Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-07-04
STlUNrON SPECTATOR.
....-za.. 8 TAUNTON:
"WEDNESDAY. JUGix 4, 1885.
George lew aad The Presidency.


We publish in another calumn common!ca
ton from gentleman in Richmond city, called
forth by same editorial remarks which recedtly
appeared in this paper, on the subject Of George
Law aud the Presidency. The writer OF Tue
communication is gentleman foE whom we ieei
much personal regard, ard whose opinions are en-
titled to great respect. lie is one of the best
writer's in the State. and for several years past
we have considered him one of cur most lnd'clous
pol,lcans. Entertaining these sentiments towards
the writer and those heretofore expressed with rel
erence 10 MIR. Law. we read the communication
with the utmost surprise. We had supposed, as
on- friend intmates. that the nomination of Mr..
Law was ga mere joke''-a freak Of the New
York Herald, which aspires to be modern
Warwick the King Maker" and piece of fun
On the part of the Pennsylvania Legislature
But it seems we were mistaken; George Law IS
seriously advocated by members of the American
party as the most available, il not the most suta
be, candidate for the Presidency.
We have no desire to detract from Mr.. Laws
merits; he is, no doubt, very efficient and useful
in his place but, with due Difference to oar friend
"Americus," the idea Of eleyating him to the
Presidency of the United States seems to us OK
t.e.nely ludicrnus There are hundreds and thon
sands OF men in the country whose claims might
be urged with equal fIrce. The as;uteness and
skill which he displays in the management of his
private affairs, are exhibited on smaller arena
in every county and village in the United States,
by men &c the sane stamp. In our own commit
nity. we could point out several individuals who
have s!own the same sort of qualification for TIE
Presidency, aud if Sir. Law succeed these gentle
men may aspire TO high places in the government.
Nothing more is necessary to prove the absurd
ity Of Mr. Laws professions than to mention the
feeling with which the people have received his
nomination: they have generally regarded it as
ga iokcm Not one in thousand of them ever
heard of Mr.. Law until recently. And what DO
they know about him now? A year or two ago his
name acquired some notoriety from his rather G.
ouivocal connection with the purchase and sale OF
certain damaged muskets, and nearly all that
his friends can say in his favor is, that he is q
great steamboat builder and very successful
Spectator. As poliriciao, not to say statesman,
he has no reputation whatever.
We regard the nomination and election Of such
men TO high offices as very hazardous. The pea
pie at large cannot Judge of the qualifications Of
Presidential candidates from personal acquain-
lance. and unless some ppblic antecedenis can lie
pointed to they must vote al n venture, under the
guidance OF interested partizans. Every PreSi-
dent we have had was more or less generally
known to the people before his nomination. Gen.
Taylor was not politician, hut the sterling traits
Of his character as slldier and 4 man had excl
ted universal respect and admiration, and there
fore he was placed in the Presidential chaif.-
Even Gen. Pierce had acquired a respectable po-
si,ion in his party and desre Of general reruta-
ton Yet we have heard mary complaints, with
regard % Taylor aud Pierce, of the evils Of taking
no obscure men. Is this system then to be es'ah-
lished aad perpe,uated? Are politicians 10 fnist
upon the people whomsoever tkeymay select, and to
be governed in then choice mainly by the consid-
Grafton that nothing can be said against the nom
ines. because nothing is known about him? II
so we are fast approaching that state of affairs
which existed in ancient Rene, when the Preto-
rian Cohorts appointed the Emperor.
We can imagine condition Of things when we
might prefer George Law for the Presidency to
his opponents of whatever party, but we hope it
will never occur in our day.