Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1889-02-09
HARRISoN 49, srop Ir.

of the people to the faults of any one
portion OF the country; but there
are some things that cannot pass I'M
noticed, that are rank, outrageous
| and criminal in nature-and these
should be condemned by all alike.
The recent election has brought to
the surface, charges of fraud from
both parties. Contests have ensued.
Some have been settled satisfactory
ly, others are still pending. Such
matters, so long as bloodshed does
not occur, are national evils growing
out Of heated political excitement,
that quiet down when legal steps
have made settlements that are &C.
quiesced in by all sensible people.
This is as it should be.
There are certain States that give
their solid votes to the Democratic
party. 1t is often openly insisted
that they will always do SO. Why?
Not because the people desire it, but
because the leaders, false and design
ing, will it. To keep the votes of
these States for party, crime is often
perpetrated, intimidation is resorted
to, and the natural and sacred rights
guaranteed to all people, regardless
of class or color, denied to many of
| them. This cannot be honestly con-
troverted, nor do the leaders of a
great party, deny it. Without par
titan feeling in our bosom, without
a grain of ill-will in our heart, we
say, this condition of affairs must
end. The constitution must be SUI
preme. Against this, no true patri-
OF can offer a protest. If the insti-
buttons and liberty of the people are
to be maintained, this violent and
disgraceful condition of affairs must
cease. The South should not per-
NIT such outrages to go unpun-
ished. That evil results will fol-
low. if she be allowed to rule or
ruin, is too plainly brought to the
eyes of the world, by the murder of
Hon. John M. Clayton, at Plummers-
vile, Ark, Jan. 29th last. He had
ran for Congress against Hon. G. r,
Breckenridge, and claimed that by
the stealing of the ballot box at that
| place, he had been thrown in mi
nority vote. Under the law he had
a right to contest, in fair, honora-
BILE, legal manner. He meant to do
that, and nothing more, for while
passing through Little Rock on his
way to Plummersville, he said to
Hon. Henry M. Cooper, in response
to suggestion of danger: 81 do not
believe that | will be harmed. but the
men who voted for me believe that /
was elected, and so do / and l will
go there, even at the risk of my life"
These were the words of a man, who,
In few days, was to fall at the hands
OF political murderers. After having
been engaged for several days in TAX
ing testimony, about 8 o'clock p. m.
of January 30, while in his room at
his boarding house, in the act of sit
ting down at table near window,
to write to his motherless children,
he was shot through the window by
concealed assassins a few feet from
him, and instantly killed. The spirit
that has for years suppressed honest
conviction in the South, took this
means, foul and bastard, to stop an
honest investigation that would have
led to the exposure of the vilest of
ballot box stealing.
Blood must be spilled, manhood
murdered, crime invoked-all, that
G. r. Breckenridge might again be
in Congress. His seat has been
bought with the blood of an inno-
cent, well-meaning man. To show
the morality of the people about
Plummersville, their sense of justice,
and feelings for the murdered man,
we give an extract from the letter of
Gen. Powell Clayton and Judge Clay