Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-03-18
Published by Request.]
- RICHMaND. Va.
March 7th, 1862. &

| L. j /. 4r y
Wm Whitaore. Esq:
DEAR SIR,-Yougs dated 9th Feb is jus. re-
ceived. | am obliged not less for the Suggestions
and facts furnished, than for the G .urteGus man.
nes IN whlcl you convey them. You do me no
more than justice in saying yon are well assured
Of my disposition to represent the sentiments Of
my constituents when informed OF thein any
mooted Question: Ii others had taken the pains
| you have 70 furnish roe facts bearing On this
public question, they would have d,.ne their
cause much more good and saved themselves
very profitless trorbe in denouncng me t.r "op-
posiog" in its then shape, bill they had Lever
seen, and which, for aught they kew, would
nos only fall to secure the end they desired, but
would Instead infiict az injury on the interests
of both themselves and their neighbors
Ii they think to deter me from doing what
my Judgement dictates as representative duty,
by mere Threats never TO vote for me again, F."
it is simply great mistake Let them first con
vince my mind by facts and a. gnmen.s: and -
representative can more cheerfully yield his own
opinions to arguments showing that he may
have been mistaken therein as to the test inter-
ests OF bis constituents But can never vote
tor or against bill contrary to tie conviction of
my own Judgement merely for ;ear Of losing votes
tor myself
The effect OF bill is often very different
thing from what its reported title would Indicate
Many persons may bsve regretted my SO called
opposition to the anti-d;stillation bill on the idea
that the bill would suppress drunkenness n the
army aad the country they will be surprised to
fearn that It's author declares in the Senate that
at sOas not intended or expected to diminish IN
temperance" and some Of the strongest temper.
tasce men oppose the bill 10 its present shape be
cause it will not have that effect; and in tact
loo for frnrn tSOppnSiprT that 7 .u.,roStcd an
1 amendment tending to make it more efectnal Tor
that purpose. This illustrates tile Injustice OF
/ condeinnng representative before The effect of
| his course can possibly be known to his very iD-
/ dignaut constituent whose wishes be may really
be representing all the while Opposition to a
bill in its Pre- gress by no means necessarily ind-
Gates opposition to it when perfected for passage
| One man asks if "regard myself the repre-
sentative OF the hundred dist lers OF Augusta 2"
OF course do, but not more or less SO than OF
every other interest of every other citizen OF
my country; and it is my solemn Guty to see
that the lawful interests OF any aud every such
citizen shall not be unnecessarily and III justly
itjured and never injured in anv way unless
satisfied that the p:blic good requires an, will;
be promoted by the individual sacrifice. TIE
passage of this bill on the principles it con aIned
waen first presented, would, in my judgement,
| have opened wide TIE door for seizu Of grain
yet IN possession OF the farmer; Of bacon Oh
hand and beef fatteniEg for sale; Of leather in
the tanneries and stores; OF shoes, clothing, &C.,
&C., in the shops in my county regard it q
high representative duty 10 any such case to
SCI utinze closely the measures roposed, and il
the blow must tall tor the public good, TO see
that while the public good may be none the less
promoted, yet that the interests of my county
men shall suffer as little as po, sibie from that
hlNyU Il wi ;.ut f,,t
vate opinion to the propriety of any particular
business concerned provided only it is then law
| tul
1t is admitted by its advocates that tn par
tieular I'LL will nat diminish the drunkenness OF
tbe army or country; but under the high prices
its passage will induce, mean liquors from other
States will food he land and distiileres fir IT'S
vegetable, &C., SC. will be re-doutlsd ali over
our own State While its passage cannot IN
crease the quantity Of corn now lett, it may dis
courage Tie tariner from planting this spring,
both because this market is cut eff for the pres
ent, and also for fear the Legislature may pursle
such policy in future and again by law reduce
sill lower the profits of his labor Will. if the
price be lett undisturbed by law the planters OF
cotton and tobacco, stimulated by the nigh price
OF corI, will plant il in all their fields, and thus
make 1t abundant and cheap in the end is the
only etfectual mode. Natural laws regulate ueb
matters far better than hastily constituted hu
man laws can do.
Bu. besides opening wide the door for vicious
legislation this bill will have certain effects
1t at once cuts off revenue estimated at not
less than 100000 this year, and raises the take
That much more at once on every thing else al.
ready groaning with the burden; and By depri-
wing the farmer of his only profitable crop, de-
prive him at the same lime of the means for
paying this increased tax, as we'll as the high
prices, daily growing higher, fer every thing he
has to buy. As for the distille,s now wo king
under ljcanse for which they paid the State its
own price, with property In w!lioh tie State has
induced them to invest their means, relyi G On
the hitherto unbroken faith OF the proud old
commonwealth, this bill as it originally st cd,
providing for no previous notice, but going into
force Immediately on its passage, would suoject
eve.y dis,iller at Augusta Instantly to ines
fscation of his property and imprisonment OF his
person
In the short space of this letter can only give
you the prominent characteristics of this bill at
the time opposed" it. The numbers you re
port ss 10 favor of .the bill" can scarcely expect
me not to oppose suoL bill You mean OF
course that tl!ey desired a bill on the subject
that will if possible, check ntemperance in times
like these, and save grain for other purposes and
yet that the bill shall do unnecessary evil or
injustice to cur citizens lawfully engaged now
in distillation. | will cheerfully represenT their
wishes thus far, aud it is what | have myself
desired; bnt tins bill will be ''opposed" long
while yet before at can be made available for
anything but evil. This bill when vn0erstood
can hardly have as many friends IS your let
ter seems to suppose. The temperance men as
such can find no comfort from it. The farmer
who hes grain to sell will find no comfort from
it; the farmer who has grain tc sci, Ell find
1t only reduces the price he gets, without curing
the evil be abhors; the farmer who has sold his
graia at price, It may be, enhanced by the dis
tlller's demand, cannot be 80 nngenerous as to
see his neighbor deprived of q like price where
with to pay the increased tax and support the
prices Of living; they who live in towns, and
incur nane Of the labor of growing grain can
take no pleasure In seeing the farmer alone
ground to dust merely hat they may for q sa0rt
tSne get his pro lucts for comparatively nothing
the taxes on ali will be increased. AS for the
7 -pecuators in stores of liquors on hsnds locking
for the bill to increase its price; specula ors IN
stock feeding looking for increased profits ia
proportion as corr is bought Logger vhicL they
have to buy g.; &c. when they may fud in this
,,;ii ~ est al unexpected srod in pickle"
Meanwhile as .,.s ss.. hill Is being perfected or
-four for breed is The cAeapest thing in market
bacon as well as whiskey, is making even st the
distlleries; and the government has exercised
AMI can yet DO t, the power to seize all grain
| while any distiller may refuse to sell for the