Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-09-20
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
BIG GUNS SPIKED.

Mr. Stuart, In his speech at the August Cont,
read the letters Of Gen. Washington to Lincoln and
Harrison, bearing date 9ih aud lth of March,
1857. In which he unqualiiedly stated that ''Le
had determined, should il be his inevitable fate 10
occupy the Presidential Chair, TO go into it free
from any pre-existing engagement of any nature
whatsoever" in order 10 show that Gen. Taylor
now occupies the same platform erected by the Ia
Their Of his Country.
Mr.. Rives, after consultation with the Hon. An
drew Stevenson and MIR. John Letcher, arose from
his seat and ''with great flourish Of truInpes"
expressed his regret that Mr.. Stuart had been com
PEELED to leave, Chat gentleman having left mme-
dateiy after closing his speech for adjoining coun
ty on urgent professional busness) as il would be
necessary to notice some of his remarks i'm way
That might DO regarded Unfair and moi very pleasant
either to himself or his friends. He then referred
10 the dates of the letters above alluded to- being of
the 9th and It'll Of March 1899 several days as Mr.
Riyes said, otter The Inauguration of Washington,
and therefore there can be similarity between
the position OF Tayl Tor and Washington. He more.
over thought the letters were calculated tu mislead
the people, and in consequence ought not to be used
After Mr. Rves had concluded his Speech Mr.
James Is. Dorman, the youthful and talented Elec-
Tor Of Ruckbridge county, took the stand and re-
piled 10 Mr.. Rives by asking if it left for him,
an obscure and humble individual, to inform these
distinguished gentlemen, who had occupied high
spnbic stations both at home and abroad Mr.. Ste
Phenson, EX-minisier at the Court of ST. James,
Mr.. Francis f.. Rives, Ex-member of Congress,
and Mr.. John Letchcr, Eector of the Rockbridge
Electoral District, that Gen. Washington was not
inaugura,ed until the 30th of April l7So,-that
the letters must have been written upwards of
month prior TO that event. and gave his authori-
ty the Statesman's Manual, and repealed the in.
situation of improperly in using those letters
The statenient of the young orator was hailed by
shout that went up from the Immense concourse of
people, which shook the Court house to its centre.
and created such commoiion and hu;ternr amonG
the Castles as has not, | venture to assert. been
witnessed in the State since the OPENING of the
campaign.
The next morning, Mr.. Rives, after having been
cioseted during the night with his distinguished
friends, came into the Court house. his arms full
O books, and "a look like fate" fully prepared TO
stritt his position for he proceeded TO show from
opark's life and writings of Washington States
mans Manual, ard another work. that the letters
In question were written, not before, after the
inauguration, but otler The election Of Gen Hash
angton, fact which denied
10 that position of the gentleman, Mr.. Dorman
replied by a statement of facts, and quoting Gen
Washingtons declaration that "he had determined
should 1t be his inevitable fate to occupy the Presi-
DENTAL Chair, to go into it free from anv pre- existing
engagement ofany nature ,chafsoerer, :" asked fhe
gentleman would dare to insinuate that George
Washlngion's answer would have been different il
II had been penn'd prior 10 his election MIR. Rives
was mum. M