Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-09-17
A CARD.

feel Ii due to myself and friends, as Wen
as Ito the constituency that elected me to
the position OF State Senator, to publish the
following statement:
During the Temperance Campaigning at
Shenandoah Junction one OF their speakers
]. l.. Thomas, who learn is paid State
Temperance Lecturer, made the charge
against me in a public address that in the
canvass four years ago 1 promised the Tenn
perance people that would vote for the SUBJ
mission Of the Prohibition Amendment to
the State Constitution, which charge then
declared to be false and do now so declare.
made no promise to any one that l would
vote against the submission.
took the position in the outset that
would not make any promises to either party
on the Prohibition proposition. 1t was not
question in the nominating convention.
was nominated as a Democrat. by the Demo-
cratic rarty, in opposition to the Republican
party, and to have promised either party on
that question would have been to drive the
other away from me and thus defeat my cleo
ton and the party that nominated me.
Shortly after my nomination committee
appointed by the Temperance lodge at Shep-
herdstown wrote me letter demanding TO
know how was going TO vote on the Prohl-
bItion Amendment, if elected. declined 10
answer their letter, but went to them In per-
son, stated TO them that had been Son OF
Temperance from my youth, and claimed 10
be as good and consistent Temperance man
as they had in Shepherdst6wn. lmade them
no promise The result was that portion
OF their lodge became offended and voted
against me- After the charge made against
me at the Shenandoah Campaigning en-
deavored Mt once to see every one that had
any conversation with during the campaign
on the Prohibition question, and have seen
all that can think OF, and every one WIN
exception named below, has stated TO me
that made them no promise. One decided
Temperance man stated 10 me that L had
told him at that time 1t was not my business
to be making promises. A few days since
drove TO Gerardstown with a friend to see
Mr.. Morgan editor ola Temperance psper)
and Mr. J. p stump. The latter faiied 10
see on account of his absence from nome.
had not supposed there was any one VINO
would sustain the charges made at Shenah-
doah Junction. But Mr.. Morgan Expressed
himself in conformity with card puollshed
Mt solicitation OF Mr.. J.. z. stump, but admit
ted TO my friend 1t was possible he might
have been mistaken in his construction of
nv conversation, as stated that had been
Son of Temperance from my youth ana
friend and well-wisher Of the cause. lie then
produced copy Of q late issue OF MS paper
containing statement of Mr.. j. Z. stump
and himself hat l told them, without mental
reservation, &C., that / would vote lot lhe
submission of Prohibition amendment II
elected l told him then their statements
were not true (Which now reiterate), that
had taken the position in the outset that
would make no promises to either party, to
which position adhered and they had mis-
understood or misconstrued my conversation.
This conversation occurred before the con-
vention met. There WAS but one delegate
from their town TO the convention and he eX-
pressed himself favorably to me and was not
connected with the Temperance order. |
had no assurance that would get the nomi-
nation, and there was no good reason why
should make such promise.
When the Prohibition Amendment was in
troduced into the Senate, was much per-
picked to know what was my duty. Having
been n friend OF the Temperance cause all
my life, my feelings inclined me to that side
While always holding to the doctrine that
Representative is a public servant and duty
requires him to represent the sentiment oil
the majority OF his constituency. / was then
and am now inclined TO the opinion that the
majority OF the voters Of this Senatorial dis
trict were opposed to the Prohibition Amend
ment to the State Constitution. Whel 1t be-
came apparent to me that the Republican
party was endeavoring to make political cap
ital by forcing the Prohibition Bill through
the Legislature, hoping thereby to harm the
party in power-the Democratic party at
that time having nearly two-third majority
in the Legislature would have been held re-
sponsible for its submission, which would
have come up at our October election, 1881,
for ratification, just previous to November
Presidential election. Looking at the ques-
ton from that standpoint could not for
moment entertain the thought OF being
party 10 proposition that would bring about
such result as the turning OF our State over
to the Republican party at the October cleo
ton for II lost then to the Democratic party
certain to be lost at Presidential election,
in November and thus greatly hazard the
election Of Democratic President OF the
United States. Which view OF the question
decided me at once to stand by my party,
which position have never regretted. AS
TO the rumor which learn has been circnla-
ted by some that promised and pledged my
self to the manufacturers and dealers OF Mar
tinsburg and Berkeley county, l refer not
only to them but to any dealer in this dis
trict or elsewhere, in proof Of the fact that
NIT aI ,,,vsa1f in
any way as to how would vote uyon the
prohibition question. l have endeavo red to
give n calm, honest and faithful review Of
the question, and written much more than
expected. j. s. MELVIN.
s. In the REGISTERS publication OF Mr..
Stumps card, the real motive Of that gentle
man in publishing that statement is omitted,
to-wit: my verasity is thus called in ques-
tion."