Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-04-15
For THE T!NDICAToR

nication in your paper of Monday last has been
severely commented on, and improper motives
attributed to the author, deem it due to myself
TO make an explanation and answer some OF Tie
insinuations aud correct some oil the wrong I'M
pressons which one Of the gentlemen (Mr. I'M
boden) has sought to make.
Ga two public occasions, since the appear
ance of that article, the gentleman has charged,
as I am informed that the writer was inhuen-
ced by feelings OF personal hostility TO him. Now,
! wish to assure the gentleman and the public,
that the writer OF that article enteraius warm
feelings of personal friendship for Fir. Imboden
and would eheerfully have supported him in the
present canvass, did he approve OF his opinions
and his course. lie is entirely free from and
unconnected with the sinister influences which
the gentleman insinaates; and penned the alll-
Gle referred to at his own suggestion.
The gentleman charges that the construction
given to the article on The f9iaht OF Suf1rageii
signed Independence was apIf,@ gsrUe2s;oa
OF his meaning it is far from ny intention Or
desire to Do the gentleman injastice in the
smallest particular. and to place him AID my
SSH fairly before the public; will give one or
two extracts (Which shall be nc garbed cnes)
from the Article referred TO- and will confidently
leave it to an enlightened and honest public to
SAY whether have 'ssiltu!!y perverted The gen.
tlenan's meaning. To ascertain whether cit
izen can inteliIgeatly exe!c;s9 the Right Of suf-
flage, he says -
':But we can very readily inquire into his
means Of becoming enlightened to certain eX
tent. 1t may be readily asceriained whether a
citizen can read and since this primary, but
important point in education may be attained by
all, it is worth while to consider If it would not
be right and expedient to adopt some rule,
which would exclude all from voting who do not
possess this simple means Of ordinary intelli-
gence. do not hesitate to express my belief,
that to require every voter, WHO shall become Of
age after 1860 to be able to read, at least,
would be both right iii itself, and sanitary in its
influence on the educational and other interests
of the country and in harmony, also, with our
contemplated new Constitution, which do not
doubt will base the competency of the voter
solely upon his intellectual and moral fitness"
And again =
t'The ballo-boy shoull be the freeman's cas-
tie OF defence against the tyrant and the dema-
gogue alike. Then lay its foundations deep in
the rock of the Constitution, and leave it no
longer lettering on the sands of uncertain whim
and CAPRICE where the boiling surges of party
strife may at any moment undermine and tum-
bic it to the ground. Give sense and meaning
to the second clause of our Bill Of Rights, "That
all power is vested in, and consequently derived
from the people that magistrates are their trus-
tees and servants, and at all times ainenable to
them" Exclude from the rights of freemen
none of our free white male citizens, but those
under age-those of unsound mnd-those
GROSSLY IGNORANT-say, SUCH AS COME OF
AGE AFTER THE YEAR 1860 WITHOUT HAVING
LEARNED TO READ-and paupers and such as
fail to pay their taxes. Then will Virginia be
Republican, as regards the right of suffrage"
The gentleman says this is a mere suggestion.
So it is 'suggestion," and SO is every other
measure of reform which the gentleman is adj
vocatng Suggestion" and will continue to
be suggestions until they are carried into procta-
cal effect But the gentleman has discovered
that that suggestion is not one OF the ''popular
measures of REFORM which he SO zealousy
seeks for. 1t is ;suggestion," but it looks very
like a whale.'
AS to the ID and Sd questions can only say
that have heard that at the time referred to-,
Mr.. Imboden called upon Col, Baldwin and de-
sired an explanation Of his reasons for voting for
the mixed basis in Committee Col. B. gave
them and Mr. |. said, 'Sir, you are right and
the people of Augusta will sustain YOU" Mr.. l..
then asked "will Mr.. Massie go with you ~
have not consulted with him. Mr. |. said II
will go and see him." He did go to see Mr.,
Massie and finding him also in favor of the
mixed basis and determined TO vote for it, he
expressed to him his qualification on learning
the fact.
| have also heard that he afterwards met with
Messrs. john Brown and WILLIAM A. TURK,
two worthy and respectable citizens of our coun-
~, in Richmond, and conuinced them both that
Messrs. B. and IA. had uoted right. The people
of Augusta know how violently MIR. lmboden
opposed Messrs. Baldwin and Massie in the sue
ceeding Spring campaign for their course upon
that very question
| | am not authorized to make any of The above
statements, land | make them without the
! knowledge Of any of the gentlemen concerned(
but have no doubt that the gentlemen referred
to will state the circumstances in full to any one
requesting them. If am misinformed, it is to
Mr. Imbodens interest as well as his duty to
call upon these gentlemen for correct state
ment of the iacts-for assure him that am not
alone in my Impressions If he does not call