Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-04-05
From the Spectator.

Messrs Editors The Spring canvass fol
The county oiliceiss just commencing. and
see BY an article in,lhe True American - that
i. is proposed 10 make party polite. test q
fitness for the discharge ofihe duties OF those
Offices.
New, agree with the "Amelicaan that
'evety tue patriot must eel IN bis heart tia,
such course IS wrong" but cannot agree
with the sam. rican' that patriots should iol.
inclines that way. That would be The COURSE
oil politicians, not OF patriots.
| must be permitted, as True American and
as member Of the American party, to raise my
protest against making the Ministerial and Jul
dlclal offices of the county parts ola political
machine.o God fogbId that The day shall ever
come i'll the OLD county oil Augusta that The dn-
ties of the Alagisaacy and Sherlflally, OF Con-
stables, Clerks and Cemmen v eath's Attorney
shall be administered upon political principles,
and as adluncls and tools OF patty politics.
And luther, Messrs. Editors, mus, be per-
mlt!ed 10 protest against such policy being
initiated toy !he American party. 1t nay be
very well for Candidates eager after office and
lealou oil the peoples rights, to desire that
party nominations shall be made, but every
we'll thinking ''disnteresled" patriot must alb
hor such a course. But understand that all
Col. Turk and Mr.. Cochran both say that they
do not desire and would not accep, a party
noninailon-tha they are candidates before
the people, and TO them, and not to Convention
however constituted. they propose to submit
Their claims, and think they desire the thanks
Of all true patriots and conservatives for their
independent stand.
III understand from that article tina, the
two candida les for the office OF commemorative
Attorney, MessFs. McCue and Kinney are viii.
ling TO submit their claims TO Convention Of
the American party; i'll other words that they
desire a Convention OF the American party,
each o: course desiring aud expecting the nsin.
nation. Both OF these gentlemen ate patti OTIS
and each IT ust ''fee IN his heart ha the course
Is wrong, but each 81 them, according TO the
.'frue American" is willing to pursue a
"course" which in Ibis heart he feels is wrong
to accomplish party or prirate end. | leave
the sentiment OF that question TO the True
American" and the gentlemen themselves
II these various county offices are 10 be admin
lslered on party principles and 10 promote party
ends, then lei Convention be held to make
party nominations, but it the people desire that
the duties OF the offices shall be discharged so
as 10 protao,s the public welfare, then lei "the
people al the polls' be the Convention. and s
he honest, is he capaple2o be The ol.ly qualiti-
cation required. Either OF the three candidates
for the office of Attorney for the Common
wealth are worthy OF The peoples support, but
one OF them has been tried and has gwen UNI
uersdl satisfaction.
Col. Harman is no pet of mine-we have
never agreed in politics, and, at the last election
did not vote Tor him, because thought him
too young and inexperienced tor the Office
But he was elected. and what has been the re-
suit. When he went into office in 1852, there
were from 80 10 go cases on the Common
wealih's Docket, in the County Gourl, and
about the same number i'll the Circuit Court;
new, there is, believe, not one in either.
The public cannot easily forget his services
rendered in the lrlsh rape case and in the Tfayer
aud Wilson Murder Trials; noI in the..great num-
Der OF other felony cases, which have been tried
during his official term-a number greater, as
have heard II said, that ever occurred before
in the history OF the county, in the same length
st time. | make these remarks in sheer justice
9 Col. Haiman, and think he has right 10
expect of the people, that tney express by their
vote at the polls, their uerdid upon his servi-
ces; and they owe it 10 him, then, 10 say,
''Wel done good and faithful .ervant;n aud
they owe il TO themselves TO retain the services
oil so faithful and efficient an officer ask OF
every sensible and practical man, whether he
would not be gdIsly OF the grussest folly, to
discharge from hi, services one who had per-
formed his duties 10 his euiiie SATISFACTORY SIM
pl, because that persun differed in tpinen
with him upon a question, which Lad not Tie
remoiesi correction with those duties. then
say To The American party, that they cannot,
in, justice to their principles, make party nom
nations Tor these county flices; nor do believe
that the masses of Tie party desire it, aud say
father, that the leaders, in making such nomDa-
llons, cannot bind me to support their nomi-
nees, because ii is net q legitimate exercise OF
The party lramnels.
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