Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-04-12
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
CIRCUIT COURT CLERKSHIP.

EDI9oR OF THE SPEoTAToR.--We have observ
ed from the columns of the ssSpectator'' AND
ssfindicator," that Lieut.. JOSEPH N. RYAN il
announced as candidate for the office of the
Circuit Court Clerkship of Augusta county
Without desiring in the least to reflect upon the
efficiency and capacity of the present worthy en-
cumbent of that Office, we cannot refrain from
expressing our qualification at the determination
OF Lieut.. Ryan to permit his name to be used in
the connection here indicated. 1t is not Lieut..
Ryan's fortune to be generally acquainted thro'-
out the county, although he has resided in
Stanton for the last ten years. All who do
know him, however, will readily attest his high
qualification for the position TO which he sspires.
He is gentleman of liberal education, fine
scribe, modest in his department, and one of the
most exemplary young men in his habits to be
found within the limits of the State. He was
one of the first of the many gallant sons of Vir.
ginia to volunteer his services as private when
war was declared, and by tho strictness of his
observance of military discipline, and the con-
stancy OF his discharge of the duties of the sol
der, he gradually advanced in the confidence of
his comrades in arms, until he was placed in
command, at Charlottesville, of the noble
sWest Augusta Guards, ia Company organ
lied by the lamented and heroic Col. WIN. Fl. S.
BAyLoR,-that bright martyr-gift of Augusta to
the cause ofthe Csnfederacy) where, whilst GAL
lantly leading them in the thickest of the fight,
be fell severely wounded, the result of which
was the ampntation of one Of his legs. Being
without fortune, he is now left to acquire live
ihood as best he can In his crippled condition.
1t seems to US, therefore, but right that the peo-
pie of Augusta, in defense of whose rights, in
common with those of the Confederate States,
he has been thus disabled, should indicate their
appreciation of his services, by placing him in a
position-the duties of which he is amply quail.
flied to discharge-where he may receive COM
petent support. LIT. Ryan is one of the remark
able young men of tho times, who, amidst all the
allurements to vice and dissipation of which
this war has been prolific, has never been known,
in the most trivial instance, to depart from that
line of strict and heightened morality which
had chacterized his conduct previous to the in.
auguration of hostilites. Firm in his principles
of virtue, while others of far loud and greater
pretensions have sweryed and been wrecked
he has passed through the ordeal without shade
of immortality upon his character, and comes
before the people of Augusta, by the isolic-
itations of his friends to ask their endorse
ment of his past course, and their sanction of
his present aspirations. We believe his requests
will not be disregarded. His MANNED condi-
ton will not, in the least, interfere with the
performance of the duties of the office he seaks
whilst the income accruing therefrom would
place him above the contingency of want. The
incumbent, though very efficient clerk, is
BILE to adopt some other means of support, even
should tho Office of Confederate Depository
Collector of Customs & Insurance Agent, &C.,
(Which be now hoids) not prove sufficient for
the demands OF his family. In addition to this,
he is bodily sound aud healthy, and has rea-
sonable competency, whilst 1t. Ryan ia physi-
eally disabled for any active persuits, and Pc
cuniarily poor. Their comparative Claims, as
thus stated, are left to the impartial arbitrament
of the enlightened, intelligent and justice-Ioying
voters of the gallant county of Augusta, whose
| sacrifices of their own blood Ia this war pecu-
liarlv fit them to decide in the premises. The
case comes home with pointed signifcancy to
the feelings and judgment Of every father,
brother or kinsman, who has been made to suf-
fer by similar or more fatal disasters that
which has befallen Lit. Ryan, and it appeas to
us, there can scarcely be a doubt as to the re-
suit of the verdict which will be recorded at the
polls on the 4th Thursday of May next.
Vim. Cop. MANY VOTERS.