Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-07-12


journal imposes various disagreeab'e duties,
the faithful discharge Of which, in many
instances, subjects bis motives to the most
cruel criticism and unjust censure. There
is no obligation, TO the sensitive mind,
which brings with it more perplexiug
suggestions or creates more embarrassing
sensation, than that which requires the in
vestigation of individual anttcedents 10
illustrate the true character and tendency
of parties. and their principles. These
perplexities arse from no quams of con-
science as to the propriety or Legitimacy
Of such investigation and exposure. Not
at all On the contrary, the duty is in1.
pprative: and no Democratic editor who
acknowledges fealty 10 party, and is deter.
miLed honestly and fearlessly to meet eve
ry obligation justly attaching to his posi-
tom can shrink from it. Believing, as he
must, that the best and dearest interests of
the county are closely identified with the
success of Democratic principles, it be-
comes not only his duty as the recognized
organ Of his party. but the sternest de.
mands Of patriotism force him. 10 cry aloud
and spare MOTTO use every fair means to
exhibit the corruption and the treachery
Of men, and the deleterious tendency of
principles which array themsslve. i'll op-
position. To approach the man of poll
tics for the purpose Of exposing his ncon-
sistencies and the evil tendency Of his par
ty policy merely TO amuse morbid public
feeling or crafty selfish or cynical desire,
and with no hope of accomplishing pub
lie good, is task to which our inclination
does not lead US. and from the execution
Of which we would respectfully beg to be
excused. 1t is not the man himself, the
treachery of whose action we might ex :
pose, that we would SEEK to drsg before
the full gaze OF an intelligent public, sim
ply with the view OF exciting the just in
digna,Ion Of that public, or to ii.ect a
weIl-founded suspicion against him. We
seek the injury Of no man. so far as he
himself is concerned. But there springs
up within us feeling, which is too big
for suppression, Of the intenses. loa,hlng
for that person who would prove recreans
to the interests Of his county, ahd sting
TO the death the very bosom that had
nourished aud protected him. Divide
men from their principles, and they are
cyphsrs-simply animated
clay, without the power to harm OF benc.
fit. Men generally, however, are the rep.
resen,atives OF principles aud parties, and it
is alone through the identification Of men
with party measures and policy. that we
are enabled TO discover The true character
of the principles of such parties. They
are the mirrors OF party-fefecting the
purposes, principles, and tendency Of the
organizations to which they are united
Hence. it is only by the action Of men that
party policy. and party principles can be
develored. They impersonate parties. and
it is through them we are enabled success
fully to approach the object which they
represent.
The habitual reader of the editorials OF
this paper has already, doubtless, antlci-
pated the application Of the above remarks.
We have deemed it our duty, (aud we
would blush Cor shame had VT shrank
from it, to cong 20 minsi"g terms
the political codiy . +. H. Stuart, the
Of the 1n7erior-the IRE
tired Statesman" now residen: at Staun.
ton. We have not elected to be awed IN
bling fear. al the thought Of his immediate
presence. Nor have we been deferred,
nor shall we, from the faithful discharge
of our duty as the editor of the Democrat.
ic organ of Augusta county, by the blus-
terng threats OF Mr.. Stuart, 30 long as ne
are entrusted with the honorable and re-
sponsible position, in which we have been
SO generously and magnanimously sustain
ed by the fearless and true Democracy Of
Augusta and surrounding counties. The
miserable subterfuge--the transparent trick
resorled TO by this laureled statesman, in
threatening SUIT for libel, based upon
legitimate criticism Of his poltica! m a.
nuvering, has no other effect upon the
writer OF these lines than teerea,e within
him feelings Of the supremest contempt
and defiance. He may mantle himself in
retired dignity, and from his position Of
assumed greatness, issue his bulls of ven.
grance. We shall regard them no more
than we would the whistling Of the idle
wind. We know our rights and we dare
maintain them. The same God who spake
into existence this beautiful world. and
arranged the elements, created Mr.. Stuart
and ouiseH. He gave to us the same right
to speak and think and act. as he gave to
Mr.. Stuart. Freedom is our birthright as
wei! as his. He was born with no excu-
sive priylleges-he can lay claim to no d.
vine RICH, which would elevate him above