Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-04-12
TIE Congressional Contest I

We made last week brief statement OF facts
IN regard to the political machine which was ex'
hibited by the patentecs in Harrisonburg, on the
aoth ult. 1t gives US pleasure to say thst tns
tbine continues to work beautifully. SCOUTS
Tittls Giant Corn and Cob Alilln 10 not to be
oompared with "Koiner & Cos Democratic
Republican States -Rights-King Caucus Concern
for concentrating Democratic sentiment aud
crushing out stree fights" The managers invited
all to test its merits by actual experiment. Iney
said to Harris, "Come, John, try your luck IN tHe
GRAND scheme. on the Havana plan, ror the
benefit of the Sparta Democracy" But John
was little too smsrt to poke his head INTO
the mouth of any such yoracious ''Varnlnt- -
Fe esnelt MICE from the beginning anu WISE
10 concluded that il was not necessary Tor the
good Of the party thal he should be ground 70
impalpable powder. Wa shall never cease 10
regret that our friend and fellow citizen General
Hartman thought differently, and concluded 70
pitoh in. A certain Mr. Peuny0acker, OF inc
county of Rockingham, picked tho 0enersi Up III
his arms, fed him head foremost into ene la"s
of the monster and ne was put through on tne
Ufsst line" He went in "lemons" and he came
ont squeezed The machine, however, be-
loncad To that class known rs the patent ad-
Unstable" so arranged "a to grind eltaor coarse
or fine. and il SO happened that when Ar. SKIN
ner Of Augusta was presented byl his friends sa
8 subject for experiment, the guage was altered.
In won't Mr.. Skinner with his ears pinned back,
through be went like railroad pill, and out he
came again sal booted and spurred," Nothing
has been known ike it since old Vulcan tapped
the chief Of the Gods on the head with his sledge-
hammer, and Minezva sprang forth from the
brain of Jo7e,
We aro more than pained-we may say shst
we ore mortiGed-to learn that the facts stated
nv rs last week in regard to the operations OF
the Convention, have been misoonserued IN some
Quarters. II the article seemed TO incline favor
ABLY TO Harris, it was tho fault OF she tscts--
Certainly we did not imagine for al instant that
the prospects of our friend Skinner could 90 III
iured by the publication Of tue truth. Inc iac'
ia our Democratic friends have got themselves
into pretty muss, and they must not complain
if the opposition refuse to help them out OF IT.
They would not believe rs when we told them
that Wa would not interfere ia their free tight.
Oh mol Mr.. Roiuer could not trust the seeres
oath bound confederation the length OF MS iiEde
finger, and must have Convention, Ihey
were warned in the primary meetings in this place
that John Harris did not intend to submit, and
CAPTAIN Hill showed them the folly OF the little
band in Augusta setting themselves up against
the expressed wishes OF tue great counties OF
Rockingham and Shepsndoah-out Air. Aolaer
and the machine men generally would not, could
not place any confidence in the assurances OF
those who still had the smell Of the dark lantern
about them. They would hare Convention
they would not allow is the pooE privilege oil
choosing between Democrats, out must select
candidate by machinery, for the suILfaSss oi
the people. We Of the opposition might Wen
saw to tho Convention men--eleot your man Il
you oap--we arc under no obligations to help
YOU. But We prefer to be independent IN this
contest We feel our Importance just now, and
prefer to watch the combat deepen While longer
Al this stage of the game, please don't consider
us in for either Of tho Knights. II we seemed
fa yorable to Harris last week, we are leaning to-
wards our friend Skinner this week with painful
anxiety. The fact is our sympsshies are so much
excited ell around tho board that i! is impossible
TO DO otherwise than strictly neutral Now we
grow interested in Skinner and begin TO feel the
bristles rising in his behalf, but they suddenly
fall when we think Of General Hartman, who
bore the bguut OF The campaign with him, and
we are almost tempted to exoisia
sIe. others hsil the rsiog SUD-
We bcw 20 hin whose TacG is run.
Anon, we are touched with feeling Of ooun'
ty pride and ohlckle over the wondertE! success
Of the "pateut adjustable"-that browning g.
ohieyement OF inventive genius; bpt when wc
remember Rockingham and Shenandoah we are
moved almost 10 tears. To think OF such faith !
full old 6,sy horses turned out on tho commons
to graEel No wonder there is one young colt
disposed to kick up and try his metal on the
race course. l. 10 not to be denied that Harris |
has some striking ''piats, sud nos ba wondered
9. that some sre disposed &c pat him or the
back. IL view of oil the surroundings, however,
We ind it impossible 20 take sides--as the old
woman said when bcr husband 90. into o fight
with the boar. Huzzs for John Hurrah forI
Jiml is the nearest approach we can make at
present to either Of the nags. Ho-ho, boys
Where's RSrey1