Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-18
The "Spectator' Anchored At Last.

Spectator, after innumerable wanderlngs
amid fogs and clouds in comparison 70 which
the wanderings of Ulysses sink into mere
insignifcance, have at last dropped anchor
and declared their intention to maintain
their ground at any cost, not exceeding
that of getting into Office. We have long
sympathized with our neighbor, and often
felt constrained to offer him place where
upon to rest the sole Of his foot, but giving
him due credit for his sagacity and fore
sight, and knowing that he would never
alight ca saexp4cred ground. We have quiz
city bided our time and waited to see him
make his debut. He has made it and we
propose to inform cur readers as to his
whereabouts in order that others may also
have the exquisite pleasure of calling on
him and congratulating him on his prospect
Of rest, after SO many years Of painful anx-
iety and unwearied exertion. But we re-
greet to state, that though our friends were
very particular in their descent and watched
carefully for the footprints Of other pilgrims
of the same sort, they have had the misfor-
tune to alight upon quicksands which buried
in their bosoms many. but which. we earn
estly pray may be merciful to our neigh
bors. The Spectator congratulate its read
ers, "that change has taken place in pub
lie opinion in the last twelve months" We
also have subject Of congratulation for
our readers, tho it may be different from
that of our neighbor. He is pleased be-
cause when man is presented for Office the
degrading question is no longer asked 'sto
what party does he belongw On the other
hand it grati6es US that no such question is
necessary, that the party in power who have
been placed there by the confidence of the
people, take care to present no man for re-
sponsible Offices, to whom such interrogatory
is necessary. That by the guidance Of this
power the country was never in more pros
porous condition, considering the late finan-
cial revulsions, which nobody but our fore
sighted neighbor could have anticipated,
that there never was better feeling pre-
vailing between the South and North on the
subject Of Slavery that the SO called ''prod-
igality" has been entirely refuted and all
the expenditures shown to be judi cious ap-
plications of the public funds and that
'ssound and conservative men, by the score
see no cause of reprobation in the course of
the administration. We are pleased to see
that those who have laid themselves open
to censure, have received the due reward Of
their folly, while those, who by a sincere
and honest devotion to the interests of the
Union have been promoted to places of
public trust and dignity.
But again the Spectator says:
"The revulsion of last year has caused
the people to take more practical view of
things. They begin to see that whilst they
have been disputing about vague abstrac-
lions the country has been going to ruin
and the Democracy has been plundering
the treasury and running the nation into
debt at the rate of siaty millions year
These facts have opened the eyes of the peo-
pie. We see in all quarters movements to
secure redress Of grievances. We see the
people sacrificing minor differences of opin-
ion and coming together in fraternal spirit,
% secure the overthrow Of the party in
,ower."
We have not been SO fortunate as our
,eighbors in seeing the people come togeth-
II and sacrificing what they term 'Fminor
differences of opinion" But we have seen
he Spectators friends and allies north try
% come to an understanding with their
Black Republican allies and hava seen the
litter failure Of their attempts, for which the
'eason seems quite clear. In fact we think
hat both parties played the ''dog IN the
hanger" to perfection. Neither one being
lble to secure the reins themselves, each
vas afraid to trust the other to the crib and
lencc both have been debarred the pleasure
# beholding the land of promise and
feast Of plenty" to which they had been
invited by their respective leaders. We
nave always believed the opposition capa-
de of anything, secure to themselves the
handling Of the public funds, but they have
never been able, because while they and
heir allies, were contending who should
enjoy the most privileges when they came
nto power, the people have ever performed
he interesting part Of jumping up like
log and knocking them both down." Lo!
,hese many years has the Spectator stood
n the shoes of the memorable $ Wilkins
Micawber" waiting for something to . turn
lp," whereby they might be resusitated and
'evived. Deluded men! can you not read
n the mirror Of political events the doom
which awaits you. Does not the failure Of
! union of the opposition in New York, but
90 plainly prognosticate your future desti-
ny! Can you not see that the minds Of the
people cannot be disturbed by your gas and
hat in the autumnal elections to which you
REFER. you will only be buried in deeper
oblivion.
But the final declaration Of our neighbor