The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1862-12-05
The Next Senator,

| plenty as for Constable, but men fit for such
place at such time, must.indeed be few
Who should the man be? Detsu diyaiors il
the eternal rule Of right, and where the supe
rior worth is admitted, there is 80 difficulty
4 But admitted! there's the rub. The passions
rush into council-favor, hate, selfinteres
above all, and men weep and rue from day tc
day, os they have wept and rued from the frs
day, and win to the last day of recorded time
the deep truth of the lines
elf self the wavering balance shake
It's rarely right adjusted"
Hence support is too often given for conside
| ration, in some form or other, so as hardly
ever to suffer mere merit to bear off the palm.
Sincere differences of opinion as to the merit,
too, are usually present to complicate the diff.
fculties of rival aspirations, which all causes
make it harder to compose in proportion to
the dignity of the prize.
In the election of Senator, two other con-
-siderations have always had more OF. less
weight--localiy and party. The former is
trivial, but natural, aud should decide phere
other things ave equal, or nearly SO. The lat
ter is entitled always to weight, on like con-
ditions as to fitness, SO as to have the two great
elements which have ever divided, and will
ever divide men into thososwhose tendency is
to change, and those whose tendency is to
preserye-those who would advance slower,
and those who wonId advance faster-each
fairly represented in the public councils. As
both these great divisions of men are rarely
without leaders very equal in point Of fitness,
the consideration of these general elements Of
divided opinion might well govern at all times
But noac, when all are working and cooperat-
ing as Hne man to save and serve our country
we think it peculiarly due to good policy-to.
a just ard proper regard to the feelings and
preferences of a very large, if numerically
weaker. portion of the people to wiss gene
rosity, and sheer justice, that this considera-
ton should not be disregarded. The Legis-
lature recognized the fairness of it, and hon
ored itself; and we appeal confidently to the
public judgment, if it did not, at the same
time, serve and unite more closely the country,
By placing Mr.. Preston by the side of Mr..
Hunter. Let not the fruits Of sshis wise gene
rosity be Lest, by departing froa, the course of
conduct that bore them. 1t was but just
of the no unequal zeal, devotion
and sacrifices, cheerfully and promptly render
ed to the public cause, by the conservative
portion of the people, OF all parties. from the
when the time for counsel-the hope
IF peaceful guarantees of our rights being
time for action had come. The
ines of party were then remembered, as it J
vas necessary they should be, only to make
manifest that they were not regarded. To
hat extent only, we would have then remem-
,ered DOW.
The conservative ranks are not too POOR to |
urnish more than one man on a level with |
my the State can offer, but, In our opinion, |
md we know no reason why we should not
RELY express it, the wisest and ablest states
nan they eontain-we know no one we hold
uperi,r to him indeed in the whole confede-
acv--is William G. Rives. His wisdom,
rn,ness. fidelity and experience, which made
I'M. by general concession. the first man in
be Provisional Congress, would, if added to
he Senate, be felt as a new and strong prop
0 our. young Confederaey, from one end Of it
. the other.