Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-03-09


concurred in the report Of the conference com
mittee on the Naval Appropriation bill. The |
Deficiency Appropriation bill was taken I'D in
Committee Of the Whole. and a number of
were made. The paragraph rela-
ting to the payment of Mr. Harvey. United
States Minister to Portugal, was stricken out.
The committee then rose, and reported the bill
to the House The debate In Committee of the
Whole was enlivened by some characteristic
badinage between Mr.. mullins, of Tennessee,
and Mr. CHAMBER, Of New York The Lecisla-
tive Appropriation bill was taken up and sew
eral amendments were adopted. Pending its
discussion the House took a recess until I. 80
clock p NJ.
Applying for the Removal Of Disabilities
We believe that the procedure for securing
the removal Of ones political disabilities, is to
get the endorsement Of the Republican party.
1t is necessary to have the petition approved
first by county Radical committee, and then
to forward it to the Radical headquarters here,
and get It approved by the State Central Com,
mittec Perhaps there have been exceptions to
this rule, but it is the general rule we do not
know that it has been departed from in any
case.
There are plenty Of our best citizens, il is
well known, to whom 1t is extremely important
to have the relief in question; and many of
them are doubtless anxiously exercised as to
what course they ought to pursue
In some eases We have reason to believe, the
committees require an explicit pledge that the
applicant Tor he removal ofhis disabilities shall
act with the Radical party. In others, the APP
plicant is probably merely endorsed by some
Republican, friend 'al right !" in Others for
prudential reasons he is not pressed, but the
case is regarded as hopeful; - and, in ali, if
cur Impressions are correct it is erpected that
the petitioner, If successful. shall at least re
main quiet, and not oppose the Republican
party. We DO not allege that all Of those who
have been relieved nave given pledges, Or de
signed to be considered as having given them.
even by implication we see the names Of per
sons relieved by Congress for whom we have
the highest respect. and who. we are sure,
would have recoiled from committing themselves
to any political course as 4 condition Of their
relief But We suspect that such persons have
acted without reflection or proper inquiry into
the interpretation which the Republicans will
put Gu their conduct. In the early stages of
the business, indeed, it was not distinctly I'M
derstood, perhaps, by any one that any expecta-
ton would be created by his getting relief
Many applied without thinking much about it,
and tho committees had not been or had not
been fully, organized At present however, as
we understand it, the applicant must run the
gauntlet Of the committees, and an expectation
is created that his political course will be con
troed by the favor he shall receive. Old
Wings stand better chance, We believe, than
old Democrats; and a very lively hope is cher
ished by the Repu A}can party in this state of
securing many recruits from the ranks Of the
old Wings. We trust that gallant party, whom
the prospect of Office never debauched in right
trying times. spurn The mputation on their
patriotism and fortitude and will illustrate
that On question Of this sort old party names
can exert 10 influence, and that the carpet bag
ger and the scalagag must lock TO some other
quarter TO find Virginians capable Of accepting
q brlbe or taking petty revenge.
The feud between political parties that exist
ed here eight years ago lies buried beneath the
tragedy and the common sufferings Of the war
and the prosecutions since the war. All Of US
have been banded together By sorrow and griefs
that take no cognizance Of the petty quarrels
about tariffs and banks that used to divide U.s.
We must not be understood as countenancing,
by INDUCING in these remarks, the idea that
members OF the old Wing party may yield to
he overtures that may be made to them the
fact is il Is too often the case that it is the
| whiiom red hot Dcmocgat and the furious seces
siopist who is the most forward to invite the
Republican eabraeas
But to return to our maio theme: What
ought man to Go now about getting bis dis
! abilities removed ought he to make applica
ton? He is the incumbent Of some little office,
perhaps, by which he has been long supported
| or which has mnistered to his support. If we
have been correct ia describing the manner in
which his application must be made, and the
construction which is put upon that application,
! the answer to our question IS already suggest
ed.
Perhaps this may be thought "Bourbonic, -
''Ioactionary,' Sentimental" and the like
| Non disputanduna de gustidus.
We go farther: even if a man intends, as q
matter Of previous determination, to act with
the Republican party, he compromises himself
by making promise to that effect on the oc
ca8lon Of applying for the removal OF his dis
abilities. He subjects himself to the imputa
ton Of being influenced by the prospect Of Of
fice And, if man proposes to support Cen
| eral Grant, he compromises himself by SO stats
ing in the petition for the removal of his dis
abilities. He has no right to buy his pardon
on any such terms; and if he had the right, a
| sensitive temper would avoid the possibility Of
any lmputation on his motives.
| There Is fearful delinquency to principle in
times like these Bread is q terrible cry in one S
| family; but bread or the want Of bread does
not affect question Of duty Or question of
honor. 1t Is very easy to practice either under
p easant conditions. 1t is very easy for the
rich to be honest, and for the strong to speak
the truth. liza man is going to keep erect only
| so long as no burden is laid upon him is
going to bend just SO soon as it requires strug
gle to face tempt9tion what IS his recutude
worth !?
But long observation has taught US that any
crooked coarse OF conduct will not be the
practical course in the long run; and that
deliberate wound given to @ man 6 conscience
will bring trouble on his own head or that of
his house-and we believe that, under the con-
dltl0ns eXacted private station is not only
the post Of honor-but also Of proft.-En-
guirer
For the Spectator
SALEM, VA, Feb 23rd, 1869
Mr. EDITOR: -
By request of friend before
lefTlng Stanton, | beg to submit through
your columns brief account OF the tbuteenth
annual contest between the Two Literary So
ciet6s Of Roanoke College, which was held in
the Lutheran Church of this place On last even
ing.
At the hour specified, the Societies, number
ing about Is each, entered and were seated on
their respective sides Of the building-being
represented on the stage by the following gem
tiemeD:
j. N. Layne, Of Highland GO; Va., PresiS
dent of the Ciceronian Society; JAS. I. Obep
shain, Of Roanoke co. Va, Essayist-subject,
Prominent Features of the Age" 6. Ed
ward Eenn, Of Patrick co. Va, Qrator,Sub>
Ject, ''Iriumphs Of the Gross j. Z. Now~
lin, of Gadsden, AIabama-Debater,
J. G. Brown, of WythevilIe Va, President
Of the Demosthenean Society; John Fl. Bach
of Shenandoah 20 Va ESsayISt-suhinct