Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-08-27
FoR TIE SPECTATOR.


merit of producing several rare specimens i'm
| the front rank of the animal kingdom, which
the agitation of conflicting doctrines (always
favourable to the development of hidden tai
ent) has forced out of obscurity upon the po-
litical arena, where they figure ''the observed
oil all observers" within circle we will not
say how extended. Our county pride must
be satisfied to the full now, since from the
handles of her thrifty plough, another Gin
clnnatus has burst on the public gaze, and is
enllghtcning and ravishlng our community
with efforts in which the matured wisdom of
the deep sagacious statesman is impaired in
all the strength and clearness of the most To-
gicat reasoning and rhetorical democratic
splendor. Her work shop too, has sent out
from Its smoke and dust, one, who unknown
TO lame, is now on a Decline to Immortality,
a portly blacksmith, who, whilst his brawny
arm is swinging the sledgc, disdaining TO hum
the merry song with which the more thought
less OF his craft relieve their bodily toll, anu
SEES his giant mind by welding unanswerable
arguments upon abstruse political questions,
OF In phllosophic examination of the claims
OF candidates for high office. A favorite
text which he is fond of calculating from the
coplous stores OF his learning, is the law once
proposed in Ohio, providing punishment for
such offenders against her criminal code as
could not or would not pay the fine and costs
assessed on conviction. The expense of sup
porting these convicts in prison being levied
on the earnings of the Industrious farmers
ana mechanics OF the state, was for this strong
reason obviously most unjust and importic
The Legislature attempted to remedy the e.
WI; 1t was proposed TO substitute whipping
ior imprisonment. This was very PROPERLY
rejected, for the moment man is stripped ma
ked and dashed at the whipping post, he is
ruined beyond redemption-the first blow
which falls on his back extinguishes at once
ana forever, the last spark of manly pride
that glows in his breast-disgraced and self
degraded he sinks into the condition of dis
plrlted pauper, or Is thrown maddened and
reckless into the bosom of society, intent on
crime OF the deepest dye. At last the wise
and humane expedient of selling out to labor
Tor specified time was suggested; the state
would thus be relieved of a heavy tax, and
the offenders, objected to the wholesome re-
stralnts provided by law for regulating the
conduct between master and apprentice,
which was reserved to them, could not fail to
profit by the change. Their moral sense not
yet deadened to the kindly and redeeming in
huences OF good example and soothing adj
wee In the families of the honest and indus
trious to which they would be removed from
the noisome prison house, would be quicken
ed into new and better life. Upon this law
our blacksmith was descanting not long since
10 several OF the natives, in his usual ANNA
ted, pure, classical, democratic style. where
an honest and intelligent German farmer, de-
voted to Harrison and reform, happened to
drop In. The cogent speech both loud and
long was at last fairly concluded; the scinti
iations OF wit bright and scorching as the
sparks tcom his anvil had flashed out-and
The democratic Vulcan seated himself to con-
template IN proud self-gratulation the SILVER
cd fragments of the reputation of the hero of
'fippecanoe. His repose was soon disturbed
by the shrewd German, who, revolving for
moment in his mind, how goodly and conve
nient retentive memory and a consist
ent lie, would be to one of his neighbors.
hNed his unquailing eye, the index of sense
and honesty,upon our knight of the anvil and
enqulred: Sir Rasp were you present several
years ago when an overseer Of the poor sold
out vagrant But for your INDIGNATION
moment ago so forcibly expressed against
every infringement Of the personal liberty of
the meanest and the viiest, I'd swear YOU
bought that vagrant, but surely it cannot be
GU are too good a democrat, and that itself
Is proof strong as holy writ, that you could
not be SO inconsistent as even to think ofsuch
horrible outrage upon the democracy of
this age, the very soul of which is liberty I'M
restrained III It's action,by laws, compacts and
seals. L must have dreamed you this fla
grant injustice, yet this would be stranoe
way OF accounting for it, as / 90 to bed at
night at peace with all my neighbors, and
sweet sleep is not disturbed with the flittings
OF evil imagination. In broad day light,
when all my senses are wide awake, / must
confess think of politics and am distressed
with fearful forebodings that the RIGHTS and
property and liberty of my children NAV not
be so secure under the influence of the loco
TOGO democracy of your party, which is seek
| ing, many of them ignorant of what thew are
doing, to place within the grasp of one man
the sword, the purse, and the judiciary d
combination of power with which Washing
ton, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe were a.
iraid to trust themselves. Tell me,s it real
~ 500 Did you buy that vagramtl Our
vulcan, all democrat as he was, could
no longer conceal the truth; after an effort in
which the fierceness of his democracy was
liiuch tanned, to prove that vagrancy was a
most daring and damnnp crime, he was
struck rather dumb for loco foco democrat
Communion and intercourse with the faith
ful has perhaps revived him to a sense Of his
great ability. If so, his German friends
would implore him TO explain to their de-
Inocracy which has an instructive adherence
to standing army, how it is that the demo-
cratic President has strongly recommended
the armlng, uniformIng and embodyinp the
militia for service. The rascally Wings en-
deavor to impress them with the belief
That the constitution of the United States all
thorIzes Congress, elected by the people. TO
provide for calling out the militia to execute
the laws Of the Union when resistance is made
to their execution, to suppress instruction.
and repel invasions. The public have not