Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-05-18
S. K. TAyBoR, ESQ. -
For the Spectator


.Mesas Editors The action of the recent
County Convention has produced quite stir a.
mongst a portion of the sovereigns, which it would
seem upon mature and deliberate reflection to be
out of place now. It is admitted by every Wing
voter in the county, that the state of parties is
such as TO make it absolutely necessary to 90 into
Convention, or sacrifice long cherished principles
Without saying aught with regard to the four
gentlemen who have been nominated my object
will be to show that although the public will may
have been siled to some extent, that the fault is
not with the highminded and honorable body of
gentlemen who composed that Convention, but
with the friends of the different aspirants before
it.
II was kuowH for months before that Conven-
ton was proposed, a day was fixed for all the
Wings in the county to meet ct their respective
voting places of which due and sufficient notice was
given---lhey were not only requested but urged
to attend those meetings for the purpose of elect
ing delegate to represent them in the county
Copvention-here then was an opportunity that
the voters were urged to turn out but few hours,
and indeed in their sovereignty they possessed the
unquestionabe right not only to express their pre-
ference for men, but also the right to instruct their
delegates to vote for that preference. Did they
do 500 No, no. In most instances, some ten or
dozen loyal to their party and to the Wing princ-
pies, met and did the best they could in the way
of fixing upa delegation, having no opportunity of
knowing the views of the voters of the respective
Districts, they Of course 90 into Convention con-
sulting their own personal preferences, and the in
terests OF the party rather than any other conside
ration During all this time. the mass of the vo
tiers are dormant and Indifferent as though they
had no interest in the matter. Yet in the face of
all these facts, no sooner than the nomination is
announced, the friends of the different dsappoint-
ed aspirants are heard dcnOuncing the Convention,
when in many instances if they had done their
duty to the Wing cause, to their party and their
friend they might have succeeded in procuring his
nomination. But still we have the cry of unfair
ness, political intrigue, packed delegations, cor
rnpt Convention and a thousand kindred express
sons. If the ticket be Objectionable, the fault is
with the people (if there be- any FAULT and not
with the Convention. If from your own careless
ness and Indifference you have failed to get the
men of your choice, take the blame to yourselves
where it righfully belongs and support your prn-
cpes regardless of men, and learn from the past
your duty for the future. 1t appears to me that
every Wing in the county ought to consider it his
duty to support the regularly nominated ticket,
however Objectionable They knew there was to
be Convention plan of organization was not
only made public, but the people Dere urged 10
giue 1t their attention-the power was acknowl-
edged to be theirs, yet when they had it in their
power to act, they failed to do their part but left
it in the hands of few--no objection to the Con-
vention, plan of organization or anything pertain
ing to it was heard-after this great neglect of
duty to your counhy,to your party and to well es-
tabshed and long cherished principles: Wings
of Augusta, do you not feel that it is still your du-
ty to stand by those principles?
Our political opponents set us an example in
this respect worthy of all imitation They put
forward their strongest men and not murmur is
heard in the ranks. The signal is given, and
they rush to the rescue, as one man declaring that
that ia 'Epnion there is strength"
A WHIG FROM PRINCIPLE.
North Augusta. May13, 1853.