Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-10-15
OF THE LATE DEMO-
CRATIC CONVENTION--CONTI

i
CRATIC OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The terms of bitter and degrading import
employed by prominent speakers in this
Convention to designate the Wing party
| were not only not rebuked by the presiding
| officer, but vociferously applauded by the
members generally. True, that officer sale
when he took the chair, that he did not think
quite as badly of the Wings as some of his
brethren, but there was no response to the
sentiment, no cheer. There might have
been inward groaus and Kisses of the heart
Stump speakers upon the stump, or news
paper hacks, whose tenure and bread de-
pend upon pandering to morbid appetites,
might be overlooked in the use of low cpl
thets, without subjecting the assailed party
to the charge of arisiOcracu but when mem
bers of Convention composed of the elite
of a party, descend to the same level, it
might be deemed undemocratic, to say the
least of it, not TO give them a passing no
hce, even ifthat notice should be in the form
of rebuke.
PARTY DRILL.-The leaders of a party
arrogating to itself the exclusive title of De-
mocracy, have boasted of its unlty-when
they speak, the rank and file move obedi-
emily of course. How far this may be COM
plimentary or the reverse to the mass, it is
not for us to decide. at present. What we
wish to say, is, that no little uneasiness was
shown upon the recent occasion, lest there
might be split among the leaders them
selves. The apparent unanimity at the
closing scene, was evidently brought about,
by the known union of the Wings before
going into Convention. The one set of del
egates had been duly imbued with the sem
timents of their constituents. The other
set Of delegates, after disagreelng and wrang-
ling, seek to infuse their ultimate conclu-
sions into the minds of their constituency.
Now we ask any one of sober thought and
grave rehection-which is the most demo-
cratic,-to follow the known will of the con-
stituent body, or to dictate will to it -
The answer would seem to be simple and
easy. Yet IN very many cases, as in the
present, an aristocracy aye of Democrats,
dictate to the party, and good-natured, un-
suspecting freemen, beguiled by name.
calmly lie down under an aristocracy whose
very password is down with the aristocracy.
Verify we are in the midst Of the b. azen age.
PLEpGEs.-The amended Constitution,
without doubt, will be ratified by the peo-
pie. This instrument has secured popular
rights to the fullest extent asked for. 1t
would be unwise to permit any practice to
grow up under our elective system, which
would mar its beauty, or bring into disre-
pute any of Its provisions. How far private
engagements between candidates and vo-
tiers, or pledges binding the honor this way
or that way-how far, all bargains made and
entered into before the time for voting comes,
may consist with free popular elections, will
shortly become very grave question.
The people being sovereign in this our Re-
publican government, their will expressed
thro' representatives., in the matter of legisla-
ton, constitutes the law by which all are gov
erned, & to which all must submit. Good cit
liens will submit cheertully, when the rep
resentative has been fairly & freely chosen,
thus showing the peoples deliberate piH.-
If, on the contrary, aspirants and leaders
can succeed IN coaxlng freemen by ex-parte
statements and misrepresentation, to vote
in way that may suit their fancy, then,
plainly, freedom at the polls is gone--then
there is no deliberate will of the people free
ly expressed-then an aristocracy of dema-
gogues and ofice-seekers will dictate the
laws, and be in effect the government.
These remarks and others of like kind
hereafter to be made, are not intended as
party denunciation. They reach beyond
party to all partIes-to the good of our COM
mon country-to posterity ana their we'll
doing-to the permanence Of our free insti-
tutlons-to the purity of our elections, the
only sure basis of free government.
o. The vote of the citizens of Staunton
was taken on Saturday last, on the ques-
ton of subscription by the Common Coun-
Gil Of three thousand dollars to the stock OF
the Junction Valley Turnpike, popularity
known as the Lexington Plank Road. The
number of votes polled was small, but a
very large majority was IN favor of the sub
scription, and consequently the measure
was carried. We are highly gratifed al
this result, which insures the early compile
ton of the road to Staunton. AS soon as
the engineer can locate the road, workmen
will be placed upon it, and we understand
it will be in travelling order by next Sum.
mer. Some seventeen miles next to Lex.
ington are now finished, and the stage pas.
ses over the defiance in about two hours
When the whole road is completed the dis.