Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-07-25
STAUNTON SPECTROAT.
=SsTA UNION:
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1855.



1t cannot now be doubted, however absurd and
ridiculous the suggestion may have appeared at
first view. that serious and systematic effort is
on foot to secure the nomination of George Law
for the Presidency, by the American Convention
which will assemble at Philadelphia In February
next The prime moyer-the master-sprlt OF
this gigantic enterprise is George Law himself,
who is operating on large scale,not only IN per-
son, but through corrupt agents and vena presses
purchased with money, OF which desirable COM
modify our legal friend has "enough and to spare
Successful speculations and profitable public con-
tracts have lined his purse with gold, and filled
his pockets SO full of mimic drops that they may
well bear the severe depletion which they are now
undergoing to secure the Presidential prize
From an article copied from the New York Sun
into the National American, we find some further
developments of the game. 1t seems that one 81
las NJ. Stilwell,a man of considerable ability, and
an astute politician who was candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor on the same ticket with Seward
in 1884, is now, in 1855, engineering with par
ty which processes the strongest animosity towards
Mr. Stewards political princples.to secure its sup
port of George Law as its Presidential candidate.
Mr. Sdlwell, as the Sun understands, appeared
at Philadelphia to promote Mr.. Laws interest
with the new party. "Silas knows how TO pull
the wires, and the tact with which he insinuated
himself into the graces of the delegates aud talk
ed up Law, was, it is said, truly admirable. He
took them up in detail, or at a time, flattered
their vanity; or worked upon their other weak
points, with the skill of accomplished tactican,
ending with pressing invitation to visit Mr. Law
at his house in New York. Quite number
were thus ''soft-soaped" into visiting n. York and
and paraking of Mr.. Laws generous and disinter-
ested hospitality"
Money is powerful fundamentally, and their
is no telling what it may bring about. 1t has pur-
chased men of some ability and thoroughly drilled
in political tactics, to George Laws interest, and
it remains to be seen whether it can buy up the
representatives of the American party in ConYen-
ton assembled
We are not aware that Mr.. Law has any adTo-
Gates, as yet, in the State of Virginia, and we
trust that he may fad none so ''poor as to do him
reverence'-none 50 corrupt as to look for an in
slant at his tempting gold. To use the language
of the Sun, sit would astonish us beyond measure
if a party which rose up against the corruption
and bargainings of the old parties, and bases its
claims to the support of the American people on
its professions OF purer patriotism and greater
fitness and virtue as qualifications for office should
pedde away the first office in the Republic to any
man who has been through mud and mire of lob
by legislation and the foulest scenes of back room
intrigue for the last quarter Of ! century" Es-
peclally would it astound US if any respectable
portion of the American party Of this State should
give in for an instant to the idea of supporting
such man as George Law for the Presidency -
We have heretofore expressed our opinions freely
in regard to his professions, and regret to see
general silence on the part of other papers IN the
State engaged in the American cause. We con-
slider it the duty of the press to speak out lnde-
pendentIy and iearlessy in denunciatlon OF the
to be deferred by any probabilities of MIR. Laws
success in the speculation, from an honest effort
to defeat it. With or without the nomination,
we hardly think it likely that George Law can get
our support, or the support of this people. As
we have heretofore remarked there are contn-
gencies in which we might be induced to sustain
him, but they are scarcely imaginable In
contest between George Law and William II.
Seward such contingency might be presented.
Let the press of the State speak out. then, and
make public the fact that George will not ''take"
in the Old Dominion. The American party was
seriously injured in the late canvass by the nom-
nation of incompetent, if not, i'll some instances,
unprinclpled men for important offices, and the
nomination of New York Spectator for the
Presidency will be fatal to its very existence. In
this matter, we are much mistaken, il the people
of Virginia or OF the South will be found "a ia,c-
loving or lale-abdng people"