Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-12-14

onr Congressional District.

Our Congressional District.
The late hour at which the communication of
Augusta" was handed in last week, prevented
hat prompt response to his call upon US for our
7iews touching the course to be pursued by the
Opposition in this Congressional District, which
we should otherwise have given. Our cores
pondent proposes shat the Wings and Amerl'
cans of the District shall hold Convention al
an early day, and resolve not to run candidate
under sny circumstances, but give the whole
field to the Democracy and vote for whom we
please of the candidates of that party" "ehaVe
repeatedly expressed our willingness to give the
Democracy free fight among themselves, and
such is still our disposition, provided they goi In
to the scramble in good earnest and give us
lively canvass As matters at present stand
we feel no disposition to encounter the over
whelming odds against as, although as general
rule we consider it sound policy to run candi-
dates of our own at every election, however
hopeless may be the prospect OF success. IL Is
the surest means of maintaining an organized
opposition, and inevitably secures gradual IN
crease of strength, as the history of the Demo
cratic party everywhere, and especially in Au-
gusta county, abundantly proves. Notwith'
standing our strong conviction upon this point,
our inclinations have been in favor Of holding
off FROM the contest for the sake of the fun. We
only speak for ourselves, however, for we DO
not know the views and wishes of the opposition
in other portions of the District, or even in this
county.
Although thus amiably disposed toward our
Democratic friends, we do not concur in the
proposition of our correspondent. We are not
| willing to bind ourselves by solemn party action
not to run candidate under any circumstances,
because circumstances might arise which would
render it eninently proper to do so. If some
half dozen or more Of them get into the ring and
do the thing up right, belaboring each other un'
til all are soundly thrashed, we shall oppose to
the extent of our ability any outside interference
with the interesting performance. But we can
not favor formal resolve by an organized Con-
vention to let them alone under all circumstan-
ces, unless they agree to hold Convention and
permit US to have voice in the nomination OF
tue candidate. We are opposed to any pledge,
because of the uncertainty of future events and
the general bad policy of entanging alliances
Circumstances may arise which will put diff
ferent face upon field which it now seems use
less for Us to enter with the hope of reaping q
reward, and we therefore do not wish to be bound
by pledge to keep our swords in sheath whatev-
or may turn up. We cannot perceive why the
) Democracy should feel concerned about the lit
tie handful of Wings and Americans of whom
they ought to be ashamed to be afraid, and from
whom they have no right to expect any favors
If they want to have free fight, let them have
it by all means. But if they are afraid to in
dulge in that Hibernian pastime without
pledge of nonintervention, under any and al
circumstances on the part OF the opposition, why
then let them hold their Convention and nomi
nate one man. The opposition has nothing tt
gain or lose, in the one case or the other, bu
the amusement. 1t is matter which belongs
entirely to the Democracy, which they ought t(
be able to settle among themselves without ap
peal to the generosity of minority which ha'
never received any favor at their hands Tha
there may be no mistake as to our position W.
repeat that we are opposed to making any sor
of pledge to or contracting any sort of entang
ling alliances with our Democratic friends o
, this District, who are powerful enough and hav
generally been willing enough to manage thei
, own affairs in their own way. AS matters nov
; stand, however, we are willing to give an assur
ance, as individuals and as the conductors of al
, opposition journal, that we have no design or de
sire to take advantage of a plurality OF Demo
cratic candidates. This assurance of our senti
ments, in view of the present aspect of affairs
the District, is as far as we think it udicious TO
US or any other sturdy and uncompromising op
ponent of Democracy to go.
After the above was put in type we receives
two communications on the same subject, which
will be found in this paper. We are obliged t.
"A Wing Farmer" for the estimate he place
upon our stability" If he has ever seen an
evidence of the want of it, his optics must b
KEEN