Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-11-05
ron The srAusroS SPECTATOR.
REFORM CONVENTION ADDRESS
NO. II.


NO. II.
MIR. EDITOR In my Introductory number nnb
shed III your last paper, called the Rcformers',
singular party, rare specimen of Mosaic work
now propose to show in what this singularty CON
sists. rss
In this age OF novelties, when there is no doc
thine monstrous, no practice SO ridiculous that Il
has not found advocates and followers, the simpje
fact of holding any opiniop advocating any couIs
of policy, would hardly entitle party to be called
singular, though even this score the claims Of
our g Reformers" are highly respectable.
When, however, party includes within itself
men OF every shade of political opinion, from the or
DERBY conservative TO the clamorous radical-men
whose whole political creeds would not agree in a.
ny two particuars-xho differ not only upon the
leading questions of administrative policy but in re-
gard to the very ei.s and objects Of civil society -;
when such men unite in perfect harmony under the
banner OF Constitutional Reform, and propose in
concert, to remodel the whole framework of society,"
and TO construct government anew from its yery
foundations, 1t may well be considered n singular
assOciation-'sa rare Mosaic"
otruck by the singularity of such an association
recently formed in our midst, have, for some time.
been engaged in sort of analysis Of the compound.
IN order, by that means, to arrive at some conclu-
sion as to the causes which could have produced
such phenomenon, and as to the probable course
and catastrophe OF SO homogeneous mass. The re-
suits of this analysis have become less important
but they may still be of use, in our future investi-
cations, and will therefore give SOME of them be-
fore proceeding to consider the Address
The first fact which strikes " is, that the Re-
form party of Augusta is not confined TO either Of
the great political parties into which the public is
divided, known as Wing and Democratic. In this
'here Is nothing very remarkable, the questions
Al issue between those parties have little or nothing
70 40 with our State Constitution, and accordingly
we ma that in Eastern Virginia party lines are not
preserved on this question.
There is one thing about il. however, ,vb;cb &c +,
little singular, and that is that these party lines are
passed, IN almost every instance, by the Whigs-
the democrats, In this county, happening to be al
most unanimous
The next popularity we observe is that this par
~ has remarkably short creed. and knows but one
objectionable heresy. Upon most of the subjects of
Constitutional Reform, difference of opinion meets
with the most abundant charity. A man NAV be
a" favor of abolshing the County Courts and Of G.
Letting the Magistrates, Shcriffs, Constabes, Sc,
ny the people-he may wish to destroy the indie
Pendence OF the Judiciary by dragging the ermine
In the mire of party politcs-he may see no differ
ence between Dorrism and the republicanism OF
w ashington-he may openly advocate n division of
Vlrginia-or he may abhOr and detest all such doc
trnes as the very determination of desolation - and
with either set of opinions or with any conceivable
modification combination OF them may still be an
orthodox "Reforner )" but if he is not an advocate
OF the White Basis" out and out, both in the Con-
vention and in the Legislature, the cry is 'sous
with him! anathama %
Nay, it is not enough that he advocates the
White Basis, he must also believe most religiously
that there is not doubt about getting it no faith
Is genuine that does not remove mountains and he
Is no true 'Refomer" who cannot beIiepe a,cau
every obstacle! 'He that doubteth is damned''
This accounts for the fact that we see many old
and staunch advocates of the White Basis whose or
thodoxy is denied, and who are denounced by the
"RefOrmerS' rs Lame Captains'
we next observe about this party, that while
the White Basis is the only avowed object of their
organization, it does not seem to be in reality the
sole, or even the leading object, with the majority
of the party.
The Basis of representation is certainly yerv
important part of every representative government
but 1t is matter which does not fall within the
observation of the people in their every day occupa
tons. III the measures of Government please them,
they care very little about the precise machinery
which produces them, except SO far as they them
selves are active in the matter Any thing affect
ing their exercise Of suffrage once attracts their
attention, and it is upon this subject that they are
most easily aroused.
There are In every community, and ours is not
exempt, set of men who, having little business Of
their own to occupy them, very kindly undertake
to manage the affairs of the public, and devote
themselves to small politics. Finding it trouble
some to understand the machinery Of Government,
they make war upon its complications de-
sire to simplify, and they become ''Reformers.''
BY their of life they brought acquaint-
ance with Judges, Magistrates, Sheriffs and Con
stables, under circumstances not calculated to leave
favorable impressions of those funconaries. Their
sovereignty is invaded, and they become Disguised
with the insolence of office and the want Of respect
shown by the officers for the wishes and feelings OF
the 'dear people," They expatiate upon the pro-
priety of having all the officers OF Government i'm
mediately dependent upon the popular will. They
sow the seeds Of discomfort among the ignorant,
and stir up the spirit Of change. Thus We have
the neucleus of the Reform party.
To the success OF such schemes, excitement, tur-
mo and confusion are essential and these folks are
always ready to .'do the noise" for any party that
will aid them. In our county, they receive consi-
derable accesslons of strength from men who really
believe themselves to be good conservatives, and
who, no doubt, desire conservative results. They
are White Basis men, and attracted and deceiy-
ed by the noise which is made about their favorte
doctrine. Such men would be shocked if we were
to tell them that they but giving force and re-
spectability to movement in which their cherish
cd object is really the least consideration, and
would, no doubt, point with triumph to their lea
deIs, as men well known for their conservative
opinlons-men under whose guidance there is per
feet safety. To this we reply that it is always easy
TO supply forces with officers The desire OF pro-
motion induces some to take command without in
quiry as to the of the war. while others see
ing the dsccrdas.: rc3etia,s oe which the party is
composed, have undertaken, in spirit az political
Quxotsm, to rule the elements of evil to the pro-
motion of the public weal-fatteriBg themselves
that they are the master spirits, whose high dest-
ny it is, to
"Ride the wbrlwind and direct the storm
These constitute the upper strata in our Reform
party serving like the bio apples III the mouth of