Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-08-20
For THE SPECTATOR.

fendleton, over the signature of L., (and he
ought to have added the X as LIZ and Y and
L. are his tavorite cognomens, selected, pre-
sumo, because they, like himself, stand pref
ty low III The column.) Mr.. l.. has headed
ms pretty little piece with a quotation from
Virgu'S Latin MaxiDlus, (stolen too, Mr. Ed
ltor, from McDonnel's dictionary of quota
tions,) for sir. do assure you, that MIR. L..
knows just as much about the Latin as do
about the Greek language, that is, he knows
that LAT. stands for Latin, and know that
GR. stands for Greek in McDonnell's book.
Now sir, the selection and application of his
h,atln maxim Is very pretty and elegant
thing indeed, and beyond cavil or doubt; his
comparison OF gentleman to John Horse is
chaste and elegant in the extreme, and is
characteristic of the gentleman and scholar,
especially LatiniSt, a. tells loudly upon his
literary taste and love of good manners.-
MIR. LIS. quotation would seem to make me
but a subaltern at best, but he sets out by
styling me one of the great s'Bell-wether
leaders of the spoils party in this county,
thereby clearly indicating that he does not
comprehend the import of his quotation or the
force OF the language that he himself employs.
ana here would remark, sir, that it is but a
short time since MIR. l.. belonged to the
'.spoils party of this county, and sir, he put
forth his feelerS to know whether or not the
''spoils party" would elevate him to a seat in
the Virginia House of Delegates ; but finding
that the democracy of Pendleton were not
willing to be represented by such ItceedLc
dee as him, he deserts the party with hue
and cry of the Mccoy and Hiner dynasty,
and seems TO have been very malignant and
inveterate ever since. / write as though |
knew who Mr.. l.. is, ah and do know him
like book, sir. He sir, is the same august
parsonage who, a few years ago, 6guered so
largely in the Widow Stones Lottery Ticket
business, and was only prevented from swind-
ling her out of her money by the timely in
terposition of her friends.
will now give you briefly the facts CT the
case to which Mr.. L.. refers. Being prompt
ed by curiosity in part, and private business
in part, attended the Wing meeting at Crab
Run, and after listening to the reading of the
Constitution and laws Of the Crab Run Tip
pecanoe Club as reported by MIR. Jones, and
also the speeches of Messrs. Jones, Waddell
Brown and Breckenridge, and from the ea-
parfe character of the speeches, | was indu-
ced TO believe that the people upon whom they
Were intended to operate were not prepared to
decide correctly or justly upon the momen-
tous questions that were thus presented one
sidedly to their minds, and believing that an
opportunity should be afforded them Of hear
ing the evidence of the other side, and hav-
ing no disposition to treat any assembly with
disrespect,l arose, and in as courteous and po-
lite manner as my rude mountain habits
would admit of, asked the chairman whether
1t would be any interruption or not to the
meeting, for me to retire with the Democrats
in the house, to the shade in front of the
church for the purpose of holding a meeting;
to which, he replied it would. l stated eX-
plicitly that the object of the meeting would
be the adoption OF the ways and means of
getting up democratic discussion, at or near
that place. at some future time, for the pur-
pose of counteracting the effects Gf any, of
the speeches on that occasion, which, you
have been informed, were powerful, eloquent
and convincing. cannot believe Mr. l.. to
be serious, when he says that was actuated
BIZ af e aasse d n ad e P 81
mob, for we retired peaceably from the house
by the leave of the worthy chairman, and
held our meeting in peace and harmony, but,
that Mr.. l.. has just thrown that in as a gra-
tultous flourish. for the purpose of showing
the depth Of his eruditon. If the two-thirds
OF the meeting happened to be democrats in
stead OF wings, and retired with me to the
shade, after hearing the speeches that were to
make wings by the dozen, without having
their faith the least impaired, be cause of
insult, why be it,so-for think it only proves
they were democrats good and true, and
ought to be a caSse of complaint by no one.
| had not supposed that it would have been
so grating upon Mr.. LIS. sensitive feelings to
see the democrats retire from the house, mas
much as he had not held forth in his usual fe-
licltous and powerful manner. But / sup
pose 1t is owing to the fact of his being the
roch secretary to the meeting, and no doubt
thought that so distinguished an individual,
occupying such prominent position, would
thereby be enabled TO attract the multitude
INTO the meshes of whiggery, especially as he
had been zealously endeavoring for some
time to indoctrinate them into the Wing faith
But IL. seems to have had present panacea
70 bind up his wounded vanity, in the consol- |
itory reflection, that all men of moral worth |
whom he had heard speak of the matter, char |
icterized 1t as rudely uncourteous and impo- |
lite. OF course, they all belong to the s.al |
lecency" party, as none of moral worth be- |
ong to the ''spols'' party.
l am not so stupidity ignorant of men and |
things as Mr.. L.. might suppose, for ] know |
some little about some things and good deal |
about some men, perhaps more than they would |
like should let the world know. But make |
no PTetenslons to that vast knowledge of mat
iers and things i'll general of which Mr.. l.. is |
possessed, for presume he is so knowing as |
to know how many Office hunters it takes to |
make wing, and how many postrnasters and |
deputy postmasters it takes to do the business |
at the Crab Run Post Office, and whether |
hey, as office hol1ers, are wings or "spoils |
party" men.
Mr.. LIS. disclaimer being so palpably op- |
posed TO the whole tenor of his remarks, it is |