Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-03
Party Inconsistency.

1t has always seemed to Us most marvellous
how Democrats who denounced Summers couiu
support John Letcher Tor the Office OF Governor.
The atter's offence is much more recent 'nan
The formers, and much worse every way ye'i'
is overlooked or excused by those who were
most virulent against Summers. Last week NC
published an article from the Petersburg Inteiii-
gencer, showing up the inconsistency OF 'nese
politicians. The Intelligencer has continued It's
researches, and produces the following CHOICE
extract from the South Side Democrat OF Ooto-
Der 30, 1851: . l.
"But it seems that Summers Is not hos'Ile "
slavery. 1t is asserted that he mas renouuceu
his abolition faith, and he CLAIMS now 10 oe per
sactiv Trustworthy. Even if this were true, pol
;cv and prudence would dictate to the people OF
| Virginia to entrust their government to one
whose opinions have never been tainted with
unsoundness and whose loyalty and devotion to
the interests of the State have always been above
suspicion"
Again. on the 25th of November, 1851, the
Democrat said:
"The intelligent people of this Commonwealth
are not to be duped by the eleventh hour fe T'
tation of a candidate for their sutirages. lney
make mans recorded deeds the only TEST OF
his opinions. They judge him by what ne sala
and did, before the strong pressure ol ih'eles'
smothered the genuine feelings OF his nearV'-
They trust to no opinion which bears the ap-
nearsnce of having been fabricated for the occa-
sion."
Every day during the canvass the Democrat
repeated its invectives every Democratic paper
| in the State ohimed in; and every Democratic
speaker delivered himself il the same style. II
there was single exception we do not relnen'
her il, The Richmond Examiner said, in octo'
Der, 1851:
"The Wing party have nominated MIR. sum-
mers to be the Head Of this Commonwealth
The question presented to the people is SIMPLY
whether they will vote for Mr.. Summers, man
who was engaged in the Emancipation move
ment of '32-the Had of all our woes-and VINO
took that peculiar part in it which the press has
displayed before their eyes-Qr vote for MT
johnson, q man who had nothing to do with II,
and who has ever been perfectly sound IN states
Rights politics"
And now behold the editor Of the Democrat,
with all the facts before him, Jealous advocate
of Letcher's nomination, and the leaders OF the
party generally advocating his election! In the
case of Summers, the people were not ITO DO
duped by the eleventh hour recantations OF q
| candidate for their sufrages." When, pray, did
Letcher recsnt1 Not until he was before the
people of Augusta ss 50 candidate for their sui
frages." When Summers was o espdidate for
Governor, 'policy and prudence" dictated to the
people of Virginia ''to entrust their government
to one whose opinions had never been tainted
with unsoundness;" certainly the same conside-
rations of "policy and prudence" are as urgent
now as eight years ago. But Summers is con-
demned aud Letcher acquitted. By what rule
are the two men judged, that such different re-
suits are attained2 One is a Wing and the 9TH
or Democrat there is the whole secret. What
was objectionable treason in Wing, is mere
| indiscretioa in Democrat. The sum OF the
matter is, that the people were "duped' by the
Democratic leaders in 1851, or those same lead
ers are endeayoring to dupe them now. In Ell
Their case, if the people continue to follow such
faithless guides, they will deserve the taunt-
| aye would be dunes and victims, and We are"