Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-04-20
viii have to be me, BY our Representative to Con-
gress. be he whom he may, at the very threshold
of his duties.
THE CONGRESSIONAL CANVASS.

THE CONGRESSIONAL CANVASS.
II Is amusing to see the panic which Mr.. Stu
art's becoming a candidate for Congress has pro-
duced among our opponents, Notwithstanding their
boosted majority Of thirteen hundred in the dis
trct.
In few hours after the news reached Rocking
ham. the Central Committee Of the County was
convened, their Committees Of Vigilance enlarged
and multiplied, and an inflammatory handbill is
sued, embeished with representation Of an
outlandish looking animal they call "CooN,"
which they say is "to Kill again." and summon
ing the Democracy, one and all, to come up to the
direful conflict! They tell the people that Mr..
STUART voted for ALL the disastrous measures
of the last Congress, Bank, Tariff for Protection,
Land Distribution, Assumption Of State Debts,
Bankrupt Law" &c.-thus asserting just about as
many Jfc.ions as facts. Pretty well for a res
pectable committee !->'rhey also try to make the
most Of Mr. Stuarts vote for the repeal of the 2lst
rue.-But he had an opportunity of exposing their
miserable misrepresentation before the assem-
bled people Of the county Monday-and we
have not doubt that he did so effectually.
The Valley Star also takes up the aarm-cry
pretty much in the same vein, and echoes the
"Coon" note from Rockingham, but unfortunate
ly it says it has "no print'' of the animal ''in our
| [its] office.'' What pity for the Intelligent
portion of its readers we fear, will be almost in
consolable under the privation! The Star does
what it can, however, to make up for the want OF
this appliance to produce the STARTLING and TER
RIFIC by free use Of CAPITALS-and if does
not communicate its own fears to the party that
the citadel is really in danger, we are sure (the
"CooN' PRINT excepted,) it will not be its fault.
The StaI says it understands that MIR. Stuart
extravagantIy calculates upon ''REVOLUTION-
IZING" the "OLD TENTH LEGION."-Ter-
ribe! Terri5le!! Yes, it adds, '.under the mod
est guise OF CONVINCING them of their political cr-
rors,'' he "inv,es them to "DESERr and A.
BANDON" their long cherished prnciples-or
in other words, their PARTY.
Aye, aye-there's the argument-and what a
compliment it conveys to the honest yeomanry OF
the "Tenth Legion" to whom it is addressed =
Their prejudices and passions are to be invoked
the voice of reason is to be stifled-and their eyes
and their ears to be closed to the bleeding and
suffering condition of the country! We are moi
to be permitted to confer together calmly and dis
passionately upon public affairs, as people hav'
) ing common interest in them, and act in reference
e thereto, as our own best judgments may dictate
e "No--no''-they are told-ihat would be GREW
s UTIONIZING'-that would be dessert
Al ssHNG" the Party! And has it come to this, fel
l. ow-citizens Of Rockingham and Shenandoah +
Are you ready to give up all the high and noble
IS attributes of freemen and basely crouch beneath
Al the rattan of any petty drill sergeant of party
"a who may please to lord it over you? You know
i You FEEL that we are not as we have BEEN
II that all our interests sufferng-and that dis
lie tress and ruin are upon us. Then shall no
W be permitted to enquire together after the "OL[
" PATHS'' in which our fathers trod, and whic
o. ensured their prosperity--and ifthey be BANK
ID or TARIFF, or what not, who is it, woul
Il Nav :. :; '' our right 's aSGsgih not ih less t,
r ourselves than country Aye-but you
:, are told il you do so, you will "DESERT' your
. Party. That's the ignominious word by which
you are sought to be kept in bondage. Like
" slaves or menials you would quit your Masters
= 1t you quit the Party! And is it, indeed, come
y 10 this Is This your relation? ARE you slaves,
or ARE you Freemen? Speak-speak-we be.
seech you--let your free blood speak, in tones OF
indignant rebuke to the insolence that would thus
r. u"'o W iieuh you' AS men, DIS PdulotS, we call
upon you TO resist these attempts to enslave you,
and come up, fearlessy and faithfully, to the dis
charge Of your high duties to your Country.
J we had hoped 10 see the present Congression-
t al Canvass conducted with the same courtesy,
good feeling, and honorable bearing, which dis
tinguished the one two years ago, between Mr..
Stuart and Gov. McDowell-and we felt we'll as
sured it would be, as far as the candidates them
selves Were concerned. Il appears however that