Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-03-19
FROM the AUGUSTA DEMocRAr.
TO THE PUBLIC.

! my reply to such portions OF MIR. Letcher's
'st caro- as are worthy of notice, and pass over
q silence, such portions as are unworthy of man
rho seeks the honor Of a Congressional station.
md which must have emanated either from . had
ceiling, or maddened and phrenzied brain.
None dislike more than do newspaper souab.
'les, and none regret more the necessity that for
;es bad feeling among members of the Repub.
ican party, aud none deplore more than do, |
that circumstances have compelled me To advert
10 the unkind attacks and scurrilous articles Of
me man who has sought to injure me by personal
publications.
In the outset of his scurrilous card, he saws.
that "had actually demolished" him ACCORDING
10 my own account. This mus, be mistake
and the gentleman must have drawn mon his
own fertile Imagination for the assertion. But I
Will say this, that the gentleman is certainly sde-
mollshed, mot by me, however, but by his
own suicidal course, he ''demolished'' himself:
and now, owing to The promptings Of an uncurb-
ed ambition, he is suffering all the agonies of
horrid political Ieath-the object of his wishes
is gone, and the phantom which he SO eagerly
pursued, has vanished.
He produces circular which was addressed to
the Democratic voters of the District, calljno nm
on them to 60 to the polls. And what does this
circular prove! 1t proves conclusively that the
contest had assumed that of a a strict narfv east
and the voters were called upon TO vote as Re.
pu6hc0Ds and this fact but adds evidence to
show that 1t was strict party, and not a local
contest His evidence cuts his own throat, and
shews the blindness of madness, and the despe-
ration OF political overthrow, on the part of an
aspiring and designing creature. But he saws.
"some whose names were appended TO this paper,
utterly deny that il was signed by them, and
knew nothing of il, until several DAYS after its
distribution in Rockbridge." AS to the issuing of
that circular, i know nothing myselE-but as
Mr.. Letcher, no doubt, relies upon the same kind
OF evidence to support his assertion, that his
friend Moore did, and the latter having failed, /
am bound to believe tina, Mr.. Letcher will find
that he is mistaken also in his charge. Let him
point to man that will sustain him-let him
give single name that will concur with him.
and until he does SO, his assertion can have no
weight, but must be looked upon as wholly un-
worthy of regard
There is one thing in his card which fully
proves the character OF the man for shufflinp and
twisting. 1t will be recollected, that i'm his first
card, he attempted to Justify his vote for Moore,
because the "Democrat'' of Oct. Of had said
there would not be Republican candidate He
sought to shield himself behind that article, and
really tried to make the public believe, that he
was governed by it, But it appears from his
card, that he pledged to the support of Moore,
prior to that day, and confesses the fact. What,
then, is shewn by this! 1t proves clearly that
he sought TO make sham, false and deceptive
issue, and tried TO escape the odum of his tor
tuous course, by unfair and uncandd statements.
Al'er giving an answer to my question, which
stamps upon his forehead unfairness, he proceeds
10 PROFOUND four interrogatories to me.
lie wishes to know. first, ''if the leaders Of
the Republican party had not proclaimed that
there would be no Republican candidate" | re-
ply, that heard of no such approximation, -
and as for myself, although an humble member
oil the party, told DR.. Moore, of Augusta, (when
he announced himself as candidate, presuming
mat the Democrats would not run a candidate
mat the Republican party, had, last Spring, de-
termined to run candidates at all future elections
and that, as for myself, was in favor of it at
mat time 70 next wishes to know if the De-
mocrats OF Augusta were not "wiing to vote for
any respectable 8ugusta Wig, who woald op-
pose Moore? Z" Certainly, l would have prefer
red many to Mr.. Moore, and would have been
wiling TO vote for respectable Augusta Whig
over Mr.. Moore, and would have done So had
oeen compelled to select between t,Oo Whigs. |
always have choice, even between Wings. But,
VIII say more,-had there been Wing, and
democrat in the field, would have voted for the
Democrat, Unlike Mr.. Letcher, | would have
STOOD by the Republican candidate, and never,
!or moment deserted the Democratic standard
He wishes to know, also, if did not, with others,
solicit Stuart, Kinney, and other popular Wings,
10 become candidates. 1 answer no. l never
spoke 10 any oil them the subect-nor did |
know OF any such solicitation being made in the
name of the party
give his fourth interrogatory in full.
f.h. Nhen you and myself had conversa-
ZION In Staunton, on the LIST day Of November
iast, al the time you had determined to be cam
didate, did not tell you then, that could not
support you, and when my reasons were assigned
did you not withdraw, and was not ID. w. Pate
son then brought out?'
understand by this, that he says he and had
conversation after became a candidate. This
Is untrue. was not candidate until Monday
,he 2hd oil November. had been spoken 10, but
had not consented to run. And when Mr.. Letcb
er says that l ",UiMdye,U," when his sreasons
were assigned, he asserts that which is not cor
rect, as was not candidate OF the LIST of No
venber. nor did become one until the 2nd of
mat month, and never have had conversation
WIN W.T.: Letcher from that day 10 This, and we'll
does he know it, as it is known to many of the
Republican party. SO much then for another
misrepresentation.
r. He then takes up my opinions in regard 10 the
canal, and says sought TO 'ride both sides of
me saplIng." Here he is wrong again. have
always been opposed to the Canal scheme, itself;
ONT, as 1t now stands, am in favor Of its com
Pie'ion so Tar, as to put the people Of Rockbrdge
In as good situation as they were before the
commencement of the Canal, and the destruction
OF 'heir navigation. But under no circumstances
would favor its extension beyond Buchanan.
In regard to my vote for Mr.. Moore at the late
election, have only TO say, that so far as know,
common courtesy always calls for such conduct
and ii Mr. Letcher could not reconcile il TO his
FEELINGS OF propriey or courtesy TO vote for his
opponent IN contest of the kind, do not envy
then-as too great excess for office might induce
Mr.. Letcher 10 act otherwise but such feelings,
with me, shall never triumph over those courte-
sizes which are due between gentlemen.
In conclusion he asks, "who commenced This
Controversy John Lecher did. He made the
hrst assault upon me. Yes, goaded on by an i'll
feeling, maddened with defeat, and pbrenzied
with rage, he attacked me,--singled me out, and
hxed MS low, abusive, and personal articles a.