Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-03-14
Mr.. Mecomas 1t stauntsn.

F Elisha w. McComas, Esq, the DemocraHc
candidate for Lieutenant Governor, addressed
very small portion of the people OF Augusta on
/ "Wednesday last. The Courthouse was by no
means crowded; indeed, but few people from the
country were in attendance. The foreigners
and Catholics were there-a Jew native born
merican Democrats were there-and The balance
of the audience, constituting very large proper
ton, was-"Sam." We have seldom seen so
small an assemblage attracted to the Courthouse
of Augusta county, BY distinguished public
speaker.
About one O'Clock Mr. McComas was INTO
duced to The audience by Col. Hartman, and com
meuced his speech by remarking that his coarse
was marked out for him by the hand of destiny.
| The main issue in the canvass was not sought by
the Democratic party 1t had already been SUI
6cently tried in lime past, and ongh' mol 10 oe
retired The position Of Affairs between the TWO
sections of the confeaeracy ought, in the speak
er's opinion, to have forbidden the introduction oi
the issues made by ,he Know Nothing party
There may be an honest difference of opinion In
regard to the propriety of these issues, and we
are not disposed to dispute with Nh. McComas
in regard to the matter. We may remark, how
ever. that the idea OF looking to foreigners and
Catholics as the peculiar custodians OF Southern
rights-the special friends of esr peculiar insi-
tuition" is absurd aud ridiculcus.,
Mr. NlcComas next launched out in grandil-
oquent eulogy of Virginia. She challenged admit
ration in every respect but one. She had given
to the country the proudest names that adorn the
pages Of political history. She occupied proud,
powerful and influential position, had the largest
territory and more diversified soil and mineral
wealth than any other State in the Confederacy.
He could not desire to have Virginia stand more
conspicuousy, politically, socialy and morally.
She was behind hand. however, physically, and
only needed the development Of her resources, by
the completion of great leading lines of improve
ment. This grand result was to be effected, we
inferred, only by the election of the Democratic
ticket for the speaker here took occasion to tell
the people that Wise lived in the East, McCo-
mas in the West, and Bocock in the centre of the
State. He might have added, also, that the
ticket was thus arranged, by the Convention,
with en- especial view to their votes. We be-
iieve Mr.. McComas forgot to inform the people
at this point that to carry out these magnificent
internal improvement schemes. they intended to
make the people "groan with taxes" The
speaker was sorry to say, however, that nine
ten,hs of his audience did Bot want to hear him
talk about internal Improvements. They were
impatient 10 hear what he had to say about the
Knew Nothngs. Here nine tenths of the audi
ence ''giggled," as much as to say ''exactly 50,
and Mr. McComas said ne would crafty them.
Before entering upon the "grand theme" the
speaker alluded to his own political antecedents.
He had been reared under Wing influences, and
was called Wing. but had never studied poll
tics until he was twenty-five years of age
When he did study and reflect, he adopted Dem
ocratic principles, and expected 10 live and
die in tho faith. (Here somebody stamped
twice.) He had nothing against his "broher"
Wings, personally, and only had an honest desire
that thoy might be "happy and Free" In this,
as in other portions of his speech, Mr.. hcComas
manifested deep interest in the Wings, for
which he is entitled to their warmest acknowl-
edemen!s We would not do him the injustice
TO suppose that he was after their votes.
Having snished the above brief epitome of his
poltica, history, Mr.. McComas announced his
intention to maintain the rights of the foreigners
and Catholics, not because he had any alliance
" n them, but because he felt towards them as
q Protestant and Republican. He discalmed
any de- ,agogue design-had no motives but hon
esty and Justice, and appealed 10 the audience to
hear him without prejudice. In The hrst place
he wished to know what the K. Ms. proposed to
do to remedy the evils Of which they complained
They did not wish to prevent emigration entire
" If that issue was presented he, MIR. McCo
mas. ",rouM be staggered" What! 1.-THE Know
Nothings proposed to close the doors of this Asy-
lsm for the oppressed of all nations, Mr.. McCo-
mas. the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant
Governor, not sure that he would oppose it So
it seems, and yet he does not entertain doubt as
to the vile prescription of closing the doors OF Of
fee upon them. The banding of Democrats To-
geihes 10 keep native born Americans out OF o.
flee is perfectly legitimate, but an association Of
native born Americans to keep foreigners out OF
office is abominabe. Truly this virtuous indlg-
nation of the Democratic party at the bare idea
of prescription is infinitely amusing. "To the
victors belong the spoils," is fundamental arli-
| l. fret
prescription for opinions sake into practical ope-
ration. and from that day to this, through each
successive Democratic administration, the guilo'
tine has been reek,ng with the blood of those ex-
ecued for 'opinion's sake" And yet MIR. Nc
Comas, the representative of this emlnenlly
proscriptve party, sets himself and his party up
as the peculiar advocates of freedom OF thought
and opinion. and absolutely trembles at the idea OF
voting against foreigner and Cathollc-l's
such awful persecution and prescription for opln-
ions sake What stuff! But to proceed:
MIR. McComas next endeavored to show that
the Naturalization Laws have nothing to do with
the right of suffrage but that the whole matter is
left to the States In other words, he advanced
the opinion that unnaturalized foreigners may ls-
qally exercise the right of suffrage, in six months
after they land upon our shores. if the States
choose TO permit it. To sustain this position he
referred to the provision Of the United State:
Constitution. which entitled an individual quail
fed to vote for member of the popular branch o
the Legislature, to vote for members OF the
House of Representatives, Some of the States
rpouire residence of six months only 10 qualify
;,d;vid,ol IN vete. and Mr.. McComas argued