Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-01-28
FROM THE LEXINGTON GAZETTE.
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION.

gressiohai u'sct nave duty to perform in relation
10 uls nlauc!. An Ubiquitous attempt, by skhlly
genymandering the commonwealth. bos boon made
to silence the voice of the Wings Of th, district
and of this State in the national councils MN,
bering they do One-balf, nearly So of ali the
voters in the State the Democracy, friends ss,hov.
all those who dwell in Jerusalem" to popul,r
rights, Judging from the name they boast so much
the Democracy, wickedly and wilfully, with delibe
rate design, and most careful management, con-
strucied the various Congressional districts Of the
State so as TO deprive the Wings of their just
weight in the government
Such course one might expect to see pursued
by ars'ocrats, monarchs,s, anarchists by men
w"hout the moral sense in politics, and friends to
fraud, Intrigue, and corruption i'm governing men
'u' never, never by democrats, never by those
whose devotions at the shrine of Democracy. are
Pieceoeu ny ue sound of trumpet and perfbrmed
at the corners OF the streets, that all may witness
their zeal. '
True democracy is founded on principles of truth.
Amidst the wreck of false systems it will snrv;yo
Full of the immortality of truth, it will oro,v
stronger and brighter, manifestng more and more
It's beauty and excellence, having engraven on its
standard as prime article of its creed "Equal and
exact justice TO all men of whatever persuasion re-
iigious or political )" not that other miserable max
I'm, suitable only to political knaves, "Gerryman-
aer' II you can, your opponents out of their right
ful power IN the government of their country
Ihe recurrence OF congressional election ia an
appropriate time TO bring to the recollection Of our
democratic BRETHREN the robbery their leaders ner-
Pe'rated to secure. in the minds Of whips. the
deep abhorrence of the Injustice, and oppression.
w' ,i ar.luy sunk the weight of the wing party
vi TINS State In the election of national representa-
ives 1t is to be hoped that the deep domination Of
'"c'r taxing OH will long dwell in the memory and
'D"soichces Oh the perpetrators, their aders and
apc'ors, and that Virginia, the venerable mother of
us az, may nave speedy and everlasting deliver
ance from such democracy.
To return to the more especial object of Tho oor,
municatlon: Ought the wings of this d;s,r;o, &C.,
attempt united action in the next election for Con
gress There are strong reasons TO support an af
flrmatlve answer.
WIN respects to the wing party universal in the
ohi'ed states, all its members will agree that un
ION and perseverance are essential Ii NAV he well
however, to state some of the reasons which imnei
10 united and continued efforts by the whip marty
as whole. The general principle, well establish
eu carries with 1t the particulars included under II
apart from the great hope of ultimate ascendant
cy' mere are important present advantages, calcu
laleu 10 animate the exertions of our party It
may ooslruct and prevent many things that wonld
lnJuro the national well being. Perhaps. now and
'neh wise and useful measure may triumph bv
the support OF wings, which would have failed
without their aid
who can tell how much the purity of admins
'ra'lon Is promoted by the vigant espionage of a
''N''S'''o
cations to the powers that be, feeling no RESPONSE
blty Tor their good conduct, expecting no fat Off
ces 1t stands ready to ferret out, and drag to light
abuses OF every kind abandoning them to the pub
lie reprobation without reluctance, and without
mercy.
Should a palpable and dangerous usurpation of
power take place, an Administration has reason to
trembe for the consequences, when the batteries OF
formidable opposition open against it, Public o.
pinon, when discussion is free, ultimately inclnes
to the side of the constitution, of liberty and virtue
Every ADM lstration which has arrayed against it
such an opposition as that of the wing party can
not expect to do wrong with mpunity The con-
vlcnon OF all this, must induce certain decree of
clrcumspection, and check, 10 some extent the a.
doptlon of unconstitutional and dangerous measures
At least 1t may frIghten power when it has been
guilty OF excess, and cause it to retrace its steps,
The wing party appears as great conservative
force in our confederacy. Public opinion seems tn
be loosening from its ancient moorings II shows
symptoms OF wandering into the .illimtable void,
or new theories, and untred practice. The minds
OF men seem to be breaking loose from the sway Of
-honored, In many cases, truth supported prin-
ciPies, and to be committing opinion to the winds
ana waves OF an unknown sea. At such a time,
conservative force is essential. Our country fy-
ing before the gale as she is, perhaps towards a
dark and disastrous shore, needs and will need all
the sober, sound Judgment, the practical wise coun
sell the calm moderation, and conservatism. the mo-
raj and intellectual power of which the whiq party
is not destitute
Apart then from the actual administration of the
government, the wings may find high and use
ful vocation. IL in the progress of human affairs
aho especially In that of the progressive democra-
cy, the government should ''shoOt madly from it's
sPhere>,-an energetic party, armed with truth
and right, may hang as dead weight on its wheels,
uniformly retarding their motion, until moderate
and equable speed is produced.
he Iyh
sound, we owe high allegiance to them and are
not at liberty to strike flag. In the midst of de-
ieat even, we must not aboDdon good cause 1t
even then demands, and will reward our services
The sun may be obscured for season, but it is sure
to emerge at last in all its original brightness-so
the cause, supported by wisdom and truth, is sure
ultimately TO triumph.
The present Administration seems to totter ON
It's foundation. Brought into power by double
FACED creed wearing a mask when interest
prompted the moment of action at length came.
when equlvocatlon must be abandoned, and the re-
sponslblty Of Ineligible, and well defined meas
uIes assumed. The administration has acted and
following that, the ominous voices of Pennsylvania
and New York Seom to announce that its DAYS are
virtually numbered. Events are full OF ENCOURAGE
ment TO the whig party. One year NAV cast new
elements OF division into the political arena, and
place new weapons of strength in their hands,
hese general considerations operate with full fo.ce
when applied to our own State, and District. 1t is
important that united exertion should take place
here Leaving the result to be disclosed by
Tune, 1T is evidently consistent, wise, and proper
mat the wings should concentrate their strength.
Nothing seems adequate to effect this object but
convention of the party in the district. We pos
SesS talent in our ranks that would shine with dis
tlngulshed lnstre on the theatre of national affairs
Give us a convention, then, which will bring out a
man in whose support we will all rally with aacri
W and zeal. A WING.