Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-10-05
noUR DUTYu

The Free Press in its last issue accuses us
of trying to defeat the Judicial nominee by
indirsctfon. We have NO personal objection
to that nominee, and expect TO vote for him at
tbs polls, butt the Free Press thinks our non.
approval of the manner in which affairs were
conducted at Berkeley Springs and Martins
burg, Indirectly or directly aida il. defeating
shat nominee, We must plead guilty to the
charge. To say that those nomination. wers
fairly and honestly consummated, would
violate our honest convictions. We may be
wrong, but the facts and circumstances sur,
rounding the transaction strongly indicate
the view We have taken.
Some years ago a convention assembled in
this place. There was no dispute about the
credentials Of the various members of that
body. 1t was properly organized and re-
cognized as the representative body of the
Democratic party of this county. 1t named
certain gentlemen as nominees for the va
riou, county offices. 1t was, in the language
of tho Free Press. "a regularly constituted
convention" Did the Free Press support
the nominees of that convention? We think
not, aud why In an editorial in reply to
the .Shephesdsto0n Register, it says, sit is
not true that the Free Press failed to give
the names of the nominees of said copysn>
ton. We not only did that, but exposed the
manner in which they were foisted upon the
people," Now the nominees of that eonyen>
ton were gentlemen against whose personal
integrity nothing could be said, and nothing
was said. But there was objection to the
manner in which those nominations were
brought about, aud the Free Press, as an
independent public censor, condemned the
action of that convention, as it had a right
to do, from its standpoint. But, strange to
say, that same journal noH designates us as
a boiler, because we merely exercise the
same privilege and rrerogative of holding up
to public view the action of these convcn-
TONS.
The Berkeley Springs Convention cor.
tainly violated Democratic usage when it
gave ths nomination to a minority candidate
from this county, and what redress have the
majority if they tanely submit without a
word of dissent. Will not the same thing
be repeated again and again, if we sanction
il? Tho people have already passed judg>
men., which we could not reverse if We usre
in Inclined.
The Free Press says the Electoral Com.
mission was called into being in o great
cribs; nevertheless it vas as regular consti-
tuted a body as the Berkeley Springs Con-
v%sntiou, and if Samuel J. Tilden was the
legally elected President, then that body
was organized to say so; and if the county of
Jefferson was entitled to the nomination of
Senator, and DR.. Starry was her choice, then
the Berkeley Springs Convention was or
s%anized to say SO. II We depounce the first
for q departure from duty, to be eonsistent,
We must denousoe the second also. We do
not desire to eatsehise either editor of the
Free Press, or cast the slightest reflection on
the course of the venerated Senior. His
rsaEons, ne doubt, are ample aud sufficient.
An Independent ysomanrJ is at all time. the
bone aud sinow of the country, and an indo>
pendent press its %bulwark; both happy cor
receives of abuses, excuses and corruption in
all parties. We admire the Seniors inda>
pendant spirit, and trustfulIy hops, whom
Summons comes to join the innumerable
caravan" a double portion of that spirit
to him merely t, warn the Free Press to sx>
anime the nature of its homo structure
before it cast a stone at its neighbor.