Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-05-19
SOME REASONS FoR SUPPORTING COL
~-..---..lt BALDWIN. ,t ell

SOME REASONS FoR SUPPORTING COL
Lt~=e BALDWIN. G Ell
The Editor of the "Vindicator" asks
us to give the reasons why we advocate
the reelection of Col. Baldwin to Con-
gress. That Editor ought to know'that,
as Col. Baldwin is the present incum-
bent, it devolves upon those who oppose
his reelection to show good reason why
he should be 'tousted" out of office and
another substituted in his stead. 1t he
is an able, faithful and efficient repre-
sentative, he should be retained, and if
he has not been such a representative,
those who oppose his reelection should
be able to show that he has not BEEN
We have no objections to state some of
the reasons, for to state all of them,
(''whose name is Legion") would re-
quire more space than we have to spare
to devote 10 that purpose.
It would be sufficient to say that the
fact that the opposers of his reelection
have not urged a single objection, found
ed in truth, against anything he has
done or any vote he has given as the
Representative of this District, though
they have been so anxious to urge OBJ
jections to his election that they have
resorted in the most shameful and dis
graceful manner to false and slanderous
charges, proves that his course is unas-
sailable, and that there is, in reality, no
reason why he should not be reelected.
We advocate his election, because he is
the equal i'll intellect, in purity Of char
acter public and private) in patriotism,
In frankness, in devotion to individual
rights, and fidelity to the South, of any
man in the District. His course, as a
representative in Congress, has not been
assailed, and is unassailable. His char
acter, public and private, is above re-
proach. No one questions his intellec-
tual abilities, and no one doubts his
honesty and integrity. He has suffici-
ent ability TO ku0ao the rights of his con-
stituents, and sufficient courage to de-
.feaad them when assailed Or placed in
jeopardy. He has been endorsed by
Gov. Letchcr, himself, as one of the
ablest and most faithful representatives
in Congress. The supporters of Letch-
er, in urging objections to Col. Baldwin,
erect higher standard than Governor
Letcher himself Gov Letcher appre
ciates the superior abilities and devoted
patriotism of Col Baldwin. The very
first military Office that was conferred
upon any one by this State, in the pres
emf war, was conferred upon Col. Bald
win by Goo. Letcher. He called upon
Col. Baldwin and rendered to him the
appointment of Inspector General
Gov. Letcher does not distrust Colonel
Baldwin's abilities or his loyalty, how
ever-much some of his over-zealous sup
porters may profess to do so.
We make no war upon Gov. Letcher,
and have never said anything of him as
Governor, save to defend him against
charges made by others. We think
that he has made good Governor, but
that does not furnish any reason why he
should step down from the Gubernato-
rial chair to Gust an able, faithful and
efficient representative from his seat in
Congress. Give unto Caesar, the things
which are Caesars"
The Governor should not interfere
with the Congressman. AS he has been
and is still fsttening on Gnbernatorial
clover, he should not desire to prevent
Col. Baldwin from grazing little while
longer on Congressional short-grass.
The Governor should restrain his in
ordinate appetite. We apprehend that
it is already morbid
The Editor does not seem to be con-.
scius of the fact that when he impeach-
es the motives of those who, at the time
of Lincoln's proclamation for Is, 900
men, to use the language of the 'FVin-
dicator," suddenly changed from love
of the Union to hatred of that glorious
institution" he is impeaching the mo.
tives OF the very man in whose defence
he is writing, for it was not til! then that
Gov Letcher Suddenly changed from
love of the Union. to hatred of that
glorious institution" He not only i'm
peaches the motives of Gov. Letcher.
but does the same in reference to nine
ty-nine out of hundred of the citizens
of this county, and Of the gallant SOL
diers of the famous and immortal Stone
wall Brigade for be it remembered,
the soldiers of that Brigade were almost
to man for the Union amtecede71 to that
proclamation.
We do not know that any one feels
any particular desire to know the senti-
ments entertained by the Editor of the
indicator before that e sudden
change" occurred in this section, but
that he may have an opportunity to clear
his skirts of all faint of antecedent u.
n:onism,we would ask him to let the pub
lie know whether or not he was an oriq-
saaoJ secessaOnast, and if so, how he &C
counts for the Sudden change which
occurred in the sentiments of his candi-
date for Congress.
AS he has asked us to state some rea-
SONS for supporting COL Baldwin, and
as we have complied with his request,
we suppose, of course, that he will not
hesitate to assign some reasons for OPP
posing him. The onus devolves upon
those who seek to GUST the present in
cumbenf. ssCome up 20 the rack, tOd-