Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-06-28
"A Libel Suit in Embryo

have from time to time, INDUCED in criti..
cisms of the political acts aud opinions of
cur party opponents, but never have we
assaled private character unless justified
by unwarranted provoeation or G sense of
public duty, 1t has been deemed proper
by US, OH several occasions, since the 9Th
day of May, 1855, to discuss the political
! opinions of A. Ii. Fl. Stuart of this place,
and to write down such deductions as were
! legitimate from our process of reasoning
/ We do not remember to have done him
injustice on any one occasion. On the
contrary, previous to his shameful attempt
on the 9Th day Of May, 1855, to misead
the people of Augusta county. we defend
ed him on more .han one occasion from
the attacks of our Democratic cotempora-
rtes, because we, in our youthful simpici-
ty, believed injustice lad been done him.
Alter that period we understood the gem
'leman better, and on frequent occasions
since, have lent our humble pen to dis
cnssIon of what we consider his true char
acter as polificias. We have never in
v"ded the sancity Of his private character.
with any structures Of ours. On the con-
tTary, we have held as beyond the pale of
our privileges. the right to approach and
drag into the political arena, that sacred
elemen which makes us homogene Gus
people and which lends to the sanci,y OF
private association Its paramount charm.
| These efatory remarks we have deem
ed german to what follows: In the Vim
dictator OF the 31st of May, 1856 we used
these words: "a. II. II. Stuart is now
in New York city, and has been there for
8 or 10 days. Watts he doing there.-
We would not be surprised if he had gone
there Tor the purpose Of negotiating Tor a
compromise with the Black Republicans,
on the basis of the Staunton platform. -
4. will be remembered by our readers, that
since the adoption by the Stanton Con-
veptior' Of the Black Republican resolu-
iion offered by Mr.. Stuart, we have, more
than once, devoted our arguments to the
maintainance Of the hypothesis that there
would be coalition between the anti
Nebraska Know Nothings of the South
and the Black Republicans of the North
10 the careful observer of the working of
the political elements, this seemed to be
the most NATURAL conclusion. Mr.. Stuart
was in New York-NIr. Stuart had drawn
up the resolution alluded to above, con.
demhatory of the Nebraska Bill the very
same position the Black Republicans were
then known 10 occupy. and upon which
they published TO the world they intend
ed to fight the Democracy. Mr.. Stuart is
very ambitious man. Mr.. Stuart has the
reputation OF being tricky politician, and
hence we would not have been Surprised
if MIR. Stuart had favored the conjunction
limited at. 1t will be noted by the reader
that the sentence in the Vindicator of the
30th u!t. is altogether copjectura.
After the return Of the Junior partner in
the Yindcator, (who has been the acting
editor OF the paper for three years. and
who wrote the paragraph published on
the 3lst ult.;) from the Cincinnati Copvep-
lion, the rumor reached his ears that Mr..
A. Ii. IL. Stuart intended to hold the Senior
partner, Mr.. A. Koiner, responsible lin
what way zee did bot then hear tor what
had appeared in the "s;;aadicator. Think
ing 1t very singular course Tor AR, Stuart
to pursue, especially as he vas well aware
that S. VI. Yost, the JUNIOR partner was
the author Of all articles which appeared
attacking his political mahuyering, we
Determined 10 ferret out the origin Of the
rumor and now we have il in this shape:
Mr.. A. ii, ii Stuart called at a lawyer's
Office in this place. instead of at the Vim
dictator olliae, to enquire for MIR. Koiner.
He was informed that Mr.. Koiner was not
in town, bat at his residence SIX miles in
the country. Mr.. Stuart then left word
with this third person to the effect: that
he considered the paragraph in the Vim
dicator OF the 3lst ult., libel, affecting his
private character, and that If any more APP
peared in The Vindicator, he should seek
redress i'll law OF Mr.. Kolner, as the mo,e
responsible partner, pecuniarily. of the
firm OF Koincr 81 Yos,. This, we learn.
is the substance of Mr.. StuaIts threat
We have few words of comment We
have no objection to Alr. Suart's measur-
ing his private character by dollars and
cents. Ii he considers that his private
character has been assailed, and that II is
due to his reputation to have it vindicated
it is optional with HIM, either TO pursue
the course common among gentlemen in
Southern communities, or adopt that mode
OF redress characteristic of the inhabitants
Of more Northern climate, (from which
he, has but recently :e.urned)and hich we
shall designate SpoOneriSing. (See Spoon.
er VS.. Daniel, OF the Richmond Examin-
er.) And just here, it may no, be amiss
to remark, that although the Junior editor
IS not blessed with as much OF this worlds
goods as his partner, (the seniol,) yet he
is candldly Of the opluion that he would
be able TO meet any damages jury OF his
peers might award MI. Stuart in the pre-
misses. He has paid within the past six
months, about $1,000 to keep up the tables
and wardrobos OF the business parvenues
who have blessed our city, and lie is am.
ply able to pay similar amount to wipe
out any stain that the articles he may have
penned caused upon Mr.. Stuart's very,pure
eputation-whch sum of $1,000 he (the
jumior9 TANKS is very liberal allowanc
Indeed, we can assure Mr. Stuart that his
gentle hint has not in the least unsettled
our nerves, nor has it changed the deter
mlnation of the writer OF these lines to
exercise the rights of d freeman in fhe