Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-04
An Attempted Outrage Upon the Rights OF
the People.

the People.
1t seems that on election day the Commission
ers and other officers appointed to hold the cleo
ton at precinct No. 2 known as the Town Hall
precinct, as the door of that building was closed,
and the property rented to private individual,
adjourned their place of session to B. F. Points
shop, about - feet west of the Town Hall but
on the same street and in full view of the Hall.
No one approaching the Hall from any quarter,
could fail to see the officers, or to know that the
election was going on at the point where it was
held. There has been no allegation of unfair
ness from any quarter, or that any one was mis-
led or prevented from voting. The pole was
fairly held and no objection was made from any
quarter or by any person to this arrangement
made by the Commissioners. The number of
votes polled was as great, if not greater, than
ever given at the same precinct; yet we under
stand that when it was ascertained that the con-
test in Virginia would be very close, an attempt
was made by some of the Democracy, to throw
out the Town Hall vote as haying been illegally
taken! We have no comment to make on the
fairness of this proceeding farther than to say
that it is very apt illustration of the principles
of some who profess to be the peculiar friends
of the people By jugglery of this kind, two or
three hundred citzeus of all parties, were sought
to be dsfranchised! We trust that every man
whose vote has thus been assailed, will put his
mark on those who have made the sttempt!-
They can be no true friends Of the people, who
ko - of
their dearest rights Let one of these individ-
uals show himself before the people as candi-
date for their sufrages. and we venture to affirm
that they will meet with a suitable rebuke!-
The men who would seek to stife the voice of
the people do not merit the confidence of the
people If this kind of snbterfuge to deprive
the people of their votes be practiced what is the
right of suffrage worthQ What security have
we for its enjoymente Two of the three Com
missioners were Democrats, but we doubt not,
that they will be among the first to frown indig-
nanty on this fragrant attempt to trample on
the rights Of the people!
William Garth dec'd-Hon. VIM. C. Rives.
We have observed with much pain the an
nouncement of the death of Mr.. William Garth,
one of the Delegates from Albemarle to the Gen
eral Assembly of Virginia. Mr.. Garth was q
man of vigorous intellect and conservative SEN
timents, and his loss will be severely felt not
only by his immediate circle of relations and
friends but by the public at large.
In view of the perils by which the country is
now surrounded, we hope we will be pardoned
for suggesting to our neighbors, the people OF
Albemarle, the propriety of electing Mr. VIM. @.
Rives to fill the seat in the House of Delegates
vacated by the death of Mr.. Garth. The whole
State would hail with satisfaction the accession
of Mr.. Rives to the State councils at this event.
full crisis The people of Abemare, without
distinction of party, ought to rise up as one man
and demand that Mr.. Rves should give the
State the benefit of his wisdom and experience
in the Legislature, and from our knowledge of
his character, we cannot doubt that he would
yield cheerful obedience to their call.
Will our neighbors of the Review and Jetferso-
MAN do US the favor to copy this article into
their respective Journalist