Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-01-26

IN, as applicable. TO Office seeking. March
curt, that great day for the display Of
,nJidatcs, il near at hand and such IN
ray Of that class rs we may expect to
g on that day has never yet been witness
in Virginia. What host woulI they
resent could they all be collected in one
my. We have no data at present, by
'hich to estimate the probable number Of
ne host-but upon the moderate estimate
snaveragc Of six offices to be filled in
,ch Of tho $50 counties and corporations
our Sta,c-anJ snpposing the average
umber Of candidates for each Of these of
- to be only FIVE, we have the round sum
T FIVE thousand four hundred, without ia
ing into the estimate the many thousand
lduiona Office seekers for the larger Sec
ons aud districts OF the State. and also for
re smaller districts and wards Of the sew
al counties and Corporations, these
'oull probably swell The number TO ten
,ousand men seeking office. at the same
me in our State at the hands oftbc sovcr-
reign people, as they are pleased to call
$. Here thon is a mighty host for good
: for evil in the influence. to be cxerteJ
Y them in their Efforts To obtain favors
nong the voters.
The question now is. what means will
lis iornri liable f,rcc use To secure popular
wort Win they all rely solely upon
'cir individual merits. with single eye
the public good Or will any venture
nae that hind ot bribery and stralegcm
hich may be justly denounced AS steal
&c heart unawsres I 1t is gratifying to all
&c friends Of prqpricty and good order, to
c.icvc that many of this host will risk
re result upon their own merits, auI upon
&c good sense Of those who have the pow
r to choose, without rcsorting either 10.
artery Or treating; but at the same lime. ii
To be feared. and the thought is humilia-
n.y. tbutsome viii doubt their own eliei-
iliiy 10 office without having recourse To
he tempting charms of Alcohol. among
rat lass ofpersons wht g. favor they think
y securcithcreby.
We're it necessary toProve the position.
rat the system Of t'cltlng has most per
cious tendency, it would be to show
hat it is the most flirhiul and eifcctual
ource for making drnnkards Of any that
onld be devised. Blu, suppoyipg tins iaci
he admitted by all classes ofsocicty, |
Elll confine these suggestions rather To the
cccssity and the means, of reform. than
the exP"surc of The crin,l nairy Of the
racricc itself
In order TO reform. it is essential that
here he united clfort anI.combincd action.
hen how and when shall this conbina.
ion orisinatcl woul say.again, mos,
alphabetically, that now is the lime for the
andidates themselves to concentrate their
,ree against this exil. Each OF them may
nd should occupya conspicuous and i'm
fortant p hi in the army Of volunteers 10
'outcnd against common foe. And |
you'd say that the Candidate who would
c afraid to volunteer rs Licu,cnen, Gen
raj to face such foe, would not be wor-
by 10 act AS commander in any nrmy.
Except as Corporal in the service of King
Alcohol.
As there is yet sufficient time for the
candidates To mature some plan for eff
lent combined action on this subject, |
would suggest that those of them who ia
For the reform shall. through the pubic
papers. invite general meeting q" all
heir class to be held at the Court Houses
pr their respective counties, at the mex,
March term of the county Courts. for the
purpose of discussing the propriety of
general crusade against the hquor treating
lys'cm for .ulcc,ionecring purposcs-and
let their savereisns know as soon as posi-
lil;lc the result of their deliberations
Mary arguments might be adduccd to
commend such a course, but at present, |
will only refer to few Of the many good
Effects that might be expected TO result,
from the favorable action OF such gen, raj
meetings Of the .candida'es. Much time
tnd money would be saved, many difficult
lies Of various kinds would be avoided
here would be no cause or room left to
ecnsurc the Order If the Sons of Temper
pnce for supposed combination to elect
one one other brethren. on the plcathat
he alone is pledged not to put the bottle
10 his neighbor's meuth--and best of all
j. would establish precedent that would
commend itself to their successors.
| need hardly sefcr to the fact. that the
friends of reform among the people will be
under the necessity of requiring obedience
to their WILL II the candidates disregard it,
and that the course to he adopted by them
TO effect this object must be dictated by
prudence and reason.
The time past should suffice to have
been winked at by the friends Of reform
and good order; and the time to come
should witness hearty cooperation of all
the partioss and Phiian,hropists in our
State, to .csiab.ish and Sustain a protective
system against the influence of Aichohol on
the polls Of our elections.
But says one. | am candidate. and
also member of the order of the Sons of
Temperance. it viii therefore be Improper
for me to take the lead in this matter, lest
be accused of counting the favour of nv
'"thren, and so bring odium on an limo.
cent cause: and, says another, although
myself and most Of my opponents are
friendly to the proposed reform, and al.
though We would not c9ndescend TO use
the bribery and seduction Of the treating
system TO secure success; yet ahere may
he some of our opponents. who may take
advantage Of our pledges to the contrary.
and freely use she s,'nulau, as a bait to
catch votes among that class of persons
who do not favour the reform on account
of their love for the article. and thereby
Hrfeat our Object To the former CT these
'objeetors Nenld say. by taking a hrm
stand IN accordance with your pr''fesscd
PRINCIPLES. you will deserve the esteem of
shc wise and good Of every order, and
you need not fear shc reproach Of the enc
mics OF good cause. Aud 10 the latter
I would say. 1t is far mSse honorable to
fall IN glorinns warfare than to conquer
ny ighoble s.ratagcm. Soldiers and lea
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