Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-04-14
Mr.. Patton's Apology.

at the African Church for The special
purpose OF given MIR Patton chance TO * plain
how he came TO accept the nomination Of the
midnight party. He discovered from the a.
verified laced OF former !rlends, if he was no, adj
m onishsd by the suggestion Of an angry con-
science, that he must cay something in apology
for his outrageous conduct, or else submit 10 lusc
something OF the confidence and respect Of the |
community. He hal accepted the nomination
on condition, that he was not 10 be diverted !
from his "cTashirgo practice, by an engage
ment TO deliver any speeches without pay ; but |
the extrcine necessity of personal viniica,ion
overcame his reluctance 10 indulge in profitiesss
harangues. Nor did he speak only i'll iasiiica.
ton OF himself, bat Of the party which took him
to Its elnorace-ihus implying tina, both sides
were bitten by the bargain. Indeed il is a diff
heuity probein TO determine whether Mr.. Pat
ton or Know Nothngism ssifss most from III
association.
Mr. Patton is iEdsputably an ingenious and a.
bic advosale; and his deplorablc failure to max
out even a plausible case for himself al, his Ear.
tysa,iess the hopeless weakness of his cause
May be he was somewhat enbarra ssed too nv
the difficulties suggaslc'. in the maxim iha..she
who pleads his omn cause has a fool for his eli
! ent.0
No Intelligent and impartial person can read
Ar. ealsoha speech without feeling oil utter
dlsappoln. meut aud dissatisfaction. Asan in-
'ellse.ual performance, it is absolutely beneath
Criticism. We might suppose that the advocate
! would rise with The urgency Of his case aud
would exhibit aiullness ol resource in propo,ion
10 The necessities ot Tho occasion-,hat the per.
sonal assaults from which he essayed 10 vindi-
cate himself, weuli excite him TO some display
OF imPassIoned and effective defamation thai
the stlngs Of "p p-gun" press ould provoke
him 10 some sally Of brilliant wit or fiery sar-
casm. VAN expectation! A more vapid, spi1-
i'less, spointle5s production, has not been sen
even Ill this day OF Know-No,hng Literature
Its coI,radlc.iuns betray confusion Of ih.nah,
which we can attribute only ~ sort of p,ental
blindness Inflicted BY the touch RI Y now. No,h.
.m s .n, -, in'ssnee .,ar. Patton speaks with
r. VI newspaper -siristures, which
u" -nects TO regard no moie than he respects the
Idle WIND and yet he pleads the necessity of
sihdlca'ioh from these slIictures in apology for
his appearance OH the hustings! His tlundcts
damage his party as much as they conoupd him
se!i. thus, he claims 10 BE- TOO fastidious CHATS
me woId) iololn secret society. pcrhapes the
Ahow Nothing party may submit to this impu-
.a'loh OF VAIL OF delicacy and scruple bu, we
near that some OF the LEES tame and broken spir
lis oil Inc Odsr, bear the insult with i'll dispulrsd
resentment. Again Mr.. Patton openly srows
thai he caiinoi endorse some of the principles
OF Inc Nno" Nothing party and there are por-
IONS oi MS sPeech which convey the most bitter
rabuke TO their blsotry and intolerance He not
only dIsclalnis auy correction with the Order
out 'entefs an emphatic protest against their
main obl"cs-tic Acknowledgement OF our Cath.
>tolic and iereign torn fellow citizens, VA,
tneTe ever baioFe party, with 20 little spjri, or
seli.rsspect as 10 lavish its honor on man y bo
thus contemporary repudiaies its association.
and REJECTS It's principles! But Mr.. Patton in
IDENTITIES tho K. No,hines for his disparap;np
commentary on their platform and his sarcas.
TIC rebnke oil their secret practices by a mean
lnsless compliment 10 their patriotism and
hearty appreciation OF hsis power. He csnfss.
Sos with amusing naiyeie, that he knew their
Objects We're praIseworhy the moment he saw
the rapldEy OF their PROGRESS. Mr. Patton ia
tho only MAJ. We suspect, whose apprecis, ion
ei kno" Nothingsm is in exact proportion to lis
apparent Strength
we have neither leisrreinor inclination TO fol.
low Mr.. faiion through all the sinaosies and
unsubslanslal distinctions iIhi.claboTate bu. I'M
potent apology With all tho astateness .pd
FEASIBILITY which he is kneun 10 possess, he
cannot relieve himself oflhs odium " hich mus,
attach TO his afostsey The lac, is indispus.
BIC, and there Is no Circumstance which may
mitigate The severity q the popular judgement.
Indeed, esefy suggestion which he urges in ex-
tsnuallon OF his conduct, aegraya,ss its enormity
and the mos! remarkable and depIorabs pecu-
l'Tiiy OF his speech, is tho strange deprayly Of
judgement and disregard Of principle which il
beirays. Politicians usually ward OF uresrn,
suspicion BY pointing 10 their past fidelity. bul
Mr.. faaon iabors with equal zeal ami success
TO prove thai lie never had a cars for principle
! ana vas never tlne 10 any party! We cannet
dispute ei'hsF The perllnency or the suificiency
oil the plea; bnl mus, adm, that in Mr.. pat,unis
| past ihsra -
mo Obligations Of rartv and OF eoatempt OF
popular oplnion, to prepare tho public for any
suaoen movement which The interest of The
moment might snggest. This licen sc of his for.
mer HE iuin!-hes undoubtedly a sufficient req.
son why ,non should not afTec, surprise NJ hi.
present position; but we do no, underatapd
that the essential immortality OF an az, is di.
unfinished o. frequent rep elilion, or that ha.
Is criminal IN virgin is bull veuial indi.cre-
ton IN veteran prostitute. MIR. Patton NAV
have broken faith with every pariy which hs
has heretofore embarrassed by his rfeseuco-
we will moi dispute his word-but il does mo-,
fellow thai his recent desertion Of the Dsmtcra.
cy IS trivial and pardonsbe offence. Con!ern-
p'ase ms position; protesting sill 10 approve ihs
principles oil Tho Democratic party, and. an far
as we have Information, 10 teon2 10 its orpani,
MISUNDERSTANDING auy connection with The
Know Nothing order, and repudiains ils plat.
form ~ essential NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. these cir.
cumstanees he consents 10 Do employed by a
parry 70 which he is not attached. as an ios,ru- |
ment for ms overthrow Of a party whose creed
ne endorses and with whose members he cIaims |
iralernal association. II MIR. Patton were to
combine, with other gentlemen in some com.
mon enterprise Of private interest, would he no. |
regard II a. unworthy conduct ii member OF
the ASSOCIATE n were - abandon il OF sudden |
without any cause, and array himself in hostile |
aniasonism 10 his lato cor lsderates? Tia. Mr.. |
Patton no, cont option Of political fidelity T.
May there oe honor among thieves, while no
principe oi good faith and mutual confidence
binds gentlemen Of tho same party in cordial
and trusting co opsraiion? If such is The opn |
ion oil Mr. Patton, low, indeed. must be bis
standard Of POLITICAL integrity, and hs deserves
pity rather than ccasugs for his reccn, BETRAYAL
| OF the DEMOCRACY.
| We discover from tho temper of Mr.. Pation,s
sps ech, lta hs chershes iealng of MAILMAN,
| ahimosy against the Democratic party, and
tina: he conspiIes with Tho Know -Noihi1ps as
much 10 ayense personal wroug as 10 seeurs
future advantage. OF wha, special ptev.
ance he complains We ale at a loss 10 coniec.
iure; but that he iecoecls II with the bj,,e,.s,
resentment is manifest from the poisoned ar.
rows with which he covers his escape 10 lhe