Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-03-24
An Old Man of Experience.

We are satis6edfhat, grow older. we will i'm
prove in knowledge, provided we PROFIT by our own
aud the experience OF Others but the ola man OF tne
Isl ectator grows arrogant wheD he says we will
progress In knowledge IT we continue TO take lessons
from the Spectator
Now we cannot recall in what single particular we
have taken lesson from the s'Si ectator, and We
Ill say to our friend that do not intend to follow
his example IN sever al things wot Of In one thing
ght be better for pecuniarily, to initiate him,
if would He waits for the breeze of pubic opin-
ION to Indicate the direction his weathercock shall
point; least, conclude So from his studied 81
lence sui jacts, deemed by some OF our wlsest
Statesmen, IT vital Importance at present Not line
or seectIon that remember, does he commit him.
self favor IF, in opposition to these subjects
Pray MIR Spectator let us know what are your opin-
ions as TO a Reconstruction OF the Union? Are you
III favor of Offering inducements to the North Western
States to unite in our COntederacy? We would like
to gain Information from experienced friend
on these points, and as you 30 vannungly boast yours
we know one from whom we would be better pie
ed to hear -Viadicator.
the spi. it manifested, in the above extract by the
| s'young man of promise" of the "viAdicator' does
not disturb our equaolmity in The least degree-we
can easily forgive him, for he ''knoaos not what he
does" Whel he shall become Ol0er it is huped that
''he will improve in knowledge" but his memory IS
very bad that apprehend he will not be able to
retain much for he to forget one week what ne
was taught he week before. He says:
| '.Now we cannot recau in what single particular
| we have taken lesson from tbs Spectator
| HI has forgotten in week The important know J.
edge We communicated to him in Reference to the
parave value of natural ana Artificial limbs thou IA
he, tue tnns, frauAly acSnow edged MS former g
norance, and "succumbed to our more mature judy
menr.'
But this is not the only instance in which his mem
Dry is at fault de says:
| "Nou BY line or SELECTION that we remember doe
4 h,ptn in nj
reconsructlo of the Union"
! Was such defective meu,ory ever known to exis
| tefdre? We have published editorial and selec.eo
articles upon This subject, tame and again, from the
beginning OF the war To the present. and yet he gives
this specification to establish his general charge
that We swat for the breeze of public opinion to in
dicae the direction weather cock shall point"
There never were but parties which favored
| Reconstruction al any time, AID concurIea
with either of them in their views upon that subject.
The first the secession party which maintained
hat the South should secede that the Union night be
reconst ucted upon different princples and the other,
the abolition party, which Is now endeavorng to re-
comstrucs the Union by force of arms. We have al
ways maintained that the Union once broken, would
never be made whole again Though expressed
this opinion before the war; and a hundred times
-ince, tae fJ:getu editor # the ''Vndicator says
1pinlon." When tue editor drew that picture, he
mus, have been looking in a mirror We will never
need weather-cook. to point the direction of the
''breeze OF pubic opinion" long have &C.
cess to the Jews of the Editor of the "VndicatOr,
Tor they light De waited by every ''wino
OF doctrine and like straws tshow which way III,
winds blow
The Editor OF the vlndic A,or also asks this ques
.on:
4 'Are you in favor of offering inducements to the
North Western states to unite in our C"nfederacy
What does he mean by the expression 'unte IN our
C1ntederacy As the North Western States do not
constitute any part of s'our ContedsrAcy" we are
able to see how they could 'unite in it. We sup
pose he asks that question, the other for the pur.
pose of showing that have been waiting for the
-oreeze" about which he seems to feel so much in
rerest. When the North Western States, as States
independent of the q. S., shall apply admission
lnto our Confederacy," then will be the time TO dis.
Gus the policy of admitting or rejecting them but
that time not arrived and, i: may be, will
How foolish then to be discussing that question at
this time The discussion now Can do no good but
may do, yea has already done, much harm. The great
reaction which has recently taken place in the North
against the South, has been owing small degree
to the course pursued by the Richmond Enquirer and
other papers which have echoed the sentiments OF
that journal. Ii the NORTH est should snow Oils
position to cut loose from ihe o. s. aud set up TO,
itself should discourage and defeat such pur-
pose by the gratuitous declaration that we now,
aud willever continue to be their enemies. live
proffer them nothing but eumity, should moth
ing at all.
The inference the ''Vindicator" draws, when Ed
Itor does discuss question is That the Editor
waiting for the breeze of public opinion How
would the ~ nica.or stan the test its wn mode
81 logic? Since lis pubcltion beeu renewed, the
spectator has discussed the question of i'm PRESS
ments the propriety OF investing in Governmel t
oonds ana several other subj rs about which the
IsVndicator' has dumb a an oyster. By the
'Vndicator's logic, We would be justified in char =
.ng that the Editor maintained "ssudied silence
u.on these subects, because he 'swaiug for the
breeze OF public opinion indicate the direction his
weather cock should point (We have always thoagLt
thai the weather-cock designed to indicate the
direction of the WIND and The wind 10 indicate III.
direction the weather-c,ck should point) The Editor
of the "Vlndicator digs it's and falls into them him
aalf