Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-08-16

| industry which Maj. McCue has bestowed i'm hunt
Ing up testimony about the horse trade, has beer
| completely thrown away, for Sterrett admits, ane
never has denied, that ON the day of the election
he and Meyers were engaged i'm a chatter about :
horse trade-and that Meyers afterwards claimed
to have sold him the horse, and complained of his
not taking him. This admission. however, is b,
no means satisfactory to Maj McCue-for Sterret,
also declares that the horse trade had no connection
with the election, and that Hartman was in no man.
ner concerned in the horse trade
Sterrett having thus taken upon himself the
whole burtheE OF this famous horse trade the charge
against Hartman "Ialls to the ground,-falIs as
always knew 1t would, 'beyond the reach of resur-
rection :"
How stands the charge against Sterrett He
denies that there was any connection between the
horse trade and the election. Movers declares the
same thing and of all the array ofcerticares there
is not one who pre,ends to say that either Sterrett
or Meyers has any occasion stated anything else
The only hope then, and one which Mai. McCue
seems confidently to entertain, is, that the public
Will, IN all charity, jump to the con cluson that any
talk about horse trade upon an election day must
OF necessity amount TO bribery Such conclusion.
submit, would be "ertra judicial, arbitrary and
oppressive"
This charge against Sterrett is not only unsup-
ported by the least shadow of evidence and opposed
by the high standing and character of the man but
II is rendered extremely absurd and ridiculous by
the fact, well known to all the officers, that Ster-
rett, although in favor of my election, was hv no
means either warm or an active supporter NV
relations towards Sterrett, though friendly had ne
yer been intimate, and was not at all surprised
when at the first election, saw him on the first
ballot, vote for Lit. Col. Bell On the dav of the
second election he late that il was supposed
by many of my friends he would not be there at all
ana when the voting was going on it was found ne
cessary TO send for him to give his vote
Those who know VIM. G. Sterrett, know him
to be incapable of any thing dishonorabe under any
circumstances yet here he is charged with bribery
In an election where he had no interest and little or
no feeling. Major McCue makes the precious ad-
mission that he makes such charges against gentle
men ''upon common fame" and trusts to chance
Tor evidence to support them. What estimate does
he place upon the value of human character?
The public must have been struck with the cool
ness displayed by the Major in taking it for grant
ed throughout this whole affair that Henry Movers
Is man who is ready to be bribed or suborned as
may best suit the views of those who deal with
him. know nothing of Meyers but what appears
in this transaction. never had but one converse
ton with him, and do rot know that ever heard
OF him until he became an officer. From what |
have seen OF his conduct in this matter, am salts
fled that great injustice has been done him, by
catching al what he has said-tearing it from lis
context and reporting it without giving him an op-
portunity for explanation. If am right in smppo-
sing that those who testify that Movers said he
had sold his horse to Sterrett and Hartman. are
mistaken so far as Hartman is commemorative con
duct of Meyers has been consistent throughout
and there is nothing TO effect his character as cor
rect and honest man. If, however, it should be es
tabllshed that Meyers is all that Maj McCue sup
poses, cannot perceive that the Major will be al
all nearer the proof of his charges against Sterrett
and Hartman.
The Major having taken it as fixed fact that
Meyers Is sconndrel, constructs an addition to
his charge of bribery, and gently insinuates that
he has been tempered with and drilled in the tes-
timony which he was to give. Here the Major is
just about as near right he has been in his other
charges.
On the day of the "Show" was at the exhibi-
ton, when Meyers came in. Seeing that Hartman
and Sterrett were both there, ii occurred TO me
that | would bring them face 10 face in the pres
ence of witnesses and get ga frank and candid a
vowal OF the whole matter" ] accordingly called
upon James A. Cochran, VIM. j. ID. Bell, and
several other gentlemen, to be present Movers.
then in the presence of those gentlemen gave full
statement of all that had occurred between him
and Harpan, and between him and S,errett-
The gentlemen who were present, will remember
that that statement agreed fully with the published
certificate Of Meyers, and with the account of the
matter given by Hartman and Sterrett Whether
L obtained any advantage by thus seeing Movers
first. | cannot tell; i'll did, it appears that was
just lin ahead of Maj McCue and his friends who
seem to have been in hot pursuit of frankness and
candor, in quarter where, if the Major is right
the character of Movers, but little of either
was likely TO be found!
Having thus noticed all the complaints made
by Maj. McCue about the setting aside the cleo
ton which resulted in his favor and all his obec-
lions to that which resulted in my favor, think
those who have had the patience to read thus far.
must be satisfied that in the blindness Of his wrath
at being defeated, the Major has exhibited more
reckessness in making rough charges, than ability
in sustaining them.
Those who know the Major, can make many
allowances for him; he is known to be what is
called man of high military pride, emphaticalIy
a man of strut and feather For 'ma1,u, ueru
many long years. he has looked forward to the
office of Militia Colonel as an object Of cherished
ambition he thought he had at last obtained what
he so much coveted, and it rWst be admitted that
to have 1t snatched away so unceremoniously and
torersr, was calculated sorely TO Try his temper
| 1t was cruel-indeed might say Ueru cruel!
1t was not only cruel to the Major, but it seems
from his account to have been great outrage upon
the Regiment, both officers and men-''both com
blned or either singly," to say nothing of the Ar
tillery Of Mt. Solon--to be subjected to the com
nand of one. who is not their choice. In his pro
test addressed 10 the Governor, the Major states
that five-seveuths of the Regiment desired his
election, and that he has high regard for the
| ''UoC pOpuli." He now vauDts himself upon his
| popularity and defes me to a new race. Now, il
| is well known that ! am not popular man
make no pretentiors to tt have had evidence
enough to satisfy me of the fact, and have no
disposition TO make experiments TO ascertain il more
clearly. The Law gives the election of Colonel TO
the officers. and they have chosen me to Gem
mand the Regiment have obtained the office
| fairly, and intend to hold it, at least long enough
to establish my authority beyond question or con
troversy.