Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-02-18
COMMUNICATIONS.
For THE VINDIcAroR.

v
the Messenger and host Of great names, such
as Ichabed Crane Olapod, Independence, Coun-
try Friends, Vox Populi, &c?
Is it corruption among the office. holders OF
the county-neglect Of duty, or any other mall
teasance or non-feasance2 The writers have
not shown, or attempted to show-they have
not even charged any bad appointments to have
been made Their accusation is corruption
long continued favoritism and nepolsm In the
appointing powers But the officers, thus deri-
wing their appointments from a corrupt source,
we are left by the total silence of these able
critics, to infer are too pure-too upright in the
discharge Of their official duties for the tongue,
even OF malice to assail them. Now this is
passing strange We are told on high authori-
ty that Z" a corrupt tree brngeth not forth good
fruit Yet this Scripture truth must be false
hood, or the /" Olapodians," as they delight to
call themselves must be set down as false wit
| nesseS.
Now, gentlemen, come up to the rescue of
your own dear selves from the charge of false
accusers-which must inevitably overwhelm
you, unless you are prepared TO show that some,
at least of the long list of officers corruptly APP
pointed have betrayed their trust. They are
before you-they are before the public. Any
improper conduct of theirs is a legitimate sub
iect for public investigation. If they, or any Of
them, have betrayed their trust the people have
right to know it. Independence" the very
name of your favorite author requires you to
| speak it out. Do not condemn the appointing
powers before you shall first have pointed them
to the book and page where thsy may read the
alleged unworthiness of their appointee. Spe-
city it-tell them, ye friends Of the peoples
rights, where they can get proof Of the fact
and then, if they turn deaf ear to You, call
| them corrupt-denounce their appointments as
corrupt, and the people will thank you.
This family, which seems 10 be such thorn
in YOUR indignant, honest sides. 1t is true the
people have trusted them. Many years ago
they came among us poor--few in number
with nothing but their supposed integrity to give
them patronage They have lived among US
what extended their connexion by the inter-
marriage of their children. One Of them has
repeatedly received the appointment of Clerk of
the Superior Court, from that upright Judge
whom the unspot,ed " Independence prououn-
ces an exception to the general rule of corrup-
ton in certain quarters Another has as often
received the appointment of Clerk of the County
at the hands of the enlightened naglstracy of the
county. Another has again and again been
elected by as intelligent and upright a people as
the sun ever shone upon, Delegate and Sena-
tor to the Virginia Assembly "independence y
will hardly charge corruption on these appoint
ing powers. Nor will his enlightened friend
and "organ," the "neutral Messenger" If
7 Mey have erred, it has been for want of light,
and it is the duty Of those who have light to
bestow it on them, Come, gentlemen, aye ia
vored and enlightened few; )" ye who know
these men so much better than those who
have known them all their lives; now is the
time toirnmortalize yourselves! Tell the peo-
pie how they have been deceived. Bring for
ward your charges and specifications and proofs.
/ II fha,,, tn tho po1ntnr-If
DR.. F. +. STRIBL1NG, too. He started among
us some years since poor young man, having
but his profession and honor to trust to. He is
another of the devoted " family.o He has been
placed in position ofvery high and responsible
trust-a trust involving, every day; the welfare
| ana happiness of numerous and most helpless
class Of our fe,lnw creatures. He has been Sc
lected to that position, annually, by unani-
nous Court of Directors tor the last thirteen
years. But your high n1ightinesses have form
ed so mean an opinion OF that Court 1hat lear
even their unanimous action would constitute a
poor recommendation with you. I doubt not
gentlemen, they are deeply humbled at the
| thought of your disarprobation. Bat yet, if you
have no respect for them, pray you exercise
some bowels of compassion for the poor untor-
tunates under their charge. If DR.. STRIBLING
is unworthy of the trust reposed in him there is
power untrammelled by the petty influences
which you attribute to the Court of Directors
That power is the Legislature OF the State
For the sake of the unfortunate insane impore
| you, go to them. Let your light shine upon
| them. Tell them how and where, and when,
the Superintendent of the Hospital has failed in
the discharge of his high and responsible duties.
Point them to the men, or TO the documents that
will prove it npon them.
| The Superintendent has stood very high. The
Legislature has complimented the management
of the institution by uniform display, for years,
of the most remarkable liberality towards it.
The Legislature evidently believes that all is
right in its management How can you recon-
Gle it with common honesty, or humanity, if all
is wrong or rotten to suffer that body to be lon
ger deceived, while you hide your light under
the bushel of country newspaper! Rely on ii
if you pursue your course longer, the intelligent
people of this community will believe that your
object is not to obtain redress of grievances,
but only TO agitate and disturb the peace Of So
ciety here at home.
| You say that WILLIAM CRAIG, Sergeant Of the
Corporation, is a Presbyterian, but brother-in-
law TO N. c. KINNEY. Mrs. COLEMAN and the
Misses BRAGG, employed at the Deaf, Mute, and
Blind Institution, are Prespyterians, but aunts to
DR.. STR1BL1Ne. Now, Mr.. Independence, what
did you mean by this? Did you drag these
amiable and excellent names before the public
in this reprehensible and insulting manner for
the purpose of insnuating that they had no other
claim 10 the offices they hold, than their connex-
ion with Or. SFRIBLING and Mr.. KINNEY? This
gentleman, and those intelligent ladies' are bet
ter known to the county than you are, and that
| people will hold any man to heavy responsible
| ity who thus wantonly insults those who have
always sustained good name. Ii there Us any
fault, or inefficency about them which would
render them justly obnoxious to the charge OF
having been elected by corrupt iavoritsm; then
though the one has been rendered poor by his
liberality, and the others are helpless females,
public Justice would justify their exposure. But
# not, such a reference to them is inhuman
Perhaps. Independence, will say he did not
mean a sslur upon them, but upon the appointing
power that while tier claims were good, yet
such was the corruption of the appointing pow