Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-01-31

Hon Clarkson n. Potter, of New York.
distinguished Democrat of that State, ia dead.
Mr.. Horncr, editor of the Petersburg
Senttnet, says that he would not be surprised
IL ths prohibition amendment passed both
houses of the Legislature this session. He
seems to think that some of the Senators
desIrsus OF reelection will change over to
that side. He suggests that it will possibly
b SO modified as to exempt beer and wine.
Tie trial of Charles j. Guiteau for the
murder of James A. Garfield, which was be-
gan on the l4th of November last, and has
occupied ffty>tbree days Of actual session of
the eourt, terminated Wednesday in a YER.
dict OF guilty as indicted" OF course
there will be the usual delay to enable Gui-
tsAu's counsel to file exceptions, arrest of
judgment and appeal before sentence, bu.
1t reasonably certain that the great crinissl
will soon expatiate his crime on the galloss.
The vsrdict is generally approved.
The Sherman Funding Bill was again uu-
der consideration in the United States SEN
ate last Friday, and an important amendment,
saered BY Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, WAS
adopted. The am endment provides that the
bonds issued under the Sherman act shall
not be called IN as long az any bonds of the
United States heretofore issued bearing a
higher rate of interest than three per cen>
tum, and which are rsdeenable at ths plea
sure OF the United States, shall be existing;
and that the last of the bonds issued under
the Sherman act shall be the first called in,
and thst this order of payment shall be fol-
lowe until all shall have been paid.
Ia the debate on the lawyers tax, in
the House of Delegates on Friday, the law
yers did the fighting Cd both sides. Mr..
Ferguson, lawyer, led the forces in favor of
the tax, while Mr.. FulkersoD, Beckwith and
Lowry, all lawyers, backed him up; and
against the tax were Speaker Wilson, Leon
ard Monroe, and Hubbard, all lawyers The
farmer element was generous, and excused
them from the tax. In the debate Mr.. Beck
with said the legal profession had been es>
PecislIy veutilsted by this discussion. Law
yers were either paupers, fools or kuaves, ac>
oording to the arguments adduced. He how
ever, proposed TO vote for the tax. He did
not believe the lawyers were SO parsimopions
as to shrink from the tax, or to take it off
the people.
contributor to the last issue of the Free
FreS' suggests the prepayment of taxes, as
prerequisite to voting, sixty days previous
to corporation election. In this we think
tho writer is in error. There are many Door.
bo l..
cumstances delayed in the payment of their
taxes. In our article last week we did no,
suggest the requirement of the payment of
taxes at period previous to an election for
the purpose of DISTINGUISHING any honest, un>
purchased or unpurchasable voter; nor do
we think the writer 10 the Free Press so in
tends. For this reason we would mako the
time Tor the final payment of taxes SIS near
the election as possible, without being close
enough for taxes to be paid and votes engaged
with any degree of certainty by candidates
or their friends. We suggested FIVE, ten or
twenty days. We think Eve days would be
sufficient for all practical purposes.
A special meeting Of the Town Council
was held on Friday evening last, to take
measures to prevent, if possible, the influx
OF smallpox into our midst The mountain
labored aud brought forth mouse-the
meeting resulting in simple order for the
mayor TO request all persons to be vaccinated
notwithstanding that DR.. C. T. Richardson
proposed to vaccinate all who needed it, to
the number of six hundred if necessary, for
the reasonable sum of fifty dollars That the
people OF the entire town should be VAGINA
ted, is acknowledged by all, and this neces>
sity being SO apparent, why should tho mat
ter be delayed The National Board of
Health has declared this leathescma disease
to be epidemic in the United States, and
with cases here and there all around US.
and with constant intercourse with infected
sections, it is scarcely possible that our com.
munity should entirely escape it's ravages.
simple appropriation for those unable to
pay will not answer the purpose, because
there are many poor people unable to paw.
yet too proud to place themselves in the no,
sition of public paupers. A reasonable ans
preparation for the purpose, and public no.
tice that all will be entitled to it's benefits
(whether rich or poor,) tho town paying for
the same, and the expenses bearing upon all
will enable every one to have this importan,
matter attended to. and that without any feel
ing OF delioscy. 1t also seems TO us tina. !,
would be proper for the corporate authorities
if they have the power. to require all persons
coming here from greatly injected localities
to remain in>doors for reasonable length of
time. or to pass an inspection bcfore health
officer here.