Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-07-27
G.. w. Russell. ESQ.
From the Alexandra Gazette, of the Doth,
W. ~ tho Foflo

we extract the following paragraph:
Mr.. Russell, of Wheeling, mow promi-
nent as Democratic leader, is said to have
declared recently, in a speech about the
Baltimore Democratic Convention, &C., that
1.-The majority of the delegates were deter
mined on nominating Judge Douglas
thrusting him upon the Democratic party of
the country with his Squatter Sovereignty
dogma-which was at variance with the con-
stitutional rights of the Southland tenfold
more obnoxious to the slave holder than the
most radical anti slavery principles Of the
Black Republican party" And, again, that
s'the Douglas Squatter Sovereignty party
was sneaking, underhanded party, hav-
ing for its object the compromise of slavery.
whlle the Republican party was open, bold,
and avowed, an honorable enemy, asking
nothing more in the issue than an open field
and fair fght,""
We can scarcely believe that Mr.. Russell
uttered the sentiments here quoted as COM
Ing from him. It is hardly possible that a
man whose partialities for Mr.. Douglas were
SO great no further back than last February
that he freely declared him to be his second
choice for the Presidency-who was appoin-
ted from district VIGOROUSLY favorable to
the nomination CT Judge Douglas, and whose
colleague at Charleston and Baltimore hest
tated not to say that Tie silent understand
ing was that after Mr.. Hunter, they should
support Mr.. Douglas. What light has flood
ed in upon Mr.. Russell's Understanding z, that
this wonderful change should have come
over the spirit of his dream since his selec-
ton as delegate? Not only this, but Mr..
Russell was free to admit on his way to
Charleston and while there that his PARTIAL
ty for Judge Douglas was undated, and af-
ter his return from that City, when he had
reached his home, in the quiet and calm Of
his own studio undisturbed by contending
factions and free from the excitement of par
tisan strife, he deliberately penned the fol-
lowing sentences, and sent them to the world
over his own signature
"Another candidate, the senator from
Illinois, had so conspicuous place III our
proceedings that you will expect SOME all,i-
sion to him. | have had no sympathy with
the warfare waged against him [ admire
him as great and patriotic statesman. /
cave differed with him upon a dubious and
perplexing question connected with an at
tempt to admit Kansas. dissent from his
present opinion as to the constitutional pow
ers Of Territorial governments. But ac-
knoWledge the gratitude which every South
erncr owes to him for as gallant and efec-
tive service as was ever rendered by North
ern man in defence Of our constitutional
rights"
How Mr. Russell eau reconcile the de-
nunciation of Judge Douglas, lis position,
and friends, contained in the extract first in
serted, with the declarations contained in
this last paragraph, is an enigma the soli..-
tion Of which will require an intellect far
more astnte titan We possess. If Mr.. Rus
sell. or the 2oth day of May 1860 could
solernl5 ard diSpassi5nately asseterate that
lie owed an obligation of gratitude, as a
Southern Citizen, to Judge Douglas Cor his
gallant and effective service in ''defence
of DIR constitutional rights what reason
can he assign fer the sudden change in his
opiniors, which induced him to record his
belief tina. Judge Douglas is the leader of
ga sneakiug, undetermined party, having for
its object the compromise Ct slavers"?. 1t
is not our purpose to question TIC motives
of Mr.. Russell in his remarkable bounce
from grateful admiration and regard fer
Mr.. Douglas to the opposite extreme Of i'm
plaoable enmity and loatLins. Certainly
there is no public act Of Judge Douglas
no expression of opinion-no change CT POI
sitio1l-no recantation or adienduu, -Gince
the psonunciamento Of Mr.. RUSSELL to his
constituents dated the 28th Of May, 1850,
that he can plead in Justification And
furthermore, it is surprisingly strange that
gentleman Of Mr.. Russell's sensibilities
should have allowed himself to sit III Con-
yertion with collection Of ''sneaking, IN
derhanded,''' enemies of the institution Of
slavery, and ballot City seven times for
candidate for the Presidency, when he knew
that the chances were all in favor Of the
success of Judge Douglas. We cannot re-
concile tie conflicting positions Of Mr.. Bus
sell as stated By his actions aud words pre-
vious to the disruption at Baltimore, and
the extract we lave copied from the G a.
zette If be expects to yindicate end justi-
fly the part he took in the secession at Bal
timore, by denunciation and abuse, instead
Of arguments and facts, we are confident he
will find it difficult task, for the minds Of
the people cannot by such means be drawn
off from the truths involved in the present
controversy.
The sudden conversion of Mr.. RUSSELL
from his friendship for Judge Douglas to a
relation Of embittered animosity, occasoncd
by bis sensitive regard for the interest of
slavery, does not well comport with the posi-
ton of hostility he ASSUMED ID 1919 to the
! IL. r ohp