Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-07-13
From the Richmond Whig.
SspriucinIes. Not Menu

modern school. And well it may be, TOR It
the ladder by which small men climb into offic
They invoke the people to pay no respect to th
men who are presented for Office, but to loo
only to their so.called principles 1t matters nc
how pure and spotless mans life may hay
been, how enlarged his experience, how eminen
his abilities, how comprehensive his patriotism
how profound his learning, how brilliant hi
public services,-all these are to be held q
naught, unless he processes popular principles
Under the malgn influence of misapplicatio
of this maxim, the ilustrious Clay was put asid
for the insignificant Polk, and the glorious oil
veteran of two wars had to yield precedence +
an obscure attorney from New Hampshire !
The political small fry fully understand thi
thing. They know that as soon as they foreg
the advantage which it gives them, and com
to stand on their own merits, their occupation
is gone. Hence, they cry out at the top of thei
voices, "Principles, not men," They adop
whatever principles may, for the time being, b.
popular, and ride into office on professions !
The practical effect of this is to substitute pro
fsssions instead of conduct as the test of qualii
cation for Office. How many unworthy mel
have risen to high stationary, now occup!
high station-not through any talent or merit o
their own, but purely by virtue of their yocifer
Gus professions of Democracy
| For our part, however true the maxim may
be in the abstract, yet in view of the abuses tt
which it has led, we are disposed utterly to dis
card it. Professions are cheap. They are easi
lY made. And they are generally made for sin
lister purposes. If q man processes great devo
ton to another, without adequate cause, yor
may depend on it, he has some selfish point tt
carry by his professions. So, ifa politician pro
fesses extraordinary attachment to the people
they may rely on it he intends to cheat them
AS Watkins Leigh said, the meaning of the tern
"the peoples man" is 1.-THE man for the people:
money!"
We think it would be safer for the people tc
reverse the maxim, and adopt as their rule o.
action, "men, not principles, actions, not words
conduct, not professions. If the people elect
good men, they are sure to get good principles
for mans principles are part Of himself-and
the principles which produce good conduct must
be good principles. If, on the other hand, they
are mised by the motto, principles not men,
they SET up the offices of the country in market
overt, and the men who bid highest in profess
sions get them. And as the most unworthy will
be the least scrupulous and most extravagant in
their bidding, they will be sure to get them.
We appeal to the experience not only of Vir-
eina, but of the Union, if such is not the fact ?
Who are the men now in Office throughout the
Union9 Are they not the men of professions
and not of practice? Are they not, too, the
men whose professions have varied with the va.
rying phases of public opinions When public
Opinion favored the Wigs, they were the loud
est in their professions of devotion to the W1ig
Dartu But when Democracy became ascen-
dent-prestol change! they became the loud
est in their denunciations of the Wings, and
most rampant in their glori6cation of Democ-
racy
The same general remark is applicable to par
ties. Each party meets in convention, to frame
a bid and put in proposal to the public for the
public Offices and their incidents, the spoals =
In these conventions, every art OF clap-trap is
resorted to, to frame a catching platform. 1t is
a perfect trap, enticingly baited with sugared
professions, to catch the votes of the unsuspect-
ing people! When the trap has performed it:
Office, it is thrown aside, as rubbish, until the
next auadrennial assemblage, when it is again
brought forward, tinkered, and re-modeled and
re. .baitsd, to fulfill the old functions again.
Thus it is, that the people have been deceived,
and beguiled, and defrauded, and despoiled, time
and again, by artful demagogues.
We are tired of this thing. We wish to see
the people assert their rights and throw Of the
tolls that trcksters have thrown around them
We wish to see them act independently, and
choose for themselves. Let them look abroad
through the nation for naan-one who is every
inch man !-one who makes no loud profes
sions. but whose recorded public services, whose
unsullied integrity, whose national patriotism
and whose unsel6sh devotion to the Union and
its best interests, speak for him. Suchi mans
history is his platform-his life develops his
PRINCIPLES. In him, the people may safely con
fide. and without the machinery of: corrup
caucus to nominate him, they may safely vote
for him.
Let the good men of all parties then cast aside
their ancient prejudices, and with an eye single
to the best interests of this great republic, con
centrate their votes on such o man, and victory
will perch on their banner.
Can such man be found2 We answer yes
MANY such. For ourselves, we are welded tt
no particulcr individual. We are prepared tt
concede much for the great object in view. We
will surrender individual preferences on the al
tar of our country.
There are many of our statesmen whom We
would be willing to trust without platform OF
pledge. or conventiontial endorsement, or nomi
nation for the Presidency. We would place ou
faith on their antecedents, believing that mai
whose life has been devoted to the service o
his country would not be likely, in his old age
to depart from the path which lie has heretofore
pursued. -: .,.
Among the men in whom we have an abiding
trust, and whose public career is platform enough
for US, is John j. Crittenden, of Kentucky
He is emphatically national man. To unsul
lied integrity, he unites unquestioned ability
and long and varied experience in leglslativ
and executive service. A native and reslden
of Kentucky, he is by no means sectional man
| On all occasions he has exhibited broad, com
prehensive and catholic spirit. When Southern
rights have been invaded. he has manfully stoot
M for the rights of the South. On the othe
hand, when he thought the South in error, b
has been restrained by no sectional consldera
tions from doing justice to the North. Moder
ate men of all sections may consistently unite OF
him. and we feel assured that his election Woul'
give peace to the country.
AS we before remarked, we do not desire 4
be regarded as nominating Mr.. Crlttenden 10
the Presidency. We take him as the represen
tatiye of class of men, any one OF whom woul'
he accountable to US. We want no extremists
our candidate. We want no man who Is pu
forward as An ultra, Southern man, and we Will
sunport no man who may be presented as a
o,ztrn. Northern man. We want a national MAJ
"a man to whom the whole country can Loo
with confidence, and whose election all section
may hail with satisfaction. Above all, we d
mot want a man of professions! we desire
man whose character and conduct are the guar
anteess CT his integrity, ability, and hdelity
the Constitution.
What say our Wing and American orethre
to these suggestions' We throw them out 10
their consideration. We also commend tneh !:
: the notice of those of the Democracy (ahc tnei
name is legion) who, in their hearts, are grIevee
disapponted-nay, disgusted at the large W proai q
ises and meagre performances OF the Denocratr "
party. We ask them to ponder the suolec' WEI s,.
we NAV revert to it at future day, anu 'ah