Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-06-01
The Election.

reality broke obviously upon their minds, became
intoxicated with bewldering joy. A thunderbolt
from clear sky could not have caused more con-
sternation than the event produced amongst the
Wings The Democrats had topnch themselves
and shout aloud to realize that their felicity was
not all dream.
"Such sober certainty OF waking bliss
Theu never felt till now"
The Wings of Augusta, caught for once sleep
inc at their posts by their ever vigllant adverse
ries, have been taken by surprise, The fortress
Of Wing principles has been surrendered, almost
without blow in its defence About 1850 only
out of 2l00 Wing votes have been polled The
Democrats, although successful, have not increas-
ed their actual vote, but have poled only some
100 out of about 400 Democratic votes. So far
as figures GO, this statement sufficiently accounts
for the result; but it may be well, as. warning
to Wings, to suggest some of the latent causes Of
the disaster.
In the first place, the Wings had-no appreheu-
sions of defeat feeling entire confidence of their
success, they rested satisfied with the maxim that
ga Wing nomination in Augusta is equivalent to
an election" They leaned upon broken reed and
have been wounded. For the first time in the
history OF parties in the county, excessive conf
dence has caused disastrous defeat. The shock
We trust will arouse the energies and spirit Of the
Wings and inspire them with the stern deteruiin-
alton to ,cork-to do their dUty as we'll as love
their principles.
In the second place it were vain to deny that
there was some dissatisfaction with the Wing
candidates, on account of their supposed indi-
yidual opinions on the subject Of the liquor traffic.
The defeated portion of the Wing ticket were
known to be either Sons of Temperance or mem
bers of the Temperance Society. Against them
activeopponents industriously sought with too
much success) to turn the preiudices OF many who
were induced to believe that the Wing candidates
with one exception were in favor os"the Maine
liquor law" On the other hand, the successful
Wing candidate lost the entire Wing vote and in
fluence Of those who favored the extreme policy in
reference to temperance, and suffered moreover
from the general cry against the ''Whig Maine
liquor law ticket" The candidates of the Wing
pTty ha6, however, united in published card in
which they declared themselves opposed any pro-
hibtory legislation for the suppression of the liquor
traffic. This fact gave offence to many ardent lem
perance Wings who differed in opinion from the can
didates of their party. Many Wings therefore
either voted for the Democrats or refused to vote
for the county ticket. Those who did vote, in
stead of exercising the sagacity Of the Democrats,
in like circumstances, and throwing away their
votes on persons not in the field actually increas-
ed two-fold the chances of electing the Democrat
&c oandidates-the "lquor law Wings" voting for
Capt WALKER, and the others voting for, and E.
lecting MeSsrs SKINNER and KoINER.
The subject of Temperance was introduced into
the canvass by a Temperance Convention held in
Staunton, few days before the Wing candidates
were nominated, its Secretary being required to
PROFOUND questions to all the candidates in respect
to their opinions concerning law to prohibit the
liquor traffic, inorder that Temperance men might
vote, without respect to party, for those whOSeo-
pinlons came nearest their own. This agitation
began long enough before the election to give the
Democrats the opportunity to spread dicontent and
dstrust through the Wing ranks, but not long E.
nough topermit calm survey OF the whole ques-
ton and correct understanding of the position Of
the Wing candidates
Much discomfort was also caused by the resolu-
ton OF the Wing Convention by which it was de-
clared that the Wing candidates should be denied
the right to make up an issue on the Temperance
question. This resolution was incorrectly CON
strued to mean that the Wing candidates should
express no opinions on the subject But it is idle
now to go further into the causes of this mortify
ing discontinue. Suffice it to say, that the Wing
party IN Augusta on Thursday last surrendered to
Its adversary the posts OF power and honor-a sur
render unequalled by any named in history ex-
cePt that OF Hull, during the late war with Grea,
Britain-a surrender, however, which we predict
will hereafter be followed by as signal series of
brilliant victories as shoue in the track ofthat dark
catastrophe at Detroit
Wings OF Augusta! in union is your only
strength! Stand together, shoulder to shoulder.
cast aside irrelevant issues, forget all personal
griefs, lay not the blame of this defeat on each
other, be mild and kindly to your brethren, TT 10
harsh denunciations be uttered against Wings. lot
old wounds be healed, and with a cordial. united
and earnest love for the principles of your party.
rally around your good old flag and though grief
now fills your hearts, grief hard to bare, espe-
cially by those who trusting that all would be
well remained at home when their country and
their party required their votes, be assured the
hour OF retributiOn will come--and then when You
meet your opponents at Chippewa and Lundy's
Lane, the memory ofthe surrender OF Thursday
iast' Will nerve you with the unconquerabe will
'as courage never TO submit or yield"-your for
tunes Snaii oeretrieved, your ascendancy regained
HHu ''e auVefSary, who would trample you under
zoos, shall be put to fight. Let Democratic bor-
fires burn, they will light you on to future yc,o
RES; let Democratic shouts ring tauntinrIy in your
ears, they shall be as strains of ipsnirino music
sounding to the charge in future conflicts 10,
Democratic feasts be spread the fruits of This vic
tory shall turn to bitter ashes in their mouths
Wings harden your hearts for the future araius,
Democratic solicitations for your votes for any Of
fee, turn deaf ear to their plausible pretexts and
eschew their deceptive bats. Whenever Dem
ocrst seeks your votes remember he is playing the
part Of that cunning deceiyer who said,
~ under fair pretence Of friendly ends
And well placed words Of glozing courtesy,
baited with reasons not unpausble,
Wind me into easy hearted man
Ard ktfor into.