Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-06-08
Gilbert C. walker and B. B. Douglas

folk, candidate for Governor, accompanied by
Maj. Beverly B. Douglas of King William
county, one of the canvassers at large, ap-
pointed by the Executive Committee of the
Conservative party, and VIM. Gilman, reporter
for the Richmond Wing, arrived here at 10
o'clock A. NJ. by the Western train. They re-
NAMED here, the guests of Mr.. Robt. W.
Burke till Sunday when Douglas went to
Spottsylvania Court House to Eli an appoint
rnent and Walker and Gilman took the Valley
stage for Woodstock, at which place MIR. Walk
er had an appointment to address the citizens
on Monday-yesterday.
On Saturday afternoon it was announced by
posted bills that Maj. Beverly B. Douglas
would address the citizens of Staunton at the
Court House at o'clock that evening
At the hour appointed, Judge Ii. W. Shelf
fey introduced Maj Douglas to the audience
who then arose and addressed them in behalf
of the election of Walker, and the adoption OF
the Constitution expurgated of the test-oatzl
and disfranchising clauses. Twelve months ago.
he said, the Conservative party was rallied In
solid phalanx against the adoption of the
abomination, known as the Underwood Constr
tuition, because at that time there was no al
tentative except the adoption or rejection OF
that instrument unchanged. Now an opportu-
nifty was presented of striking out two OF Its
worst features. We were not In position
where we could get what we wished, but must
be governed by the circumstances in which we
were unfortunately placed, and should not fail
Al. Loct tIo eta
portunities would allow.
He did not like much to support Walker till
he had met with him, and heard him express
his views and sentiments in a speech the day
before at Lexington-he had not loved Walker
much. but he had loved Wells less. He now
takes pleasure in supporting Walker and deems
it the duty Of all true Virginians to do SO, for
he (Walker) is with them heart and hand. 1t
Virginians cannot support Walker, they had as
we'll give up the contest, and consent to be
slaves. and to see their State utterly and ire
trieyably ruined. Not to support Walker is to
SUPPORT Wells and that abominatlon OF abomi-
nations-the unchanged Underwood Constitu-
ton. He appealed to the white.cohorts IN the
Valley to register and vote and come to the
rescue Of their brethren in the East, many OF
whom would, if they could, fec from their sec
ton as from city on fire. Register every vote,
relieve YOUR best citizens from disfranchlsement.
and piuety-five per cent of the white adult
male population from exclusion from office, and
rescue your country from impending ruin. An
opnortunity is now offered to secure majority
for the white citizens The worst enemy we
have to contend against at this time Is General
Apathy. He quoted and happily applied
proyerb of Solomon: 1.-The diligent hand shall
bear rule-the slothful shall he under tribute .
Everything is at stake and none should fail to
do his duty. Wells is confident Of election, be-
cause he believes that many conservatives Will
fail to vote. Those who fail to vote, will be
practically, allies Of Wells.
IF Wells should be elected, the condition OF
Virginia would be like that of Tennessee,
which, even the Radicals now say, is Hell Or
ganized on earth" An opportunity is afforded
to dash away the poisoned chace now pre-
sented to the lips of Virginia. Ii not awaited
Of, she will sup full of horrors.
As Wells occupies the high Office once filed
fletcher, and other distinguished sons of Vir-
ginia, he would like to be able to speak of him
with respect-but who can respect Wells? He
is the enemy and vilifyer of our people-his
lips are so foul with falsehood that living fire
from the sacred altar could not purify him of
his iniquity No one, white or black, can trust
him. He possesses an impudent audacity which
none other could rival 'He goes back" on
his black friends and writes his Garland letter.
IF he speaks truly to the whites the negroes
will be cheated if truly to the negroes, the
whites will be cheated. He (the speaker be-
lieves that he will cheat both.
He said if the negroes and whites would work
together as they should, ike horses in good
old fashioned team, with white horse on one
side and black horse on the other, both pull
ing in the same direction, that the good old
wagon, Virginia, might get along very vel! !;
but if the black horse would hold back when
the white horse pulled, or the white horse
should hold back when the black horse pulled,
that we would have balky team, and the
wagon ( Virginia. would be left in the mire
At the conclusion of Maj Douglass speech.
Judge Sheffey announced that Gilbert G. Walk
err was in the audience and called upon him to
take the stand and show himself to the people.
In response to clamorous calls by the audience,
Mr. Walker walked upon the stand, greeted
cordially BIZ the audience. and was introduced
by Hon. A. II. H. Stuart He declined to adj
dress the citizens at that time, as he had an ap-
pointment to address the citizens OF Staunton
and Augusta county on the 2Sth inst. County
Court day.
He had just travelled by stage from Bon
sack 5 TO Fincastle, thence to Buchanan thence
to the Natural Bridge, thence to Lexington,
and thence to Goshen, where he struck the
Railroad for Stanton, aud those who had ever
been tossed and bumbcd in the stages over that
route would know something Of the fatigue he
was then suffering and know that he could not
be in a condition to make speech. He said
that, If Col Hartman did not soon have the
Valley Railroad built, the citizens of Staun-
ton ought 10 ride him out of town on a rail :
(Col. Hartman occupied seat directly in front
Of the stand at the time.l He thanked the
audience for their cordial greeting, and said
that he had been cordially greeted wherever
he bad keen in Virginia, and that, if he should
be elected Governor he would do what he
could to advance the interests and prosperity
Of the State, and endcavor to merit the gencr-
Gus confidence reposed in him by the voters Of
VIRGINIA