Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-04
TO MIR. j. VI. MASON.
some Pertinent questions and Wholesome
Advice.

Advice.
To james II. Mason.
SIR.-Allew a plain man,-but an ad-
mirer of men of honorable achievement,
such as George Mason of Virginia, whom
it is understood, was your ancestor, land
which is to your credit if not to his to ask
you a few plain questions, and say to you
a few plain words.
You, evidently, in your own opinion, oc-
cupy q very high plane as n citizen, and
desire to be looked up TO as an oracle en-
tightening West Virginia on matters OF
State. 1t is implied from the tone of
paper, which assumes the name of West
Eirginia Democrat" which you edit land
gratuitously circulate for the benefit OF
those of your fellow citizens less gifted
than yourself, and less honest than your
self that you are peculiarly qualified to
advise Legislators, governors and your
brethren of the press, and that to your
wisdom is to be attributed the publication
of our politics, the restoration OF a large
Democratic majority in the State, the de
crease Of taxation, and in short the
Inauguration of comparative millennium
in West Virginia, provided these things
should be brought about.
Who authorized you to dictate in these
matters? Surely, not your neighbors oil
jefferson, who best know you, for they
have contided their interests to Messrs.
Lucas and Chew? Why did they not elect
you to the Legislature, il, as your publica-
tions and expressions strongly imply, You
are peculiarly qualified for the 'IegithnGte''
duties of a statesman preOrdained
9TH aDplauSe of listening SenateS to command,
The hreuts Of pdiR and ruin 10 deSpiSe,
To scatter pI-s-Hrt-y DER a smiling land,
And read your history in "A nations eyes
1t will not do to say m~onopolists' in
fluence was against you, for You admit
land we are glade to believe it, that those
gentlemen are rs Jealous against monopoly
as they shOnld be. Do you find justitica-
ton in the ''liberty of the press? Or
in the gift of second sight? Or have
you enjoyed the honor off special revela-
ton?
This last you are aware is often an
available defence in a certain class of cases,
and your friends may ere long base yours
upon the same plea. You take rs much
pride in the attempted removal" of the
unconstitutional exemptions of the pro-
duets of oil well, &c., rs did Don QuixOte
take in his scufle with the wine bags, and
with about the same degree of frenzy. And
by the way there are other points of re-
semblance between you and that great
man. He also was an oracle and n re-
49,. Al - - % no hnna1 fhnf van
will enjoy the same lucid setting ut the
end. You appear to be q gentlemen of ex-
tensiye reading and with n taste for
literature. | commend to yOu u work
called Modern Chivalry" in which you
will find an illustration of the liberty and
power o fthe press but little inferior 10
your own Democrat?
You say your tax-bill was earnestly en-
dOrsed by Governor Wilson.
Are you not mistaken? When did
Governor Wilson issue 4 supplemental or
original assessment order?
You say, almost every private indus
try which now escapes taxation combined
to surround the Legislature with a lobby;
there were present probably fifty men
representing vast amounts Of property
which now escapes taxation and it was
impossible for those whose eye was single
TO the public welfare to gain n hearing"
This expression, whose eye was single"
and, sis single" (which is n favorite of
yours is not happy in q State paper, and
we would advise you to drop it, or indulge
il less; else, you will be suspected of a de-
sire to display your literary qualifications
rather than to inculcate good advice. By the
way, do you not stretch the blanket" rs
it were, in saying there were "Jfy'lobby-
lists? We wese present at that interesting
session, and, MI. Mason, candOr compels us
to say that you was the most persistent,
arrogant, pestiferous, ~inSinuating and
disgusting lobbyist in the crowd. You
were equal to a dozen of the others. And
do YOU intend to haraSs the next Legis-
lature as you did the last? Or are there
limits to your impudeuce? There are
some members, at least, of the Legislature
who do not live on the bones of their
ancestors" and who have-to put it
mildly-no predictions towards men of
your caliber and caste, and who, very
likely, will resent q repetition of your in
t~rusiye, O~tficious and g~ratuitOus sugges-
tions. 1t is to be hoped that yOu will
have sufficient respect for your lineage to
attend more closely to your own business
hereafter. Nor JUNIUS.
p. S.-Don't get excited. Your glory
is not brilliant action when burning from
the modification Of q rebuke that your
warmest friend might with propriety give
you, and which we are surprised has not
been given sooner. This letter for which.
we don't charge a~nything) if you can rise
to m appreciation oft is worth more to
YOU than years subscription to your
little paper the Democrat or what you will
likely ever realize on your Virginia bonds
from this State. Treasure il. n. ].
Fifth Senatorial District.
November 50, 1856.