Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-09-07
John Blair Hoge, ESQ.


It seems that John Blair Hoge, Esq,
one of the delegates from the Winchester
District to Charleston and Baltimore, is la
king an active part in the present canvass.
It appears, also, to be question Of dispute
whether Mr.. Hoge's advocacy Of Mr.. Brock
inridge and the platform upon which he
stands, does not involve him in an inconsis-
tency. inasmuch as he advocated, and was
elected upon, the doctrine Of non-interven-
ton, previous to the 23d of April last. The
Spirit Of Jefferson says: "More than that,
Mr.. Hoge did change front after his cleo
ton at Winchester, and if it is demanded Of
us, the proof of this shall be forth coming in
due season."
That Mr.. Hoge was guilty Of the most
glaring, bare-faced and inexcusable tergi-
yersation at Charleston, it is only necessary
to refer to the printed record to substan-
tiate. A committee Of FIVE was appointed
by the chairman Of the Virginia delegation
to report resolution or a series of resola.
tions. indicative Of the position the delcga>
ton occupied in regard to a platform. 1t is
notorious that a majority Of the delegation
the Hunter part Of it-were in favor Of
the Cincinnati platform; and the other por-
tion-the friends Of Mr.. Wise, numbering
eleven-were declared advocates of the doc
trine of intervention. That committee was
composed as follows:
James Barbour, D. H. Hoge, Jno. Bzai,
Hoge, R. H. Glass and s. NJ. Yost.
The committee had several meetings, ut
one of which the Hon. Thos. S. Bocock was
present. The great difficulty was to frame
resolution to answer the purpose desired.
| Mr.. Bocock, and several members of the
committee, urged the idea that it was a diff
ferent matter to construct resolution which
was to serve as the basis of a national frater-
nigation, to declaring an abstract opinion
or belief The desire was to present a
ground upon which the North West, as well
as the middle and conservative Southern
States might stand. After various consul
tations, suggestions, &c., the following reso-
luton was adopted by vote of four to one
as the report of the committee, Daniel Fl.
Hoge being the negative vote-5no. Bloi,
Hoge voting in the affirmative:
Resolved, That every attempt on the part
of any Territorial Legislature, whether by
direct legislation, or legislation of an indi-
rect and unfriendly character, to annul or
impair the constitutional right Of any citi-
zen of the United States to take his proper
ty into the common Territories and there
hold and enjoy the same while the terrific
rial condition remains, is properly referable
to the courts. The reference Of the bred
Scott case to the Supreme Court the Uni
ted States has occasioned judicial construca
ton of the Constitution in conformity with
the principles heretofore affirmed by the
Democratic party of the Union and re-af-
frmed by this Convention. The adjudica
tions of the Supreme Court of the United
States on this subject are final and binding
and it is the duty Of Congress to enact al
laws that experience may prove to be neces
sary to enforce such adjudications
| The resolution was reported to the dele
cation, and minority report was also pre-
scented by Mr.. D. H. Hoge, as follows:
| Resolved, That the duty of afording ade
quate protection in the Territories, previou
to their legal organization as States, to equa
rights of persons and property respected IN
} der the Constitution Of the United States, /
incumbent on all the different department
of the Government.
| It will be readily observed, if any doubt
could arise as to the purport of the first reso
luton, that the report of Mr.. Hoge fixes
meaning to it, for the latter resolution de
clares explicitly for Intervention. It follows
not only from the literal reading Of the sen
fences of Mr.. Barbour's resolution that i
embraces the doctrine of non-intervention
but it is Enthusiastically the construction to b.
given to it from the wording Of the substi
tute which was designed as radical dis
sent from it.
The reports Of the committee lay befor'
the delegation for several days, Mr.. Bar
bour being absent from its meetings in at
tendance on the sittings of the general com
mittee on resolutions.
The delay in reaching consideration o
the reports gave rise to frequent murmur
and openly expressed suspicious on the par
of the friends of Intervention. It was yer,
apparent that the result of the procrastina
ton was intended to benefit Mr.. Hunter
chances for the nomination. Adopting thu
majority report Of the committee, as i
would have been adopted if the vote ha(
been taken when it was first introduced
Alabama would never have touched Virgil
MAS nominee-Hence the desire to post
pone the action Of the delegation, SO tina
some steps might be taken by the committee
on resolutions which would relieve Virgins
of the necessity of showing her hand in the
premises, and thus by Mr.. Hunters record
to secure the extreme Southern vote, and b,
the known position, a. indicated in the &C
ton of the District Conventions that appoin
ted the delegates, of the Hunter men in Vir