Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-06-04
NEW ooxsrIrur1os OF KENTUCKY.

we think the experience Of the last three mohths
must have satisfied majority off The rejecting men
in Kentucky that the portion Of the new constiia-
ton which provides for the election OF al tne OIL
GERS IN the Stately the People, can hardy oe con-
sldered 40 Improvement on the old conslllulion' un
der which large number of those of1lcers were
otherwise selected.
The policy of submitting the election OF all onl'
GERS to the people, we have always doubled, not
because we doubt The capacity the people, but
because we know that the people generally vote
without informing themselves as 10 the character
and qualifications Of The various candidates. In this
city we were called upon 10 decide upon the quail
cations of seventy candidates Citizens anxious TO
vote judiciously, had great difficulty in arranging
their tickets Many of these who properly appre-
cate the elective franchise, and are not willing to
guess at the qualifications of candidates,were una
BILE to vote for more than half the number of candi
dates required for the officesto be filled. The I'M
rejecting portion Of the people, however, had no
such difficulty. With hemthe only object was to
vote for few candidates, from friendly feelings.
very large number of tickets presented at the
polls were not filled upby the voters by some 9TH
er persons. AT each place of voting large num-
Der OF votes were taken from men VINO could not
tell the names of any OF the candidates for wh,m
they wished 10 vote. We will venture To say that
ifthe majority were now called on to mention the
names of The candidates for whom they voted on
Monday, they would be entirely unable to do SO.
At each of the places Of voting there was much
confusion. The judges and clerks were necessarl-
ly greatly perplexed We stood by and saw three
persons vote, and the clerk who made the record,
In putting down their votes, made wrong ialles In
six places. These were discovered and rec
iEot. Int, coot EoI hat in Iovn
number of cases blunders were made, and were not
rectified. We have no doubt that thousands Of
mistakes Of the kind were made during the day in
this city, not because Of want Of competency on the
part of judges and clerks, but because, under the
circumstances, it was utterly impossible to avoid
mistakes. This is d very serious objection to-the
method pursued on Monday, and it must be reno.
we'd, before another election takes place for our Cit
liens, after fretling and sweating for hours to get
into where they can vote, will not be satisfied If
they feel doubtful as to whether their votes have
been properly recorded.
So far as Louisville is concerned, there never
was an election which gave so much dlscontent.-
One half of the voters were virtually dsfanchsed,
BECAUSE owing to the few places of voting, it was
impossible to take more than half the votes. The
candidates who were not elected are very much
dissatisfied together with their friends Thy be.
ieve that il the entire vote of the city had been ia
ken, they would have been elected, and do not hes
ia,e TO say that the result is not in consonance with
public sentiment. II may be that, had all voted
who desired 10 vote, some of those who are elected
would have been defeated, and some Of those who
were defeated would have been elected.
The immortality attendant on such contest for
public office as that we have just passed through,
is not compensated by any benefits which the pub
lie derive from it. Throughout the entire length
and breadth Of this State for several months past,
thousands Of candidates have been going about in
all directions, endeavoring 10 make favor for them
selvesagainst the day ofeeclion. Wherevera coliec
ton of people have been SEEM there also have been
seen all the candidates in The country gazing aboutso-
Letting votes. Each candidate felt himself bound no.,
only To solicit votes; but to enlist the influence Of the
people by repeated Greetings" This vice of dram
drinking seems to be inseparabe from popular cleo
tioEs. Candidates almost universally "treat" each
man that will drink, and hence, in preparing for
such an election many men are for the first time
introduced to habit Of inioxication which renders
them miserable in life. and dishonorabe in death.
We have no doubt that thousand men in Kentucky
will die like drunkards, who will trace the origin
Of the thirst which ruined them, to the'eection con-
tests from which we have just emerged.
The many tricks TO which most candidates feel
themselves compelled 10 resort have very deci
dedly injurious influence on their own characters.
No man can become accustomed to the equivoca-
iion, deception, and downright ialsehood of an E.
lection cUniesl, and not have his better feelings per-
vered and poisoned. A candidate is 'all things to
all men," He suits himself to the character of the
person of whom heis soliciting a vote with as much
exactness as the color of the chameleon suits itself
to the color of the Object with which il is in con-
tact He Injuries himself by his hypocrical arts ;
and the voter by treating him. The amount Of
harm to which the State has been subjected during
the present year cannot be estimated. Thousands
ofcharacers have been injured, and in very large
number OF cases The injury will be life long. We
are very far from asserting or believing that all the
candidates are SO far lost TO selfrespect in their ar
dor for office, as TO condescend to use The lowest
arts of The eecli0neerer, but we still have doubt
that large number of them descended TO the low
est practices Of the Gemagogue, in the hope Of gaiE
ing votes by such degradation.
The people ought to consider this subject
thoroughly, for from them must proceed all reforms
IL The policy of cecting all officers cannot be chan
ged, much good may be gained if the people will
refuse 10 support candidates for office who, to secure
their own election, are willing 10 do all that they
can to vitiate and corrupt the voters.-Fom the
Louisville Journal, May Is.
LUTHERAN SYNop.-The Evangelical Luther
an SYNOD Of Virginia assembled at n. Il. Stephens
burg, in this County, on Thursday The 18th inst
The Syuodical sermon was preached at night by
Rev. Mr.. Cline of New Market.
On Friday the following officers were elected:
Rev. Mr.. Campbell, Of Augusta, President; Rev.
Mr.. Richardson. Of Hampshire, Secretary Rev.
Mr.. Miller, Of Shenandoah, Treasurer. The cleo
lion Of officers takes place every year. Friday