Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-02

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Mr.. Harris Candidate for Congress.
Convention or no Convention.
On Monday last, Mr.. Harris addressed
the people Of this County, in front Of the
Courthouse, denouncing the Harrisonburg
Convention, as having been gotten up for
the purpose Of putting him, (Mr. John 7.
Harris) down, and declaring himself in ad-
vance, candidate for Congress in spite of
liking Caucus" as he was pleased to de-
nominate that body.
His announcing card reads thus :-'Mr.
John L. Harris is a candidate to represent
this district in the next Congress of the
United States, subject to the decision of
contention, if one be necessary" A con-
avention has been deemed necessary by the
democratic party, for variety of reasons,
and accordingly every County in the district
has appointed delegates to the Harrison
burg Convention, most of them with
unanimity almost unprecedented. Fit had
not been for the active and violent opposi-
ton to convention, made by Mr.. Harris
himself in the counties Of Rockingham and
Shenandoah, (Which his personal inter
est in the matter should have kept him
silent, and induced him to leave the voters
uninduenced, eto act for themselves) no one
can hesitate to believe that the strong and
persuasive facts, urging the necessity of
resort to this ancient and highly approved
usage Of the party, would have made the
party unanimous for convention. Even
in those two counties, where Mr. Harris's
labors have been incessant, and where he
has sought by every argument, to rouse up
prejudice, sectional hatred, and sympathy
for unreal wrongs supposed to be inflicted Oh
himself, the good sense Of the party has in
duced decided majority to spurn his dicta-
ton, and unite with their brethren in an ef-
fort to organize.
They have seen that their adversaries were
organizing everywhere, that while they
are urging the ruinous and distracting free
fight on us,-they are holding conventions
even fer the selection Of County candidates,
they remember that the democratic par
ty has been built up on this good old Gus
tom, and that now none advise its aban
Comment but those who desire our ruin, and
those who desire self-aggrandizement at the
expense Of our glorious party,-they have
seen the sectional sdiscord, and personal bit
eterness already engendcred by this free
fighting. Mr.. Harris evidently saw the
possibility, when he.frst declared himself
candidate, that these evils might arise, and
.has therefore thus announced himself sub
Scct to convention. But ais blood has
gotten up with the canvass--this prize shines
more brightly as he thought he was near
ing it, and he does not now hesitate to COM
NIT the fragrant injustice Of charging on an
;benorable and patriotic party of whole dis
triet, having no interest but to serve their
country the unworthy and pi'Gful purpose,
of putting HIM doaon. And has it come to
this = that the Democratic party Of the
''tenth legion, hitherto famed for its pl'ri-
ty. its patriotism, its stern, unbending JUS
tice-is insulted by one of its own mem
bcrs-an aspirant for its favor-with the
charge of gross injustice and persecution.
We mest deeply regret that an overwean-
ing ambition should have led Mr.. Harris to
utter such thought. We entertained the
kindest personal feelings towards him, and
wished him every success. But the fair
fame Of our party and the public good are
<dearer to us than the success of any indi-
vidual, and in the name of that party we
Indignantly deny that any such ignoble pur-
goose has ever stimulated its action. If John
T. Harris opposes the nomination Of the
Harrisonburg convention, he must be set
down as an opponent of the Democratic
s,arty. And if he believes the democracy
of the tenth legion capable Of that with
which he charges them, he had better seek
shelter at once in the arms Of our adversa-
ries. But how does he get over his card,
in which he declares himself a candidate
subject to the decision of convention, if
one is necessary" With most lame at
tempt at special pleading, he declares he
only meant to be subject to Conven-
ton, in case one should be necessary to
nreyent the election Of know nothing .-
In other words, he is reduced to the unhappy