Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-04-02
convention or NO Convention.


Convention or no Convention.
The swoop of an eagle among flock of geese
never produced greater CONSERVATION than the
appearance of Harris here, on onday week, did
among the secession Democrats and would-be
manipuIators of the Democratic party. His ap-
pearance and proud defiance of their opposing
Vaccinations threw them into utter confusion
and dismay. Though their schemes were pre-
concerted and we'll concocted, they found that
ssThe best laid schemes O. mice and men
Aft gang agee."
AS soon as he appeared with proud mlen ana
defiant expression, the Democratic meeting,
which had been called with such sounding pro-
clamation, was reported by the posse comitatus to
be non est inrentus. No Democrat could find it,
and they may look in vain in the last ssVldica-
tori for the record of its proceedings. Inc
Union Democrats were smart enough to see the
secession cat in the meal tub, and they could not
be induced to go near it. The manlpulators
found, after sounding many OF the good, urn,
staid and sensible Union Democrats from the
country, that they were not mere automatons to
be made to dance at the whim and pleasure OF
clusion that the Democrats of the country were
not yet prepared to be mesmerized with the mag
ic charm of Secession under the guise OF Democ-
racy, and that they had better not press the mat
ter further till more time was given to operate
upon them. The meeting to appoint delegates
to the Harrisonburg Convention was then aban-
doned, and the question with the SecessionistS
now is, whether they shall become submissionisfs
to a Observation-Disclosures they must bow to
him whom they had resolved to depose, or wheth-
er a Convention to nominate candidate in OPP
position shall be held The ssTenth Legion" says
not word about the Convention, and has not
called upon its legion of Shenandoah Secession
lists to come to the rescue. The Esprit OF De-
mocracy" seems to have no spirit for such q
contest, as it has said not word in favor of
Convention yet. The Buckingham Register
has registered its edict 'averse to Convention
under existing circumstances" The Valley Star
which has recently ''shot madly from its sphere
to darkle in the trackess void" of Secession,
echoing INSTRUMENTATION of the "Vindicator'' Of
week before last, with al the emphasis which
italics can impart, uses this language :-Marh
it.! Our only hope Of prescribing oar ascendan-
en- IN this District is to hold a Comuention."
The "Vindicator," which finds itself unable
to gindicate with success its own consistency, in
its issue of week before last used the following
emphatic language:
@We are thus earnest in declaring our convic
tions because we believe the oitality Of the DEM
ocratic party of the State depends solely and en-
tirezy upon holding a Concentaon in this District
If we act indifferently in the present emergency
and permit the last opportansty to unite the par
ty to pass unimproved, it may be written down
upon the record of current events that the scep
tire has departed from Judah-the Democracy
have struck their coors, and become the willing
captive of the aiders and abettors OF Black he
publican power"
In the same article it gave the Democrats
warning, compared with which "Lochiel's warn
ingn is mot circumstance" 1t said.
eve warn you, Democrats of Virginia, in ad-
vance. if Won do not now unfurl the banner I'M
der which you have SO often marched to victory,
and stand firm to the colors you have so fire.
quently borne triumpbantly aloft, you declare
yourselves for all time to come the sta0es Of pc
7itical oligarchy more lntolera6le than an en-
tAroaed and jeUeled tyrdnt's heel"
In the same article, anticipating the refusal Of
Harris to submit his claims to Convention, ii
Illuminated as follows:
against this course we enter our protest, and
here declare that we will support no man for
Congress who is not willing to permit bis. name to
90 before fairly constituted Convention of the
Democracy of the District. We shall aoGr upon
ham to the bitter endas an enemy not only to De-
mocracy, but traitor to the best interests OF the
country, and as false to ecery impulse of patrs-
otism and honor"
The loud laundering of the Jupiter Tonans'
of the "Vindicator" did not brighten Harris in
the least, and he seemed to be totally oblivious
of the fact that storm fierce and furious was
raging about him, and with a composed "who's
afraidD demeanor, refused to express his willing
ness to submit his name to Convention. The
consequence was that the last "Vindicator" had
ss7aaru a word" to say about the Convention
upon which, it had the week before said, solely
and entirely depended the 0italaty Of the Demo-
cratic party Of the State.
The ssVindicator'' is in predicament, and the
manipulators are COMPOUNDED, for Harris could
not be frightened, and the Union-loving Demo
Gratis could not be bamboozled.
The would-be leaders may now be seen walk
ing about with their hands in their pockets,
their heads bowed down, their brows corrugated
with intense thought and perplexity, soliloquiz-
ing la Hamlet as follows:
Convention or no Convention that is the question:
Whether it is better for US to suffer
The sings and arrows of rebelhous Harris
Or to run candidate against him
And, by opposing, try to defeat him
TITS consummaton devoutly to be wished
To oppose him and be 6saten-ay, there's the rub;
For who could bear the whips and scorns OF Harris
The rebels wrong, the proud mans contumely,
The pangs of defeat, the rebels triumph
His insolence in Office, and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes.
This sad reflection puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than 1y to others we know not Of
This apprehension makes towards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sickhed DER with the pale cast of thought,
And Convention schemes of great pith and moment
With this regard, their currents turn awrY,
And lose the name Of action.
Mr.. Hugh l.. GalIaher Shot.
A rencontre occurred between Mr.. Hugh L.