The Daily Dispatch: April 3, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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[for the Rockingham Register.]

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Messrs. Editors: In your paper of the 28th of February, in an article over the nature of "Key," I am charged with have "rushed violently to certain conclusions from doubtful premises, " in my communication your paper of the 21st of the same month "on behalf of myself and the Catholics Harrisonburg." "Key" also asserts that conclusions were to pipled over by the expostion of Mr. Byrd. Although "Key" says that he has no intention to call in question piety or morality, yet the certificate of Byrd, which he subjoins, would seem to peach not lightly my veracity.

I pass over Mr. Byrd's "failure to award the use of the Church to Father Bixio," and the fierce struggle between the Church of room and Protestantism in by-gone days. We live now in more enlightened times, and people boast of being more eminently Christians than in those times when palaces and however burnt, and nobles and peasants slaugitered, on account of religion. Those time are to be lamented, and if they cannot be forgotten, should not be imitated in any manner by Christians of the present day.

But let us return to the matter in dispatch Were my "premises doubtful?" If the testimony of Abraham Byrd, Esquire be true, premises were not only doubtful, but false.--For he writes: "I hereby certify that I did not give permission to the Catholics to hold meeting in the Lutheran Church in Harritsonburg, on Sunday, the 9th February, 1862

"Abraham Byrd."

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Here the matter must rest adversely to unless I can produce rebutting testimony which I am reluctantly forced to do in vindication of my veracity:

"I certify that I heard Jno. H. Wortman say, on several different occasions, that he had had a conversation with Major Byrd in relation to the appointment fro religions services, by Rev. Father Bixio, in the Lutheran Church, in Harrisonburg, on Sunday the 9th February last, and that he distinct understood Mr. Byrd to say that he had objections whatever to Father Bixio's using said Church for Catholic service, and that was alone on the assent of Major Byrd that he had published the said appointment in the Rockingham Register.

"Given under my hand this 28th February 1862.

D. S. Morris.

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"I certify the above to be correct, as Mr. John H. Wortman told me the same.

"E. J. Sullivan!"

I addition to the testimony of Messrs. M ris and Sullivan, Mr. J. H. Wortman and me, in the presence of Col. Van-Pelt, that Major Byrd did promise the use of the Church to the Catholics for the 9th Feb; that he (Byrd) could not deny it, and that it will by the assent of Major Byrd that he (Wortman) published in the Rockingham Register that Father Bixio would preach in the Lutheran Church, on the 9th February, 1862.

I have many other witnesses that I cite if necessary. Mr. Key or Mrs. Key, whatever kind of Key my friendly opposes in the Rockingham Register, of the 28th February last, may be, will please examine my testimony and he will then find the true cause of my "imaginary affront." He must be old enough to know that there is still too much of the spirit of the 15th century in the work "Key" also knows that I am a Catholic, and as such disown all Rey-power or powers of the keys in ladies. I acknowledge no Peter to carry the Key of the Church. And here the whole affair would and should but on presenting my card to Mr. J. H. Wortman for publication, after promising to publish it, he took the liberty to pervert in meaning and so change it as to make it against me, and when fortunately I detected this, he refused altogether to publish, and said if I published it I would be sorry for it. The annexed statement of John McQuside, Esq., will show the community more than some of them will like, and will terminate the dispute on my part.

John Scanlon.

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Statement of John McQuside.

"At the request of John Scanlon, I recompanied him to the printing office of J. H. Wortman about the 12th of March, 1862. We found Mr. Wortman in his office; Mr. Scanlon presented a Ms. card for publication in the "Register," as a reply to an article " Key," which had appeared in the Register, of Feb. 28th.

"Mr. Wortman received the article, it, and promised that it should appear in his next paper. On the following day he declined to publish it in my presence; but forth with retracted, telling Mr. Scanlon that if he in slated on its publication it should appear, but that he, Scanlon, would be sorry for it. After this he stated positively to Mr. Scanlon, in my presence, that the article should not appear at all, unless he, Wortman, was allowed to make on important change in it. The change had already been made by Wortman, in Wortman's own hand write, on the margin of the Ms. Mr Scanlon objected in having his article changed, stating that he effeted it to the public in vindication of his personal rights, and that he was responsible what he had written.

"I furthermore state that Mr. Wortman stated to Mr. Scanlon that Major Byrd give his consent to the Catholics to hold a religions meeting in the Lutheran Church, on the 9th Feb. Also, that Major Byrd wrote and signed with his own pen the certificate over his name in the Register, of the 28th Feb. Mr. Wortman also stated distincity that he would not have published the appointment for religions worship on the 9th of February, as above stated, had he not been expressly authorized to do so by Major Byrd himself.