Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-11-02
The Reply to Putnam.

AOOut TWO NOntnS dSo, VIC P"oit9"O" ~OP0>
extracts from an article in the September number
of PUrNAM's Magazine. entitled "Our New Pres
ident," and remarked that it would attract gene
raj attention 1t seems that we did not err in on
Judgment The article has not only been extern
svely quoted and commented on by the press, bu
the friends of the Administration have felt called
upon 10 write and publish volumiuous reply
There is one interesting fact connected with thi;
reply, of which we have seen no explanation. As
published in the Boston Past, Washington Senti
mel. and Philadelphia Pennsylvania, it contains
a glowing eulogy upon Mr.. GEORGE SAUNDERS
the Consul to London, late editor of the Demo
cratic Review, and leader of Young America, y
who. it says, evil astound his calumniators by
his department and his achievements at the Lon
don consulateN. Some how or other, the Wash
ington Union omits the whole paragraph relative
to SAUNDERS! 1t will be recolected that the
Union, not long ago denounced SAUNDERS as a
pirate!
The New York Post, Democratic Freesoil,
which made the discovery of the omission, refer
ring the reply, says
F.; ''Tbe article realizes the geometricians' defini
ton of a straight line: it has length. without
breadth or thickness. 1t has one good thing in it,
however. Dan Sickles, Mr.. Buchanan's secretary
of legation, is spoken of as an accomplished scho-
lar, and singularly well fitted for and accustomed
to literary labors and scientific pursuits We
were aware that Dams passion for letters was 30
uncomfortable, that on one occasion he robbed
post office to crafty it, but Of his scientific attain
ments, if they exist, we are not so well informed.
We doremember his once being employed by some
clients in this city to secure patent for them, at
Washington, but neither he nor his friends have
ever cared to talk much about his achievements
under that retainer"
The above extract from the Post is specimen
of the freedom with which the characters of pub
lie men are discussed by the New York press
Whether the statements in reference to SIcKLEs
be true or false, they indicate a lamentable want
of good morals in that State. If they are false,
the press is wofully degraded; and if they are
true, the public sentiment which sustains such a
man in an elevated position is most depraved
Presidency OF the Central Railroad.
We are induced TO believe, from the tone of the
newspapers along the line of the Central Railroad,
that popular sentiment is in favor of retaining Col
FoNrAINE in the Presidency of the Company
His retention seems to be called for at this time,
no less by the public interest, than by sense
of Justice to an officer who has devoted himself
faithfully to his duties. The general charges
of incompetency and mismanagement preferred a.
gainst him, have not been established to our
satisfaction; on the contrary, the burden of tes-
timony proves the reverse most decidedly. Errors
may have been committed, but no one is infalli-
BILE, and we quote the proverb, "He that will have
horse without fault, let him go afoot."
Several papers, however, in defending Colonel
FoNrAINE, have done gross injustice to the gen,
tlemen in this place whose names have been men
toned in connection with the office, and to oul
citizens generally. The Richmond Dispatch o.
the 9th ultimo, notices these assaults in man
ner which entities il to our acknowledgment. The
Dispatch, after referring to the untrendly tone In
dulged towards Staunton, says
at is true, that various citizens of Stanton
have been nominated, and we are perfectly certain
without their knowledge or consent, for the Pres.
idency of the Central Railroad, SO ably and salts
factorily filled by Colonel Fontaine. But we ap-
prehend, that neither Staunton nor the gentlemen
thus nominated, deserve censure on that account
1t is matter of every day occurrence, when va
cancy is spoken of as probable in the Presidency
of Company, for the names OF gentlemen to be
suggested, without any privty of theirs, by theil
admiring friends. As for the town Of Staunton
we wish that every village in Virginia were as
enterprising, intelligent and prosperous"