Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-02

| Sometime ago the Richmond Enquirer made
the marvellous discovery that Mr.. Flournoy. q
slave-holder. residing in the largest slave holding
county in the Stale, was unsound upon the slave
ry question The charge was based upon the
report. that in public speech, in 1916, MIR.
Flournoy had used language which indicated hos
tilty to the institution Of slavery. The editor OF
the Wing Immediately wrote TO Mr.. Flournoy
upon the subject, and received a reply denying
that he had ever uttered the language or enter
tanned the sentiments imputed to him. We do
not allude to the matter at this time to refute the
absurd charge. 1t is 50 farcical that the editor
of the Enquirer must have laughed in his sleeve
all the time he was making it Mr. Aylett, a
prominent advocate of Wise's election, in the
course Of q recent speech on the stump, pronounc-
ed the cry of aboltionist raised against Flournoy
Beale. and Virginia Know Nothings generally,
perfect 'nonsenss." But we wish 10 call atien-
ton to the consistency Of the men who prefer the
charge. Mr.. Charles James Faulkner is the
Democratic candidate for Congress in the Frede-
rick District. He was regularly nominated and
endorsed by his party in Convention assembled
and the Enquirer heartily wishes him success
Once upon 4 time, however, Mr.. Faulkner. in the
Legislature OF Virginia, spoke Of 'the curse of
slavery-that bitterest drop from the chalics Of
the destroying angel" He even went further,
OusStripping Hale and Seward, in his detestation
Of the institution. The most rampan; abolisionist
could not uss stronger language than the follow
ing, uttered by Mr.. Faulkner: 1.-The disease has
now assumed that mo.tal tendency as to justify
the application of any remedy which under the
great law Of State necessity we might consider
advisable" Again, he said: ''Sir, am graft
fled to perceive that no gentleman has yet risen
in this hall the avowed advocate Of slavery. The
day has gone BY when such voice could be lis
tened to with patience, or even frbearance. =
MIR Faulkner was slightly msiaken-the editor Of
the Enquirer at this day expounds from the stump
the Democratic doctrine to be, that slavery is an
unniitgated blessing. But that is not the point.
The question is, how men can advocate the cleo
ton of Faulkner with one breath, and denounce
Flournoy aud Beale as aboliioniSts with the next?
We do not believe that Mr.. Faulkner is an aboli-
ZIONIST in the present acceptation Of the term, or
that he Is in any degree unreliable upon the sub
Jet Of slavery 40 more do the opponents Of the
American ticket believe the charge they bring
The cry is raised tor effect, just as it has been in
every canvass for years past; but surely the pso-
pie Of Virginia will rebuke the new attempt TO
slutiiy them and practise upon their credulily.
The Washington Sentinel, under the caption
of Significant" mentions the fact that the
Boston Post claims Colonel Beale, the can
didale for Lieutenant Governor, as an abolitonisl
without intending" says the Sentinel, 'eirher
to make or eudorse the charge, we but repeat,
for the information of the people OF the Old Dom
| iuion, what the Know Nothings of Massachusetts
say of Mr. Beale." And this appears in a paper
which we have been accustomed to regard us one
Of the fairest and most chivalruus journals in the
country! The stale charge Of abolitionsm is
preferred in Virginia--it is echoed in Massachu-
sets and the reverberation is caught up eagerly
and repeated as something very significant" ~
confirmation strong! No wonder that Northern
fanatics take courage, when they are iecklessly
told tina! portion of the people Of Virginia are
supporting for an important office an aboltiOnist
| like themselves.