Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-09-12
From the Charlottesville Chronicle.
Opening Of the Congressional Canvass

Messrs John r. Woods, of Albemarle, A.
H. Fl. Stuart, of Augusta, and John f. Lew
| is, of Rockingham, presented themselves be-
fore the people of this county at Court, on last
Monday as candidates for their sufrages for
the next Congress Of the United States. There
was quite number of people at Court, aid
DR.. John r. Woods first addressed them.
DR.. Woods commenced by making pass
at the Resolutions of 1889, "Construction
Construed" and all by-gone Virginia abstrac-
tons, and said he was rather for develop
ment of the great material resources OF Vir-
ginia. He passed high eulogy on the gov
eminent of the United States, which he said
had been perverted by agitators and dema-
gogues from representative republic into a.
democracy. African Slavery had been the
common lever of fanatics at the North and
fanatics at the South. He had been Union
man in 1860-1-had counseled moderation
his counsels were unheeded, and Virginia
cast her lot with her Southern sisters. He
had chung to the Union, but after Secession
was accomplished, his sympathies were with
his own people--with Lee and jackson and
our glorious soldiers. He prayed fervent'y for
our success. When after three years of
blood-shed, he perceived the cause was lost,
he Struggled, and prayed as fervently, for an
honorable settlement through negotiation.-
| DR.. Woods said he could not take the Con-
gressional Oath-he had taken three oaths,
and wanted to take no more. Those he
had taken he meant to keep. Cooking at
his friend Mr.. STUART he said he had signed
no ordinance Of Secession, to prevent his Ia
L ;nrr h,a 1f o1noto1 cla
dead-let us accept the fact. Let it die: it
had obstrueted the material progress of Viz.
ginia. As for the negro, he is the chief suf-
ferer, and we should treat him kindly for he
! lad behaved we'll during the war, considering
the circumstances. He was in favor Of get
ting rid of them by sending them to terrific
ries, or elsewhere. There was no cause for
|despondency or despair We must 60 to work
and build up the State. The speaker ex-
pressed his confidence in President johnson,
who he had no doubt would make himself
the President of the whole nation. Parties
| in the South, he said, were dead.
When Dr.. Woods had concluded, Col. T.
| j. Randolph introduced to the meeting the
Hon. A. H. HI. Stuart.
| Mr.. Stuart said that be had been brought
out as a candidate IN the most unexpected
manner, and had felt it his duty to yield to
the numerous and urgent solicitations which
he had received. He regarded the time as
Involving the most momentus Crisis. He had
| been member of the Virginia Convention
| in 1861. He had been educated to regard
the Union as the great palladium of our Hber-
| ties, and had chung to the Union, and cher
ished it with the fondest affection. For its
disruption be blamed North and South
There were two antagonistic parties, and
each contributed to work that dismember-
ment. They were the Firo-eaters aud Abo-
litionists. If you want to break string,
SAID Mr. S., you catch it at each end, and pull
them in opposite directions. The two parties
that severed the Union were antagonistic,
and pulling in opposite directions-6ut Nth
common oJeet. He had DO tolerance for
either of these par ties-for tho Ieaders-the
people had been their dupes and victims. He
foresaw the danger in 1860, and was the first
man to suggest the organization of Union
party. Subsequently as member of the
| Virginia Senate he was active 10 gettiug up
the Peace Congress. In the Convention he
voted Professionally against Secession. He re-
listed it with all his power to the end. His
name stands recorded against it. Others
changed their votes when majority appeared
for it. but he never did, At a later day.
when the people had ratified it at the polls,
as their representative, he signed the ordi-
nance. He then declined a reelection to
the Senate because he felt that he was not
in proper sympathy with the people But
he was not an Indifferent spectator: he was
Virginian-and as Ruth said TO Naomi, he
exclaimed, "whither thou goest, will co.
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my
!God." He went with his sons and brothers,
and nephews and brothers-in-law. Now that
the sword had decided the contest, he accept
ed the decision. If elected he could not
state waat he should do 1t was impossible
to foresee what questions would arise, or
what measures should be adopted. He
lgave no pledges. He would be governed
by circumstances, and dc. the best be
could for the country and for Virginia.-
iSlavery was dead. It could not be re-
stored. The negro would become extinct
or be removed. As practical man, he ac-
cepted the abolition of slavery. The next
congress will have great questions before it,
tt Will UG tue SIduuCat lutbtIt eVCT presented
to the statesman. As to the oath, it IS uu-
warranted by the Constitution. and therefore
null and void. He should despise himself
Iif be took it; he could not take it without
perjury. No one wbs had given soldier a
blanket, or nights lodging, could take the
oath. Mr.. 5. here argued the Constitution
atty of the cath. The Constitution, and not
Congress, fixes the qualification OF members
of Congress, nor can one Congress prescribe
rules for succeeding Congress The pres
ent dominant party will be certainly prostate
in two years, and suppose their opponents re-
|quire member Of Congress then to swear
that he was never Republican, The
pledges of the Southern people, he said, must
he fulfilled They were now citizens of the
Union. It was one country-and its flag was
henceforth, our flag. Let us discharge our
full duty. The speaker then acclaimed a.
gainst the cherishing of old prejudices-all
that he urged should be buried.