The last slanders of the bolters nailed to the counter!

Dublin Core

Title

The last slanders of the bolters nailed to the counter!

Subject

Virginia--Politics and government--1865-1898.
Legislators--United States

Description

Describes a controversy between Harris and a Negro, Joe Williams; another with Michael Saurbaugh and a Mr. James.

Creator

Harris, John T. (John Thomas), 1823-1899.

Publisher

J. T. Harris?

Date

1869?

Rights

Public domain

Format

1 broadside ; 24 x 15 cm.

Language

English

Type

Text

Identifier

H Flat File 1:6 H24l

Coverage

Harrisonburg, Va.

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

THE LAST SLANDERS OF THE BOLTERS Nailed to the Counter!

A week or more ago, I heard that my enemies here, the enemies of the Conservative party, intended procuring a statement from one Joe Williams, a negro. I heard its purport. In the office of the Virginia Hotel last week, in the presence of Mr. Sale, one of the proprietors, and many others, Mr. Crane said he never had written me in his life, and never talked a word on politics to me.

Joe Williams’ satatement is a falsehood from beginning to end. He is on his sick bed, and his physician, Dr. Hill, says up to the evening before he gave the statement he was so prostrate in body and mind that he was incapable of giving an intelligent account of anything. He saw him again on Sunday morning, and he was rational.

Woodson sneaked up to his cabin on Saturday night, called in two witnesses, and there took down the evidence of a low mean negro to influence the freemen of the 6th District.

The negro is my enemy because, as he said, I had no confidence in negroes, and Woodson is my enemy. There they were, in the dark hours of night—“black spirits and white spirits”—concocting evidence to influence the white freemen of this District. The following card shows Joe Williams to be my enemy :

“I certify that Joe. Williams told me he was mad at Judge Harris because the Judge said he had no confidence in negroes.
“A. W. Helphenstine.” .

Mr. Helphenstine is a young man of good character.
J. H. Wartmann, Editor Register.

A week or more ago I was told they were trying to get such a certificate from Joe. I said it was hard enough to bear the lies of white men, but if Joe certifies any such lie I would cane him, but I sent no message, as this shows :

“Judge Harris sent no message by me to Joe Williams, but I informed him of what Judge Harris had said. W. O. Hill, M. D.”

This proves Joe. lies.

It only remains for me to say that Joe Williams' whole statement is a falsehood, and that he is mean enough, but better than Woodson, who tries to influence white people by “negro evidence.”

This statement is on a par with the article purporting to be from the Washington Chronicle. It is not Editorial, but written here by one of the same set, and then copied by them into a circular. So with the “Rebel Crusher.” I never entertained or uttered such a sentiment in my life, and it is a falsehood from beginning to end, and I will expose them at Woodstock to-day, when I speak.

I appeal to the Conservative party to stand by their nominee! Rebuke these traitors to their cause! Preserve the party, and consign low personal enemies to oblivion!
JNO. T. HARRIS.

Since writing the above I spoke to an immense crowd in Woodstock. I called for the author of the charge that I had said ‘‘we had the rebels under our feet, &c.” The name of Michael Sarbaugh, a stranger to me, was given. I called for him in the crowd. He came, and below is his statement. Then amid the shouts of one thousand voices I gave the lie to the charge and proved it.— So with the Chronicle article. Mr. James, the reputed author, was present. He answered he had not written a line for that paper in 15 months.— So that falsehood was also exposed. Read the evidence of respectable gentlemen on this subject:

“We certify that Judge Harris to-day called for and demanded the author of the charge, ‘Now that we have the rebels down, we will keep them down, etc.’ The name of Michael Saurbaugh was given. He came forward and said it was false; that certain parties asked him to say so, but he refused, and that Watkins James denied having written an article for the Chronicle.

REUBEN WALTON,
JOHN CLINEDINST,
JAMES A. CLINEDINST,
H. S. G. ALBERT,
SAMUEL RINKER,
DANIEL BURNER.

John T. Harris
Woodstock, Va.

Original Format

broadside

Date Digital

2015-03-04

Digital Format

application/pdf/a