Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-03-21
TO THE PEOPLE OF AUGUSTA.

If the ostracism of Bell and Fulton. or either If
thein' would violate the established principles Of
'he county, take away the strongest incentive to
public virtue, and diminish our influence in ,he
Legislature, by too frequent change of represen.
tation--it their public career has been free from
blame and signaiZed by unusual success. what
are the arguments on which the friends Of their
competitor will urge his election.
The puny essays of "a Citizen of Staunton''
in the two last numbers of the Spectator, would
Indicate that they are barren of argument. and
intend to rely solely, on the existence of a sup
posed "Clique" in Staunton, hostile 10 the inter.
ests of the county. That "bird" pays too little
regard to the decency of "her own nesi'' to de-.
serve respectful comment. The snake moves in
Inc grass but the agitation of the heads indicates
us course. The object is, not by argument or
fact, bnt by dark inuendo, 10 excite an nm
meaning prejudice against unnamed "town
clique for the benefit Of nameless s,town can
didate." The argument we'll BELTS the circumam.
bulating mind of the anthor. Hear him. stem
tlemen of the country" says he, .'our town 10 an
'sunco squad" bent on ruling and enslaving you.
Blu; 'citzen' of that corrupt town. devoted IN
your interests, and having none of his o,vn to
serve-a very Lot in this Sodom-has picked
out of that defed nest sweet little bird, for your
special benefit-do take him on my most disinter-
eSted recommendation He and are not of the
''cliquc"-trust nobody but u.s.
The people may perhaps reply, "You condemn
your associates, Mr.. Cizen-how shall we know
whether you are not as corrupt as they-a wolf
with grandmother's hood on, come to deyour us
1t is a good rule TO suspect those who speak evil
OF their ighbors--therefore we must question
you. Strange that, abusing the town, You urge
us to take town candidate, rejecting the Farmers
who have served us faithfully, and offer to serve
us again. You accuse Clique of irving TO an
slave us, while they support our candidates. and
you, our disnterested friend, insist that none but
citizen Of town ought 10 receive our confidence.
True-you do not speak out very plainly, but this
is evidently wha; you are driving at. Show your
self above the grass, Mr.. Citizen, and tell us who
constitute this clique. You may be accusing
men whom we would trust further than we would
trust you. We hate this fashion of arrayipp one
set Of citizens against another by dark inuendo.
and have notion that j. never comes Of any hon.
est purpose"
So much for ga Citizen of Staunton.n We
dismiss him with the single enquiry--Wbere did
The rumor originate that "ihe edict has further
gone forth, that it a young Lawyer should pre-
sumo to be candidate, he must be put down, new
er to rise againl'' The citizen would seem to
charge this edict as having emanated from the
"CIlque" which he says is ''sInal but influen-
tial." Now, what influential citizen of Staun-
ton has ever uttered so damrable sentiment? II
any has, how did he acquire his influence with
opinions that ought to have rendered him hateful
instead Of influential | must be pardoned for
saying that the ''rumor" Of which the "ctizen''
speaks must be ike rumors generally common
iar-go.ten up 10 aid the excitement necessary 10
induce the people to abandon their old SER
wants fault, and take their adversary with
out superior merit.
An argument not yet used in the papers, but
strongly urged in the canvass is, 'rhat Mr.. Frazier
was badly treated last spring, and therefore should
be elected" Admitting the premises, does the con-
clusion followl The Argument stated in other
words is this ''Mr Frazier was badly treated
last spring, therefore we must treat Messrs. Bell
and Fulton as badly this spring. We will reme-
dy one error by committing another as great
This is new road to perfection.--You will have
a world Of pentence and reformation whenever
you can make them consist in SHINING on.
But how and by whom was Mr.. Frazier badly
treated Every voter conscious Of having wrong
ed him, is bound to repair the iDjury-Dot BY
wronging Bell and Fulton, but by making some