Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-02-26
From the Valley Star, Feb. 10.
FAMILIAR LETTER TO MY OLD FRIEND
JACOB BAYLOR, ESQ.

JACOB BAYLOR, ESQ.
My DEAR JAcoB:
Your reply to my Card, has been received, and
after careful perusal of it, frankly confess to
you am greatly relieved. When in Staunton
few days since, friend kindly informed me
that you had actually demolished me, (according
10 your own account of it,)-and that it would
be years ere my political character would recover
from your awful exposure. Such a communca-
ton, you know, was well calculated TO excite the
most horrible feelings-and really began to con-
clude, that this unjust world, had never assigned
you your proper position, as man of transcen-
dant abilities-and that the day was coming,
when your powers would be made manifest
was greatly rejoiced too at this, for it inspired
the hope, faint, to be sure,) that your stalwart
arm would soon be made bare, and that we should
ere long have the pleasure of shouting-e4ugus-
Ia as redeemed, and regenerated from Wig do
mtnton. Bot candour requires to say, that
your communication, has disPelIed that hope. and
greatly fear, that your efforts in demolishing
Whlggery in "OM Rugusta,' will not prove
more successful, than they have done in demo-
fishing me.
The public will hardly give you credi, for sim
certify, in the declaration shat you "deeply regret
that any dissensions should have been created in
the Republican ranks" How happened it, my
dear sir, it your declaration were true that YOU,
and your friends, Immediately after the Senate
rial election last fall, avowed your and their de-
termination, to create these very ssdissensions in
the event OF my becoming candidate for Con-
gress, in this District! From that time to this,
all efforts have been directed to this end Every
effort which ingenuity or malice could suggest,
has been unhesitatingly used for the avowed pur-
pose OF exciting the preindices of the democratic
party against me. have been charged again,
and again, with desertion of my party-a charge
which was known TO be false, to every individual
who was engaged in its circulation. Indeed,
ard IF sI,a ,
say that have only been charged with "a tenn
porary abandonment of" my s'party" That
"femporary abandonment" consists in the simple
fact, that did not vote for you. My offending
hath this eXtent-no more.
| Were you the Democratic candidate for the Sc
nate Did you present yourself as such, rely
ing on that party for support! If so, pray how
did it occur, that you announced Yourself, in ac-
cordance with the wishes and solicitations ofsboh
parties" Your address too, urges the voters 10
"dfScard political considerations, and giue their
uofes soihout regard 10 tie bias of parti-an feel
tngs." Was this such language, Jacob, as should
have fallen from Democratic candidate, who was
relying upon his party for support! Or rather.
was it not precisely such language, as might
reasonably have been expected. from man. who
was exceedingly anxious to obtain Wing potes {?
And tor fear this would not be sufficient, for your
purpose you "asSured' the Uhigs, "that if elect
ed" you would "consider' yourself ''bound to
carry out the wishes Of majority of the people
OF the District: and so far as'' was sin your
! power" would sendeavor n esnro,m IN all your
Legislative actions, to THEIR vie,os, and promote
HEIR wishes" All Jacob, YOU were then,
wei satisfied that you could not be elected with
out Whig uofes, and this is conclusive evidence
OF your readiness to do whatever was required of
you to obtain them. You were then perfectly
willing to sustain Whig Misunderstanding mea-
sures-aDd Wig men! Under such circum-
stances, would you not have made most adm-
rable Representative, Of the principles ''yie,os"
and 'ctshes' OF the Democrats Of this District |!
quote these extracts to show that You did not
regard 1t as political contest-lhat in your view,
''matters of far greater importance, than those
merely POLITICAL" were to control il.
! You will recoliect, that this Address, in which
you exhort the voters to DISCARD" all ''poiih-
car considerations, bears date on the 9Th day Of
November 1915. Do you remember what was
the next scene, in this political dramal Allow
me, my dear sir, to refresh your memory, in or
Ger that the people may be fully advised Of all
] mat was done in that canvass. On the 7th Of
the same month (be nert day after this Address
| OF yours was ssued) number Of your political
friends prepared the following letter, which was
addressed to many Of the Democratic voters Of
Rockbridge
STAUNToN, Nov. 18th, 1915.
Dear Sir:--In looking over The poll books Of
the last Presidential election, we find that your
name is recorded in favor of ;he Republican cam
didate. and as we know Of nothing that has hap
pened to impair your confidence in the integrity
Of the Democratic party, or lesson your desire
Tor its future success, we have now TO call upon