Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-03-08
OHonest JOhn.o

"HOnest JOhn."
The friends of Mr.. Letcher, probably with ref
erence to the very position he now occupies as
candidate of the Democratic party for the office
Governor, have for long time past been loud
in their praises of his peculiar honesty, and have
succeeded pretty well in familiarizing the party
with taking catch-word for the canvass
eHonest john is the name by which they would
have him known, and by means of which they
would entice some people, who are no less re-
markable for their simplicity than their lntegrl-
ty, into the support of one of the most uncom'
promising partisan politicians in the Democratic
ranks. We concede that Mr.. Letcher, in all the
transactions of private life, occupies as high a
position as most men. No one has anything to
saw against him as man of integrity and honor,
but that he is whit more honest as politician
than other prominent men Of his party we do
not believe, nor can it be established by any
facts in his political career. Honest forsooth
In what, pray, does his peculiar honesty consist
We really feel curious to know upon what
grounds his friends claim that be is entitled 10
more respect and favor at the hands OF the peo-
nile than other men who have been in their ser.
vice. Is it because he has not been guilty OF
any act of villainy whilst he has been member
of Cougress2 Surely the people did not expect
him to be di.h0nest, or they would never have
sent him there. Is it because he has made him.
self little prominent by refusing pensions to
the old soldiers, and resisting other approprla'
tons that he considered injudiciousl Surely he
was sent there to protect the public interests,
and having performed nothing more than his
dutg, he is entitled to no special credit. Look
at the Honorable gentleman's course as you
may, and You can find nothing in it at all cred
liable that he was not bound to do as the sworn
representative of the people; and we can only
establish his peculiar claim to the title OF mon
est john" upon the hypothesis that the oon'
gress of the United States has become such
den of corruption, that any member OF 1t VINO
in the exercise of common honesty performs his
duty with ordinary fidelity is worthy to be
placed in the calendar of Democratic saints.
But let us look little farther into MIR. Letch-
er's history and illustrate his honesty as poll
tician by reference to few prominent facts
Was Mr.. Letcher honest when he refused to re-
ceiye the three thousand dollars per annum sal
sry which the members of Congress voted to
themselves in lieu of the eight dollars per day
If so, was it right for him afterwards to pocket
the money! If he really and conscientiousiy
believed that he ought not to take the pay
could he properly submit the question OF con
science to the votes of a bakers dozen OF hi:
constituents, and permit them to decide that tt
be all right which he protested to believe wa'
all wrongl This is question in ethics which
we should like to see solved. Perhaps GoV
Wise or some other friend of Mr.. Letcher cal
work it out "by the single rule of three"
Was Mr.. Letcher honestly actuated by con
sideration OF the public veal, when he Opposed
in speeches of inordinste length every little ap
propriation bill that came before Congress
did he not in many instances make speeches 10
buacon.5e, regardless of expense to the govern
ment. in order that his friends might designat
him 9Honest,n and lead him around the politics
, oourse with collar encircling his neck conspic
uously lettered 'Watch-dog Of the Treasury
If Mr. Letcher was strictly honest in this speech
, making-houest in his endeaVors to diminls
the expenses of Government-he might nav
been more successful by resorting to simpl
srithmetical calculation, from which, we Ventui
70 assert it will be discovered that nis speech'
have cost the Government more than they nav
ever saved it. ;,
Was Mr.. Letcher honest when he among OIL
ers wrote to DR.. Ruffner requesting the puohc'
ton of his anti-slavery lecture: awe cannot e.
pect that you will now be able to furnish
with the speech precisely as it was dehvere'
nor is it our wish that you should conhne you
self strictly to the views then expressed. VI
desire is to have the whole argument in fave
of the proposition Ito abolish slavery presente
to the public in perspicuous and condense
formn-thus authorizing DR.. Ruffner to max
any changes be might deem propers
, If so, was it just and fair for him to refuse
paw his proportion of the expense of the publ
cation, on the ground that it was not puohsne
as it was delivered9
We do not say that these matters involve an
=. degree of moral turpitude; we accord to NJ
0 Letcher quite as much of personal honesty
falls to the lot of men generally; but we mer
ton them to show that Mr.. Letcher has no nice
9 sense of moral propriety and political integrit
1 than other men, and that the clsim OF peculls
honesty set up for him by his friends is nothin
more nor less than sheer humbuggery.