Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-09-26
Tc the Voters in the 9th Congression a.
District.

/ original Union man. | was taught from my
/ childhood to regard the Union as the pollaai
uns of our liberties, and that any attempt te
4 destroy it, would result in war, desolation and
ruin. I believed that secession would prove
"a shirt of Nessus" to the South
I did not believe in the right, justice OF
practicability of secession, but believed it
to be conceived in sin, brought forth in mi
quitY, and that it would be baptized in the
! best blood of the country. How, then, could
/ be expected to vote for, or sign an ordinance
claiming to exercise such right E
I would not have done it for all the honors
within the gift of the people.
I could not desert my principles "and go
with the multitude TO do evil"
1 My competitor was a very good "Union
man." until the Union needed his support.
He was very good friend Of 'Billy Patter-
son, until Billy was struck; then he deserted
him, but as soon as Billy triumphs over his
foes, be (Mr. Stuart) returns to his first love,
and reminds Billy how devotedly, how ar
IDENTIFY, how sincerely he had loved him, and
how delighted he would be to serve him in
the next Congress. But aBilly' will be very
apt to say to him sYou deserted me in the
nOur Ol Illy tIldlS, VIII uOt tIuot you3 1 wall 7
none of your counsels.
] No longer ago than last February or March,
when it was evident that further resistance
would only result in the sacrifice of human
| life, and end in subjugation and ruin, some Of
/ the most prominent gentlemen in the State
1 desired Mr. Stuart to join tkem in an effort to
stop the further efusion of blood. But Mr.
Stuart declined saying, ssnothing could be
/ done, that we could not live with the North
ern Vandals again, the breach was too wide,
and too bloody, that the Southern members
would have to legislate in Congress with bow
lie knives and pistols"
| IF this is: 70 be the style Of legislation,
! whilst I yield to Mr.. Stuart in diplomacy, in
oratory and craftsmanship, I must be allowed
to say that think would make as good, if
But if bolieVed that this was to be the style
Of legislation, would not consent to repre-
sent you-I would prefer that you should send
Mr.. Stuart But to be serious Whilst I
sympathized deeply with cur people at home,
and with our brave and gallant soldiers in the
field, who were, in many instances, the vic
TINS of an odious, tyrannlcal and unconstitu-
tional CONSUMPTION, and had neither negroes
nor lands to fight for, never for one moment
lsympathized with, or desired the success of
secession. If had believed it struggle for
liberty, would have been ashamed to have
held up my head anywhere else than in the
army. I never could have been found enjoy
ing the ease and comforts Of home, when 9th
ers, who had nothing to fghs for, were endu-
ring all the hard ships of camp-life, and risk
ing their lives upon the battlefield for me
and mine. The army would have been the
place to have shown sympathy for the cause,
but like the war horse mentioned in the book
of Job, Mr.. Stuart smelled the battle afar off.
But Mr. Stuart says he hated secession as
much as any one, and prophesied that it would
3 result in ruin to the South, and that he did
not sign the ordinance until he was instruct
ed by The people at the polls. Now let us
examine this matter. The ordinance of Sc
cession was passed by the Convention, on the
17th day Of April, 1861, 88 voting for, and
SIS against it. On Monday, the 22d of April
just Fl We days after the passage of the ordi.
nance, Mr.. Stuart, in speech delivered al
the Court house of his county, advised his con.
! stituents to vote for the ratification of the or.
dlnance Of secession, and subsequently, can.
vassed his county, urging his constituents te
vote for She ordinance. So you will perceive.
that Mr.. Stuart first instructed his constitu-
ents, and then ooted for the ratification him
: SELF urged men to volunteer in the Southern
army but now claims that he signed the or.
dinance under instructions. did not sigr
the ordinance | did not advise persons tc
volunteer, or vote for the ratification of the
ordinance of secession. How, then, can Mr.
START say that would be as Objectionable
to the Northern people as himself
But Mr.. Stuart says [ had Government
contract. [ admit was one cf compan,
who owned and carried on Iron Works
But deny that | voluntarily made contyac
with the Government, or ever made pounc
of iron for the purpose Of aiding the Confede
rate cause. Whep,to shield me from the threat
ened violence of the secessionists, it was urgee
by some of my friends, that was making iror
for the Government, I invariably denied tba
was making iron from any desire to aid tn,
Confederate cause. can, and wiU take al
oath, that [ never, voluntarily, gave aid or en-
couragement to the Confederate Government
was the only member Of the Convention
East of the Allegheny Mountains, who die
not sign the Ordinance of Secession, which
has proven to the South, Gas predicted il
would, } "the direful spring of woes unnum,
bereq." am proud of my course in the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES it is popular or uDpop.
ular, would not exchange records with Mr.
Stuart to secure seat in Congress.
But the question in which we are most in.
terested now, is not the past, but the present
and the future. If am elected to Congress
will give to the Administration of Presi-
dent johnson cordial and hearty support
in every thing designed, or calculated to re-
store the country to peace, prosperity and
happiness. | will use every means within
my power, to have all the restrictions re-
moved, and general amnesty declared.
vii. oppose the enforcement of the Mon
roe doctrine by the Government of the United
States-l am emphatically for peace My
platform is opposition to the next war.
But the great question with US now is, not
who could do most in Congress, but who, il