Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-11-16
Secretary Davis ,ra Mr.. roomb..

! MIR. 1oombs replies in the Augusta Ca Chron-
icle and Sentinel to the recent letter of Secretary
Davis to Mr.. Gaskill After denying the charge
made by Gaskll which was the occasion of MIR
! Davis letter, Mr. Toombs SAYS -
What was said by me on the occasion referred
to. was not done in a corner" 1t was said to a
public assembly of the people, therefore, the truth
OF the charge could have been easily aseertaned.
The usual course pursued by gentlemen who may
feel themselves aggrieved under such clrcumsian-
ces, 10 inquire of the person who is alleged 10 have
made an offensive charge concerning IFS truth ;
that of staggering braggarls and cunning pol
rSons, is to indulge in vulgar epltheis and arSu-
mentative personalities just so far as may not COM
plicate them with the falsehood, if the charge
should prove to be untrue. The Secretary OF
WAR has chosen 10 pursue the latter course
Whatever other advantages this course may have,
II is not to be commended for It's chivalry. The
only allusion which made TO the Secretary Of
War, having any relation 10 the first charge, was
OF wholly different character TO that alleged.
arraigned General Pierce before the people, for
betraying the Compromise and lis friends, in the
face Of all his professions, by bringing lis enemies
into power.
To sustain this charge, reviewed the position
OF each member of his Cabinet, and showed that
not one of them was identified with that great
measure, and that the fidelity Of each of them to
il might be justly questioned. stated that Col.
Davis had, in the Senate, voted against its lead
ing measures united with It's enemies, and OPP
! posed ii at home, and was beaten by Gov. Foote,
of Mississippi, mainly on account OF that opposl-
ton. | then proceeded to show that the pnlicy OF
the government, was just such as might have been
expected from such combination. That It's ami
mating principle was, the cohesive properties OF
the public plunder." 10 which all were invited
who would join and support the Coalition, wheth-
or they were Free soilers, Disunlonists or Com
promise men. These were the positions which
everywhere maintained during The late canvass
and unfortunately for the country, the government
was constantly furnishing additional evidence for
their support. 1t was union with the enemies
ofthe Constitution and the South that denounced
| conside' disloyalty to the Federal Union, it.
self, virtue. when compared to the 'rV lie iS"
ness Of consenting to and maintaining coalition
with the Buffalo Free Sellers Traitors. who for
the last five years. have been openly vindicatng
the larceny of our slave property, backing mobs to
resistance of Constitutional laws passed for our
protection, and exciting them to the murder of
those of our citizens who attempted to recover their
| property under them. ana in the lowest defp
there is yet lower deep" and the Adminislra-
ton have reached it. Not content with taking
these men to their bosoms. under the fraudulent
pretext that they have been cleansed by being
dipped into the filthy common sewer of govern
ment patronage, the Administration has combined
with them, to crush and trample under ruol tn
true friends Of the Compromise. and the only'ro
friends of the Constitution and the South. in No
Northern States. 1t openly sustains John Va
Buren, and his mercenary gang of Free Sellers. in
their warfare against Dickinson. Bronson. 0'C'n.
or, and their patriotic comrades in New York ,wh
have separated from these political lepers. on tn"
ground Of their Free sosm. Denunciaion o.
this policy. would but weaken the force Of its rs
! ked statement