Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-08-27
THURSDAY, AUGUST 81. lS46.
REFORM CONvENTION-AGAIN.


this "fish" and that ''flesh may now see their
error for assuredly it is pretty 'kete of fish,
they have made of it. If they do not. and greatly
alter their course, they will prove to be the very
worst enemies the Reform movement can have.
AT any rate, we hope the People of Augusta will
see to ii in time who are to represent them in the
next Convention, and repudiate this new patent of
orthodoxy, which, by species of mongrelisn, is at
tempted to be established amongst us."-Spectator
G5 To this have only to reply, tina, the meeting
that appointed tho delegates, had clear aud undspu
ted right to "managc the Convention movement their
own way" To whom else did the right belong? No,
were ruled out, but if they were, the meeting had
right to do that. too.-T6e Reiormers want in their
ranks who 'fshy they will not adv ancc the
cause What this ''mongrciism'' and sncw patent of
or.hodoxy is, the sapient editor can best explain
tion than in it. There was no ,ciie basis man with
mTed basis principles in the meeting and there will be
none in the next We hope the people will "see" to
tnis matter The majority at the late election has not
diminished, il has increased and any advice to this
class OF voters worse than useless. The poll books
The editor cannot ''rulc the people into measures,
that's ccrtainand he may rely upon it, they wall ACT
for themselves in this matter, his opinions the contra
ry notwithstanding.-D Democrat.
We have in the foregoing nearly all we want to
justify the remarks made by lis, on which the De
mocrat bases its comments. We intimated that
there had been management in the selection of the
Delegates appointed to represent this County in the
Reform Convention-and management, we intend
ed to be understood, of most unusual eXceptiona-
BILE and mschievous character. This is partly adj
mited by the Democrat. 1t says ''There was no
tchitc basis man with mired basis principles i'm the
meeting, and there will be none in the next"
Now, if this means any thing, it means that none
of the friends of Constitutional Reform in the Coun-
ty who refused the issue made last spring. and voted
for Baldwin and Massie are TO he admitted to the
pale of the Reform Party. And why is this
What public reason is there TO justify such course?
1t cannot be pretended that the object is to advance
the cause of Reform, for its only effect must be to
weaken and divide its friends Then. on whom
and for what purposes is it intended to operate
What is the design? Can it be fair and leriti-
mate one, which puts the ban upon those who re-
fused to join in now, to say the least, virtually
admitted immateria present issue, and receives to
It's cordial and hearty embrace DoRRIsM in its most
undisgused and revolving form Surely not Were
VIC not right, then, in calling the attention of the
People of the County to it?
But, again.-The Democrat contends that '.the
''meetng that appointed the Delegates had clear
''and undisputed right to manage the Convention
movement in their own way" And this brings
us 10 another point-Did the meeting so manape
n2 Nc are credibly informed that it did not
We were not at home at the time the meeting was
held, but we learn that IL resolved that fifth Dele
gates should be appointed, and that they Were APP
pointed (to be sure by little sly and quiet manage
ment in the nominations,) in its presence. How,
then, and by whom, was the number afterwards in.
creased to serentytire, and for what purpose? The
right of the meeting we may admit but we would
like to know who it is that thus claims to be supe
rior to the meeting, and assumes the right to APP
point Representatives for the People of Augusta
Does the following paragraph which we copy from
the Democrat of July 20, just the week before the
meeting, give any clue to or authority for it ?
To the friends of Reform in the county, we look for
acton-we expect them to in the cause-lct them
hold PRIVATE MEETINGS and appoint delegates TO the
Convention, and take such other steps proper in
the premises! We caution them too that in their ap-
pontment OF delegates, they have an eye to their
views on the subject Let no enter the Convcn-
ton that wavers in the least, who is likely to facr
in the work Let old Augusta be represented by those
who VIII carry ont the principles for which she ccar
ed at the late election and LET enter but those who
advocate the white basis, and in fact, favorable to
an amendment of the present Constitution"
Aye-''prirate meetings"-''HoLD PRIVATE
MEETINGS" 1t might not be safe to attempt to do
the thing pubcly.-It must be done in corner
Such is the eXhortation Of the 'fDemocrat" to its
so-caled friends Of Reform. And for what end +?
Wings Of Augusta, it is to you we would address
ourselves on this occasion. Who is it that is to be
stricken down, as by IN unseen hand, by the force
OF party test as unnatural as it is mischevous
Look around you Are they not the men who
have your fullest confidence-ynen who have borne
alolt your banner I'll tie rtrtie tho breeze
and shrunk from no sacrifice which duty imposed
upon them2 Beware, then, as you value your
pnnclPles-as You value even tie cause of Const
tut'onal reform itSelGhow you lend your sanction
to such bigotted, nolerant and proscrptive senti-
ments, as are now attempted TO be established
amongst us.