Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-07-31
smith and Leake.

SAuAtu anu A6QkCs
1t is well for Elk Gov. Smith and Hon. Shell
ton F. Leake that they very prudently acted upon
the maxim of Falstaff, that sdiscretion is the
better part of valor," for they are both so very
vulnerable that DIR. Motfet would have demol-
ished them if they had made such an assault up
on the Douglas party as they had purposed be-
fore witnessing the spirit and strength OF the
Douglas party of this county, "whose power ter
ri6ed the glance its magnifcence attracted
They are the very last Democrats in the State
who should presume to teach Democrats their
duty, for neither of them hesitate to oppose the
organization of their party when by so doing MS
chances of getting into office are improved, ano
never fail to accept all the aid of party organl-
zation when it will assist him to promote his
own personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Both hold seats
in Congress at this time by running in opposition
to the regular candidates of their party.
In 1856, IN the canvass between Wise and
Flournoy, Elk Gov. Smith refused to support the
Democratic candidate. In that year he was a.
candidate for Congress "upon his own hook"
refusing to submit to the decision OF Demo-
cratic Convention. He was then leaning atfec-
tionstely upon the arm of much abused "Sam,"
and kindly whispering in his ear that his "plat-
form contained great deal of good Democratic
doctrine"
In 1867 he was again a candidate for. Congress
"upon his own hook" in opposition to the
wishes of his party, as is shown by the fact that
the Democrats of Orange county in meeting as
sembled passed resolution "discarding his pre-
tensions as Democratic candidate" and throw
off all allegiance to him.
In 1859, he was again a candidate for Con.
gress on bis town hook" spurning the action of
the Democratic Convention, and running in op-
position to its nominee. The position he now
occupies he gained in that excited contest.
Leake obtained his seat in Congress in the
same way-by running against the regular can
didate of his party. BE, too, whilst q candi
date, refused to say word in favor of the DEM
ocratic candidate for Governor. He left Letcher
to sshoe his own row." Notwithstanding these
facts, these gentlemen came here to teach Dem
ocrats whose consistency has been "without va
riablepess or shadow Of turning the course they
should pursue. What consummate presumption !
What brazen effrontery!
Mr.. Smith spoke an honr and yet did not dare
to attack the character or record Of yohn Bell
That it was not from any indispositiop to find
fault with the Union ticket is evidenced by the
fact that he was so anxious to assail it that he
went as far back az the year 1889 to lind blot
in the political record Of Mr.. Everett He failed
to tell the audience that il was in the year sac
cee1ing that date that he acquired his fame as q
political stump speaker in traversing the State
and speaking earnestly and eloquently in advocacy
of the election of that s'sweet little fellows
he afeetionately termed him-that notorious
Freesosler-MARTIN VAN BUREN,, who had
voted in the Convention to frame Stats Con-
sttution for New York, in favor of giving ne
groes the right of suffrage. In speaking of Mr..
Everett, he said that he was one OF the most
talented, learned and accomplished men in this
country, and that he was the ''maost admirable
man IN hisrecent indications sotons he euer E1eao
1t is this ssmost admirable man in his recent in
dlcations' that is the candidate, and not the man
of 1885, If he must be held responsible for bis
error of that period, what would become OF Ex-
ira Billy, if the same rule were applied to him
for his course at later period
We wonder if Messrs. Smith and Leake were
aware that their candidate for the Presidency
does not distrust Mr. Everett at all, but, on the
contrary, endorses him as ''noble and true" As
late as 1859, John G. Breckinridge, in the Hall
of the House of Representatives in Kentucky.
used the following language whilst speaking OF
the sound and reliable men of the North:
ssThere is another element at the North, not
large, but noble and true. 1t consists of the
scattered cohorts of the old Wing party, of men
like EVERETT, Choate, and their associates,
whose conservatism, culture and patriotism re-
belled against the Republican alliance"
Of Mr. Leake's speech it is not necessary to
speak, for all, so far as we have heard any ex-
preston, concur in the opinion that it was a
failure, and differ only in the manner OF &C.
counting for it. The most charitable apology
offered for him is that the adoption of the reso-
luton of compromise prevented him from max
ing the speech he had intended. Neither did
any damage to Bell or Douglas. DR.. Mofet
could have crushed them both as easily as a
shell-bark nut.
John A. Hartman. Esn