Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-29
prrEAr OF DISCUSSION, AND HOW.

Previous 10 Monday, the following means had
been adopted for free, fair aud open discussion be-
fore the people, of the various questions of consiItu-
tional reform The first in order was the subjoined
call made through the columns of the indicator on
Monday the 10Th of'this month:
DIscuss1oN AS several gentlemen have been named,
from this county suitable persons to represent, in part
this District in the approaching Conventions and as public
discussions Of the various topics Of Reform are expected and
desired by the peope previous To the election Of their Dele
gates and as such discussions will materially aid in max
Ing proper selection Of such may safely trusted with
our dearest rights and interests, it deemed expeden and
therefore recommended that such discussion be opened on
the first day Of the May Court in SauntOn and continued
at such times and places may then and there be deter
mined on The people therefore earnestly and respect
fully requested attend at the time and place mentioned
and the gentlemen referred and any others disposed to
unite in debate earnestly requested meet the peo
PIE for the purposes herein set forth.
MANY Wines AND DEMOCRATS.
This call was copied into the Spectator on the fol-
lowing Wednesday, May 22d, and at the same date
two other calls appeared in this paper, which we
give below for, the purpose of full exhibition of
the facts Of the case, and necessary 10 a proper
appreciation ol1he course pursued on Monday last
McSsrs Editors AS discussion of the topics Of Reform
at the approaching May term to be generally expect
ed, and as it is very important that this discussion should
be full and thorough, hope that all gentlemen who have
given attention and study to those topics whether they
candidates asprants for seat C the Convention not
will hold themselves in readiness oparicpae in the dis
eussOn at all times and all proper occasions between
this and the election.
The time is come when every citizen who loves poEi
cal Truth for her sake and government based upon
sound principles be expected to do his duty and his
whole duty. ,,, JUNlUS.
essrs Eatss IL see it is proposed to have discus
sion of reform questions on May Courtday and AN pleas
ed al it, The people hear those matters discussed
at length, that the right time for such discussion has
arrived hope I'VE will hear from David Fultz and j. c.
Fulton "A II. ii. Stuart T. J. Niche aud Capt Kenton
Harper who have been spoken of in the papers as proper
persons represent the District in Convention and also
from j. d. ImbOden, Col j. b. Baldwin, j. L. Peyon and
any other geeman who may feel disposed dscuss these
questions at that any other place in the District
>-. . A VOTER.
II will be seen, then, that the calls were respect
full, indiscrimnate and earnest while one OF them
(the LAST designated by name the gentlemen whom
it was hoped and expected would take part in the dis
cussion If any one is disposed to ascertain the
names which.are represented by "Many Wings and
many Democrats" he can be grati6ed by calling at
this Office and sigufying his wishes. The authors
of JANUS" aud "A Voter" are highly intelligent and
respectable gentlemen.
The call, as published in the indicator, closed
with these words-~Further notice will be given
through the Spectator" These words were omitted
in our paper as useless, because we knew Of their
existence an&ntended at any rate to give any addi-
tional Information in our possession. Accordingly
the Editors Of this paper sought for something def
mite to communicate to the people in regard to the
dlrsady inraed discussion One Of us, therefore, al
dressed letter 70 Col. BALDWIN, then attending the
Albemarle Superior Court, informing him Of the call
of which he knew nothing, asking him to unite in
tho discussion, and requesting him to communicate
the same to Mr.. NICHE. This was matter of our
own and disconnected with the articles of "AIany
Wings and many Democrats" "Junius,n and "a Vo-
ter" Mr. STUART, returning from Rockingham
Court, without knowledge of the call, was waited on
by some half dozen gentlemen together and strong
ly urged to unite also IN the expected discusson.-
This was business of the six, and right which it
is presumed will not be questioned at this time Of
day, when the rights ofthe people, as finvaded have
become the burden Of every political song-the text
for all sorts of political preachments. Mr. IMBopEN.
who had already discussed the reform questions
throughout the County, was duly notified, besides
being embraced in the calls referred to-anG COL J..
CRAWFORD.
Thus matters stood on Monday last, when crow
ded courthouse aud highly intelligent auditory evinc-
ed the deep interest felt in the looked for discussion
The ability of the gentlemen expected to be engaged
Increased the interest The Court having adjourned
for the occasion, the meeting having been regularly
organized and the objects explained, a gentleman
Claiming to be thorough reformer, announced very
emphatlcally and to the surprise of every one his
apprehension OF some uniairness in getting I'D the
meeting, and planning With view of restricting
discussion to those he pleased to call anti-reform
ers. Ii Is proper and DUE moreover to that gentle
man to say, that he finally discIamed any charge of
unfairness to individuals concerned; and his remarks
were doubtless made at first through msapprehenson
ofthe facts OF the case Excitement however, had been
produced Mr., FULTz was not willing to consider
himself invited 10 address the meeting MIR. STUART,
keenly sensible to any intnaon of unlairness, NOV
ell an adjournment to Saturday next Strange to say,
notwithstanding all the ado about "unGairness' aud
some sided game" the relormers par excellence, ex-
presSed Willingness TO go into the debate-were
prepared, atSays prepared, aud charged upon those
whom they had prsjadged as antreformers,a dspo-
sition to dodge discussion. ALEX, H. II. STUART
dodge discussion Credat Judeus .4ppeHa.
An overwhelming vote upon the proposition to
postpone, adjourned the whole matter over to Satur-
day next But for the disappointment of the people
on Monday >syery circumstance favors the postpone
meut, We hope for lair day--lhere can be no
doubt Of fair field
q prevent apprehension, we state that the
Narinns