Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-08-28
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST IS, 1850.
CONVENTION ELECTION.

a. ile choice Of the radical candidates and The con-
scoNent defeat Of such candidates were conserva-
tY Indeed out of the nine candidates Tor this high
s,rs. only two GMessrs MlcHE and STUART) have
rsoeiyed the title Of conservatives the rest beng in
he language oflhe country, s!Taght-Outs radicals
Shat the representation of the District, taken as
whole, should correspond to the views Of majority
81 the candidates therefore natural and looked for
rofdisappointment has been felt relates sole
j. 10 the vote of Augusta and to her two distinguished
citizens Just named. We can bear witness that they
never sought the position, and that the solicitation
of friends earnestly made, necessary overcome
the reluctance they felt 10 enter the field OF contest
When there, we had fattered ourselves that the lib
eral exten, of their reform views their high quai-
cations as urists and deservedly high standing in the
community, connected with the known conservative
character Of our people, would have secured their
election. In this we have been disappointed. In
what follows may be founC some of the causes which
contributed to their defeat.
The radical leaders had early adopted, By way Of
1ssignation the terms Reormers and Anti-Relormers,
Notwithstanding the whole population with very few
o-ceptons, were reformers TO far greater extent
snau would be implied by simply favoring the call
81 Convention. In 1929, these terms were prop
aiy applied to distinguish those who favored op-
fssed Convention In 1S49 the same terms were
g lfcently convenient for party purposes only, up
he April elections, when it was ascertained that
ne Convention question was carried by an over
,,heming majority Then commenced the work of
laying down platforms 1--WE speak Of our own dis
tri,) and il was found more convenient TO restrict
popular terms by squaring them now to the platform
and not to the Convention; or rather 80 wres them
from their long used and appropriate Specification to
one Of misconceptiou and prejudice. Thenceforlh
the work Of changing the nomenclature was piled,
day and night; for TO be ant-relOrm was 10 be, and
deseryedly, unpopular When it is remembered how
Few persons, comparatively, read newspapers and
get from printed documents the political opinions Of
men, aud how many therefore rely upon the verbal
statements of others, and they frequently heated and,
Of course, active pazans, the force and effect Of this
device will be fully appreciated MrCuIE and SrU-
Arr were quickly set down as the anti-reform can
ddates. These gentlemen went for popular cleo
Justices of the Peace, with other officers of in
ferior grade, and differed from their opponents main
~ upon the judicial tenure. This, indeed, was pair
Cd down to the question of ineligibily after term
Of years. and yet they set down aati-reform-
ere, and here is the first cause OF their defeat
But there was another very poten! cause in the
compact opposition of the Democratic party. True,
4here were exceptions highly complimentary to the
& Conservative candidates, yet the great mass moved
srans. thsm in solid column. There are about 1000
ve.ers in this County, of whom one-thrd are demo-
,9c.ilc Without asserting that full vote was poll
<a, !he proportion is always in favor Of the latter
1eciy from their training, and in any election, with
qts exception Of the Presidential While large por-
<oa OF the Wings were disregardng federal politics
a casting their votes upon question Of State poll
cy, besides differing among themselves upon this very
policy, the united vote of the Democracy proved
fearful odds But how is this it may be asked
FuLTz and SHEFrEY are Whigs--the Democracy
voted for them. We will tell you. 1t will not be
forgotten (the Democrats have not forgotten it, we
guess that A. II, H. STUART twice served in this dis
trict on the electoral ticket for the election Of Pres
den. and Vice President of the United States, and
that T. J. Niche served as assisan; elector. Both
have done good service in the Wing cause, and both,
20 that extent, have done dis-service to the Demo-
cratic cause II will not be forgotten that in stress
of weather, or any jeopardy Of Wing principles,
these two gentlemen, from their talents, political ex
perience aud honor, have been confded in to meet
Al FL a.
have done their duty upon such occasions, Wings
can testify and Democrats lament This Conyen-
ton election, however, was fit time to strike down
the leaders Mark them and cripple their influence
i possible, and in five years the County of Augusta
viii be Democratic. Such, very naturally, might be
+hs reflections Of party whose leading organs in
Virginia have pronounced the Wings unworthy of
confidence, and not be trusted even in aiding to
form Constitution for Democratic State But here
is another cause for the defeat Of Messrs NICHE
and STUART.
Other cooperating causes might be assigned, such
rs obtaining pledges during the and the tick
Ell system adopted in the close, This last resort
seemed TO conflict with the sentiment which the
leaders had sought to appropriate almost exclusive
ly to themselves, that the people were intelligent and
viruous Every ticket rendered was liable to the
implication, either that the people did not know how
10 vote, or that they would violate pledges gwen
how they would vote while the pledges asked for
were liable like implication that the people ought
not to be trusted to the polls without the guarantee
oe their word and honor. But it is useless to Give
reasons for defeat which is defeat after ALL All adj
nit the capacity Of the people for secgovernment if
left to act out their own intelligence and virtue, I'M
meddled with by demagogues and office seekers
That the majority shall govern, we take to be the
best rule in republican government; and while
we may have our regrets sometimes for the decisions