Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-05-20
The Canvass.

There never was period in the political his
tory of this county when we have felt so sensI-
bly, the Importance of defeating the Democratic
party, and the necessity of active industry in
order to accomplish that result as We do in the
present canvass. If we wish to see our party
strength gone-we fear finally and hopelessly !;
if we wish to see Old Augusta given over to the
great delusion of Democracy, and represented in
both branches of the Legislature for years to
come by men of that political faith five wish to
see every man who has co-operated with the
American party prescribed and trodden to the
dust, as an odious and abominable thing; if we
desire to enthrone in our midst and inaugurate
the reign of tyrant that will make US groan
worse than the taxes do, and lord it over us
with inconceivable rigor if we desire to be de-
graded and brought under the yoke in this kind
of style, all we have to do is to rest quietly up
on our oars and permit this election to go by de-
fault. Shall we do it Will we do It'll Are
we so lost to party pride-so dead to the COM
mon instincts of self interest and self preserva-
ton, that we can contemplate with composure
the possibility of being run over rough shod and
ANONYMOUSLY put to flight here in the good old
County of Augusta, where in the darkest hours
of the parties to which we have belonged, good
men and true have always been found to sustain
triumphantly our political creedl
There can be no doubt on the mind of any
reasonable man that we have the power to avert
this deplorable catastrophe, if we only exercise
it, and we will exercise it if the people will re-
fleet upon few things.
1st. Remember that many on instance has oc-
CURED in popular elections where the contest
has been decided by single cote. No man can
safely remain at home on the day of election,
relying upon the strength of the party to carry
the ticket through without his vote. One hun
dred men may reason in the same way, and oil
staying at home may give the victory to the en-
envy. 1t is not only the duty of every man who
still clings to his party faith to vote himself but
it is incumbent on him to see that none of his
neighbors are absent from the polls.
Cd. Remember that no man can safely vote
the Democratic ticket or any part Of it, under
the impression that it will be defeated at any
rate, and his vote will make no difference. Per
sonal preferences may incline some to such a
course, but we hope that little reflection viii
cause them to follow the path of duty rather
than the path of inclination. No man ought to
infer that our ticket can be elected without his
vote, because the vote may be so close that his
voice would turn the scale.
Sd. Remember aeh0 you are called upon to vote
for-men of responsibility, talents and expert
ence, who will do credit to the County in the
halls of the State Legislature
4th. Remember achat you are called upon to
vote for-the political principles of which those
men are the exponents-the interests of your
County and the State--your own private and
personal interests which are directly at stake in
this election.
9th. Remember what You are called upon to
avert-the defeat of your own party-the defeat
of men whom you have brought into the field.
some of them contrary to their wishes,-the dis
grace that will justly attach to you in the event
of an ignominious failure-the rule of Democra-
cy, and your own political ruin.
Reflect seriously upon these things-then do
your duty-and we have no fear as to the result
The time is short-work while the sun shines.
We tell you that you must work or all will be
lost. Reflect upon the glorious trumphs of the
past; suffer again the pangs of enc disgraceful
defeat that beiel you, and resolve like men that
if the party should sustain another, it shall not
be from your culpable apathy and foolish sense
of security