Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-09-08
The Inspector Inspected and Eek.
posed.

cause. we feel encouraged 10 keep up the nfe,
for we are assured, upon good authority, that an
impartial perusal of both Sides has resulted in the
conversion of at least one good Democrat to our
way of thinking. If the Vindicator will only per-
severe in the quixotic enterprise which has engag-
ed its attention for the last month, many more will
doubtless declare for old SCOTT without the aid Of
another line from our pen.
We had no idea of wounding the s,nsibilities
Of the pindicoOr by intimatinD Cur belief that the
ostensible Editor of the: paper was not our oppo-
nent in the pen'';g controversy. We presumed
every intelligent reader to be already aware ofthat
l"ct, ard deemed it very allowable diversion to
I'm passing blow at our real though hidden ad-
versary. In the Va,dtcators classic allusion to
the Goddess of Duaess presiding over our edito-
rial sanctum, the Editor trades on Borrowed cap
ital." We had already installed the universally
recognized emblem of stupidity behind the Vindi-
GATORS editorial tripod. We receive most cordial
ly the Indicators disclaimer of any intention to
be dsconrteoas, though it strikes us that when Ian
guage is used plainly wanting in courtesy, which
is afterwards explained away, that good manners
are vindicated at the expense of good sense Hav-
ing volunteered his valuable assistance to the Vil-
dicator, our opponent must be content to receive
just such blows as we have been accustomed to be-
stow upon that paper, and bear them with common
dabe tortitude.
The Vindicator is mistaken in supposing that
the authorship of its articles has nothing to dowlth
our quarrel. In every issue of that paper for the
last few weeks we find Gen. ScoTT denounced as
unworthy of Southern confidence, because of his
alleged unso,tndness on the Compromise. Now if
the author of the articles is himself unsound on that
question; if he has held and still holds the Com
promise Measures to be ,mjust in their operation
upon the South; if the violence of his opposition
even caused him to favor that political abortion,
the Nashville Convention-we do contend that he
ought not to have the face in daylight to urge Gen.
ScoTT's alleged ''silence" in reference to these
measures as an evidence of his hostility to the South
If he will only let the public look upon his comely
countenance, we doubt not the Crocodile tears''
he has shed SO freely over Gen. Scorr's ''unsound-
ness' on the Compromise will be fully apprecia-
ted, and proper estimate be placed upon his pro-
LESSONS of distrus-in this community at any rate
Do You see the bearing?
But we find the Vindicator abandoning that
ground. Driven from every position he has taken,
we discover that he has fallen back, as a sort of
''forlorn hope" upon Gen. ScoTT's famous Atchi-
son letter. Now we not to be led off into "scho-
lastc disputations" in reference to the powers Of
Congress over Slavery in the District of Columbia,
nor do we intend to discuss the propriety of that
body's receiving abolition petitions. Gen. ScoTT's
sentiments upon these points arc in strict accord
ance with the opinions of hundreds of Southern
men, whose loyalty has never been questioned
1t is not surprising that sensitive aad chivalrous
politician of the South Carolina School should find
something in that letter obnoxious to his peculiar
views, but, for our part, we are perfectly willing
that Gen. ScoTT shall be tried upon that evidence
without submitting an elaborate argument in his
defence. IL Gen. ScoTr entertains the opinion
that Congress as the local Legislature has the
power to abolish slavery in the District, he also
declares that it ought not to be exercised except
with the concurrent action of Virginia and Mary
land, with the consent of the owners, or upon just
compensation, and these qualifications amply pro-
tect the South
But we are not prepared to admit that Mr..
PIERCE does not believe in the power of Congress
to abolish slavery in the District. The Vindica-
tor claims that he does the authority of the fol-
lowing extract from speech said to have been de-
livered in 1889, upon the presentation of petition
for the abolition of slavery in the District of Co
lumbia:
cit is certainly no task to present the memorial,
and yet cannot, in justice to my own convictions
of duty, comply with the request, without express
sing my deep regret, that these petitioners, many
of whom am sure are actuated by pure motives,
should so far mistake their own moral responsible
tiles, and the po,cer and duty of Congress in rela-
ton to this subject"
Now we beg leave to ask where the above came
from2 We want to know the precise date at
which that speech was delivered. We wish to
find out whether the petition presented by Mr..
PIERCE, simply prayed the abolition of slavery in
the District, or whether it was not petition for
the abolition of slavery generally, including Of
course the District of Columbia. We demand the
Congressional Records, which we believe will put
another face altogether on the above extract. Let
us have the recorded proceedings Of Congress, IN
reference to the ,chole matter before you ask us to
rive Mr.. PIERCE credit for sentiments which are
falsiied by the whole history of his party iii New
Hampshire of which he is the acknowledged Sem
bodiment )" fals6ed by the opinions advanced by
him in other speeches in which he launched forth
his denuncations against slavery in the strongest
language, aud fasified by the vote he gave at the
same session, and which is recorded below in favor
of resuming the deliberate consideration of petit
ton for the abolition of slavery in the District OF
Columbia, and the Territory of Florida, and for
the prevenon of the trade between the States
Let lis have the authenticated documents, before
Won ask US to admit the construction you give to
the above language.
The Findicator processes to, see violent hostility
to the South concealed beneath Gen. ScoTT's o.
pinions in regard to abolition petitions. Why Gen.
PIERCE actually presented a petition praying the
abolition of slavery in the District. That petition
doubtless hailed from the Generals own constitu-
ency and he felt bound to present it to Congress
Here is the Vi,dicator's candidate engaged in the
initatory work which lies the bottom of the evll
for if members of Congress would decline present
ing these petitions of their abolition constituencies
it would not be necessary for Congress to receive,
report upon, or refer them. But we do not intend