Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-05-21
F''oa' lie OHIO C6nfcderote-Ertya.


to our leiiow-citizens the communication
when follows. We rejoice that the Iiuht of
truth Is breaking in upon the minds of our
countiynen, and that the despotism of a Sc
we're Sni relentless party spirit, which has
cursed the country for years, is about to he
overthrown. The vital principle of civil lib
erty Is treedom~Of thought A frame work OF
Tree Institutions, without independence of o.
pinlon and action, is but "a whited sepul-
chre:" The fierce tyranny of the satraps of
the dominant party has at last walked up the
spirit OF reheliion-the strong chains in which
they h.'ve tcnt-iyed to bind their victims are
givLn and usea are beginning 10 re-
member that they are freemen and American
cihzens. We need not tell the people of o.
hio who General McEIvaine is. Bv long
and faithful service, in peace and in war. he
has made himself extensively known as
patriotic and honorable man. An officer in
their regular army during the late war. he did
| good service IN battle, in the hot campaign of
the Niagara frontier, and under Harrison i'm
the Northwest. An early and fast friend of
jackson, lie was member of both the cleo
toral colleges which cast the vote of Ohio for
the Hero of Orleans. and was one of the Van
buren, Electoral Ticket of 1886. Subse-
quently, for series of years, occupying the
piace ol Indian Agent to the Ohio tribe, he
ably and successfully discharged the duties
OF that responsible appointment; and. unlike
a host of his contemporaries, received and dis
Dursed annual thousands of the public mon
ey with 'clean hands," He had no Stitching
paim,' and no dollar of the peoples treasury
stuck to his fingers. John McElvaine has
Deen the strong man of the sol distant Demo-
cratic eparty In this region The only man
the officeholders could bring out, with any
prospect of successful competition. AGAINST
our popular and excellent representative in
congress, }. Ridgway. But difficult as he
confessed 1t to have been to burst the shackles
| OF party-hard as it was to brave the denun
ciatlons which he knew to await him. Gen.
McElvaine is too honest to shrink from his
country. We commend his article to the at
tehlion OF the public, and especially to that
Portion OF our fellow-citizens to whom he adj
dresses himself
For the Ohio Confederate.
Air. Editor {: 1t is not because l wish to
thrust my own opinions before the public I'M
called Tor, but because others have chosen to
attach Importance TO them, that am induced
to ask place in your paper for d few re-
| marks.
1t is known TO my fellow-citizens in this
| part OF the country, that have been the early
and constant advocate of Gen. Jackson and
his administration, and that contributed my
exertions to elect his successor. But disap-
proving the course of the Van Buren, party
In many particulars, when Gen. Harrison was
| again brought out in opposition to Mr.. Van
| buren, made up my mind to support him,
! because knew him to be honest and capa-
Die, and worthy of the confidence of the peo-
Pie AS others have been pleased to use nv
name freely because determined to act in
TINS matter for myself, and in pursuance of
high duty to my country, have thought it
proper thus publicly to announce my determi-
nation, through your columns, to our old Jack
son friends, by whom / desire to be properly
understood
In abandoning Mr.. Van Buren, and giving
my vote to Gen'l. Harrison, let no man sup
pose that abandon my political opinions or
my Old political friends with whom | co-ope
rated In electing Gen. Jackson to the hioh
post which lie flied with so much credit to
himself and honor to his country. These who
adhere to the principles which the friends of
Jackson then professed, will find me still with
tiiehi. am aware that portion Of the an
Buren, party will bitterly condemn nv course.
ana charge me with desertion of my princi
Ples-in the hope of persuading nv old friends
that have changed. That is not true. NV
principles are the same-the principles which
brought General Jackson into power. Thev
may, perhaps, set me down as Conservative
We'll, be it so. They are at liberty to call
me by this or any other party name (; but I
must have the privilege of voting for whom
Please-i am resolved not to be collared bv
party or party names. There is no material
difference between the great bulk of the two
/ parties, as to the manner in which thew de-
sire the government to be administered. The
differences, believe to be among the poIiti-
clans on beth sides, whose object it is to
gather harvest of STAT things'' for them
Selves and equally at the expense Of the peo-
! pie.
| 1t is proud name enough for me that can
simply call myself an American citizen. T
wish to be known by no other. | will ac-
knowledge no other. am tired ofdeception.
/ Names are nothing. Honesty of purpose is
every thing: l therefore support my old
General and fellow-sodier, not as a party
man, out because | know him--and know
him to be brave man, true patriot, and a
! capaDie statesman; and knowing him as |
| do, had ten thousand votes thew sbouId all
be his In preference to Van Buren,. If was
necessary could go into detail in eivino
reasons Tor my preference of General Harri-
son. But expect to meet personally with
most OF my old political friends and associ
ates, and will with great pleasure explain
! verbally why / am constrained to sustain
General Harrison. For the last wear have
been dissatisfied with the course of measures
! pursued by the administration, and consider
ed the legislation of the Van Buren, party in
the S.a'e government as peculiarly obiec-
uonaole. And, much as l have disliked the
( course OF the leaders of the WhiO party.
| have lonped to see. and do homo +e e., Il