Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-04-07
From the Richmond Examiner,
The Statosm anship Of Mr.. Flournoy.

We have expressed our respect for the personal
character Of MIR. Tourney. That he is man Of in
tcgrty, intelligence, talents genial temperament
and an honorable reputation, desire at all times
10 be understood as chcorlully conceding; and we
trust that nothing we are about to say, or shall utter
during the present canvass, (Which promises tn be
the most acrimonious ever known in Virgiuia) shall
be construed as, in the least degree, ietractng
lualiiy ing this concession.
Entertaining these sentiments of personal esteem
tor Mr.. flournoF, we cannot but express our sur
prise at the production, printed in another column,
purparting ta be from lis pen, and addressed to
three persons understood to be corresponding seere
tafies of the Know Notng Convention of Winches-
ter. It is a palpaby just aud very lenient crti-
cism OF this paper to say that it is weak i'll tenor
and shallow in sratesmanship. Indeed, it would be
beneath especial notice but for the position OF its
author That single circumstance, Alone entities it
to the searching examination which we shall give it.
1t gives vs. pain to this buntncss in regard to
letter emanating from one who aseres to be the
Governor OF Virginia. We had hoped, for the credit
OF the State, that at time when the eyes OF the
whole Union are riyited anxieusy upon Virginia,
when the entire American people are eagerly sean-
ming the men aspiring To fill the distinguished office
IN the Commonwealth which has been Illustrated by
Horny, Jefferson and Giles, and in canvass that Is
NATIONAL, not only in the intense and lar parvading
interest it has excited, bat in the great PRINCIPLES OF
representative government it involves, we should
have had some other Response, from leader OF one
0 the contendng organizations, thana letter abound
ing in the shallowest partisan politics, and announc-
Ing sentiments which, ii gravely propounded twelve
HohtHs dSu III Dtfofc tahcu
partial possession of the public mind, would have
branded him as an idiot, a maniac, OF a monster.
! lie Adopts the loc Dogmas Of the kRow- Nothin9s.
Mr.. Flournoy declines to discuss the momeatous
questions at ISSUE in this canfass "iaee To face"
With the people, gu the miserable, haekneyed plea,
that load OF nisi pFiRs practice presses upon his
shoulders. What is this practice-,wlat are the few
fees he may earn by pursuing it, to the sern obiiga
ton he is under, as republican citizen, an honest
man, and protesting chlstian justify to the people
of Virginia the felonous blows and stealhy assaults
| by which lis secret clubs and midnight accompces
attacking the vital principles OF religious free
a Presbyterian, as Il member of denomination il
ustrous for its services III the Of religious toll
eration he owes it to his own ehufeh--nay, he owes
it to all Professionalism to explain, why he repudates
Il principle which they claim as their own peculiar
gift to freedom and why he accepts to the shame OF
his religion, from church burning Angel Gabries,
Ned Buntlines, and Bill Pooes, OF the North, the
barbarious doctrines OF prescription aud Intolerance
which he shameessy aYows in his letters lie owes
this justification to the people of Virginia. for, when
has candidate for her most distinguished honor
ever insulted them before by invoking the low pas
sions Of intolerance and bigotry to aid his partisan
! rretensons? When did " ashington, or Jefferson,
or Randolph, or any honorable name that graces the
annals of our State, ever descend to deno1nee in
campaign cir cular, the Cahoiics for the sake OF
securing public Office, and winning the SURFACES OF
| the generous Virginia people? We know that mid
night clubs in the habit OF lashing themselves
to fnry, and that partisan demagogues Of the
and rant themselves into notoriey, over this new,
*The following are fruits OF the doctrines of Mr..
Flournoy and his accompices in other parts Of the
| country
May '7th. A riot in Chelsea, IN which Popish
church was nobly mutilated-
| July 3D. Roman Catholic Church blown up at
Milton, and nothing left standing but portions OF the
walls.
July 4th. church gallantly mobbed and ran
honor Of the birthday Of freedom.
July 9Th. A Catholic church burned in Bath,
Maine, by Mr.. FPS brave compatriots
| September 9th. Another riot between the Ameri-
cans and foreigners at Newark, N. j., in which one
man was killed. and the Papist Church goriousy
torn to pieces.
Street fights and mob encounters, week after week,
in the streets Of New York and Brooklyn, last sum
mer, under the prcachings of the Angel Gabriel.
Such are the heroic deeds, not to mention such
trines as the outrage OH poor Baptist at Ellsworth
and the like-deeds which challenge the admiration
aud applause OF mob,eratic world,