE.
REtD UHir M HtS rO SAY ron
HINNEIF.

QUESTION 18th samuel !-->o, NcNcrl
KINGwoop, W. VA, Aug. 23, 80
10 the Editor Of tie Argus;
In last weeks issue OF the Jo,o7,dl
| noticed a brief communication over
the signature OF "citizeu," which
reads as follows:
I'VE notice in last week ARGUS
letter over the name OF Samuel Ed
munds. Every one knows that
Samuel cant write. (That Is not his
fault, but the crime OF the Demo
cratic party which kept him and his
race in slavery, and made 1T peni
tentlary oGense for any one to teach
hlm to read and write). Therefore,
some one wrote the letter for him.
That much Is sure.
And another thing is sure There
are at least twelve good men in this
county who will testify that Samuel
was uever in the battle Of Gettys-
burg They also inform me that be
was never under Hancock.
CITIZEN
have but a few words to say in
reply which ] intend shall express
my sentiments, although briefly
stated.
l. ! can write; but ! lay no elaine
to professional pensmanship, nor
purity OF diction. However. through
the benelioence Of liberal creator, |
have been endowed with reason,
be it OF a character ever 60 inferior.
1t may be that "citizen" judges my
expressions bv the color OF my skin
but whether my expressions are in -
lerlor to my color, or my color infe .
rlor to my eXpresslons do not feel
at liberty TO Say, for the original
cause of each is the work OF the
Great and Good One whoae acts no
one has the semblance of right ia
question BY many hours OF labor
have learned to both read and wIite
and | can say that since | have
learned to read have also learned
to vote the Demo cratic ticket.
2. "Citizen,' in saying that | can.
not write, says that il is not my
fault, but the crime oil the Demo
cratic party which kept mo aud my
race in slavery, and made it peni
tentiery olenge for any one to teach
me to read and write. and from this
consequent argument draws the con -
c!uslon that so me one wrote the let
ter for me. Now, AZ to the charge
against the Democrats, | feel that
can honestly give the Democrats as
much If not more credit, than | can
the Republicans. For, had it not
been Tor a large portion OF the Dem
ocrauc party, and in fact all Demo-
crets OF the North, what would the
Republican party been able TO have
done for the preservation Of our
Union and the freedom of my race
which had boen held in slavery from
the formation Of the fret English
and French colonies Of America un-
til the Emancipation Proclamstio on
Of Lincoln ? Absolutely nothing.
3. AS to its being a penitentiary
oilense for any person, at certain
time in the history oil our country
to teach one Of my race to read or
write, / know that such was the
case in some Of the States, only, and
also know that in some other
States, which had large Democratic
majorltieB, such was not the case.
But, was all this worse for me than
that which have to endure at the
present time, VIZ; Because l advo-
cate the election OF Hancock, to have
ny life threatened For, during the
present campaign, several Of my
brethren, Of the same dyed blood
that courses through my veins, have
said that ought 70 be shot for ad
vocsting the election Of Gen. Han
cock, Yes, for advocating the cleo
tion Of a man who passed through
the terrible fire Of Charlottesville
and Gettysburg (ond on the latter
field shedding bis blood for the free
dom Of the race which = love and to
which I be.ong).
4. "Ctiz3n' says there are at least
twelve good men in this county who
will testify that / was not in the
battle Of Gettysburg Give me the
sworn statement OF your twelve men
and will prove your host Of doz-
en- poJurers by the sworn state
ment Of more than that number land
iu al probability, by men Of vastly
better reputation for veraoity.
B. "Citi2en' also says that The
same twelve men inform hin that !
was never under Hancock. lie has