Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-14
M0nfSider.o

s'OntSider."
We take pleasure in transferring to our
columns the following oTiiinialnication, for
the simple reason that we wish to set one,
at least, Of the Writers in the Spectator right
on the subject Of the OPPOSITION having
pledged themselves not to rim candidate.
We have already stated over and over again
the facts Of the case but the Harris men,
for the purpose of securing the Opposition
vote, continue in spite Of it all to cry,
"Whigs and Know Nothings, you must vote
for Mr.. Harris, for he and his friends be-
lie7ed you when you pledged yourselves to
non-interference In this canvass; but Skin
ner and the Convention men said we
won't do it; we don't believe you you will
catch us like Ross did his mare-napping +;
YOU can't tell the truth"
Now we can't think that the men who
write this Way can have exsmined into the
matter at an, and We ase tEefefofe glad to
bring the facts directly to the attention Of
one Of them, at least and we suppose, after
reading our side Of the question, '.Outsl-
DER will either bring sdnietling besides
bare assertion to tefute our position, or will
acknowledge it to be just. Does "Outsi-
der" know, when he asserts that the ''Oppo-
sition said 60 on with your free fight, we
will run no candidate" that Augusta, the
largest Opposition county in the district, re-
fused in its county meeting to say any such
thing 4? Is he aware that RocEbridgej which
casts tie next to She largest Opposition vote
Of tEd district; not orly refused to commit
itself; but appointed delegates to attend an
Opposition District Convention, and that
Pendleton did tie same thing? In word,
does he not know that all the counties with
the exception of Rockhgflam, refused to
Commit themselves? ff..6utsider does hot
Know all this, we hope he will look into the
matter and give us the benefit ofhis research.
But does ..Outsider'' maintain. with Mr..
Harris, that the individual pledge Of the
distinguished members Of the Opposition
binds their party after the masses IF the
party had declared ID their cotnty meetings
their unw7llingness to give such pledge
Surels, II BE does, he Will not; like Ftr.
Harris, be guilty If the Inconsistency Of
denouncihg Corrections because be is op-
posed on principle to the few governing the
many. Certainly, he does not rely on the
word of few leaders Of the Opposition as
binding on that whole party, III spite Of the
expressed will of tie party, and at the same
time object to Conventions in general, and
the one which assembled il Rarrisgdnburg
III particular, because by CONVENTIONS the
power is apt to be transferred from the nnany
to the few. We know "Outsider" to be a
gentleman Of considerable ability, and not
apt to Be caught III stch glaring inconsis-
teHcy. But We have already said that VIZ
believed Mr.. Harris to be mistaken when
he says he has the promise Of the @'dstin.
guished members of the Opposition that
they would run no candidate, and we are
confirmed in this opinion from the fact thai
one Of the most distinguished leaders of the
Opposition, when asked by Mr.. Harris tt
annountc 70 the pem6eratic co,Ant9 meet.
frg ST augusta that there would be no Op-
position candidate in the field, refused to dc
SO, giving as a reason for his refusal, that
it was something with which he had moth
ing to do.
10 clear up any ambiguity which may
surround the name sOutsider," Ne #otrlc
say it does not mean outside the Democratic
party.
| From the Spectator.