The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-09-30
The Winchester Times.

Our esteemed contemporary has undertaken
to read us lecture, and at the same time to
make an ungenerous fling" at our town, in
consequence Of an editorial in recent num-
Der of our paper, in which we spoke APPROX
ingly of the nominations made elsewhere of
our fellow citizens Hon. A. H. II. Stuart and
Hon. John g. Baldwin for the Senate Of the
US. We respectfully submit that the lcct-
ure was unnecessary, and the fling" at our
people wholly uncalled for. If blame attach
ed to any body for writing and publishing
the article, it rests, exclusively, at our door
We alone arc responsible for it, and it would
seem to be unjust to seek to cast odium on
whole community, for the act of an individ-
ual.
But, We maintain, that our contemporary
has done us injustice We were not the first
to name Mcssrs. Stuart and Baldwin in con-
ncction with the Senate. The Richmond
Wing and other papers, mentioned the fact
that their names were currently spoken of in
connection with the Office of Senator, and it
was in noticing this announcement tina: we
expressed our pleasure that these gentlemen
seemed to enjoy the confidence and good will
of the people of Virginia. The idea of
urging the election of both, or indeed of
either of these gentlemen, did not enter our
minds. We knew, that according to the
usage of Virginia, it would be absurd to
think Of clccting tsoo Senators from any 10
cality-cven from Winchester which so long
enjoyed the honor Of having one! ''> -. +.
We mentioned both gentlemen because we
regarded both as we'll qualified for the office,
and we would be perfectly satisfied with
eithcr-though we would prefer to see both
fill the position but, as our contemporary re-
marks, zone at time" -
We trust. then,. that, our friend of the
Times will dismiss his groundless fears Of
our seeking to establish a monopoly in regard.
to the Senate. We venture to affirm, that
neither of the gentlemen named, will ever of.
fend the sensibilities of the Times, by any
unseemly aspirations after that, or any other
office. Such has not been their course in the
past, and we hazard nothing in saying, that it
will not be in the future. They have never
thrust themselves forward as candidates.
When they have filed public positions, the
Offices have sought thenf..: But. when the safe
ty of the State was endangefed, they have
not been the men 10 hang back to ascertain
how the popular current was drifting. On
such occasions they have been found at the
post of duty, regardless of the denunciation
and obloquy which are sometimes metcd out
to those wboare in advance of public opinion
We stated that in the terrible crisis through
which Virginia has recently passed, Messrs
Stuart and Baldwin were among the first. to
see the danger and among the foremost to
try and arrest it. Everybody knows that
for loug months, den unciation and ridicule were
the Only rewards which they received at the
hands Of large portion Of the press and OF
the politicians Of Virginia, but they faltered
not for moment, until their work was accom-
plished. When that was done, they retired
to their offices. and we venture to affirm, that
neither Of them has by act or word, indica-
ted any wish or purpose to seek any reward
for the service they may have rendered to
their native State Nor, do we believe, that
either would allow his name to be used in
connection with any office, if by SO doing the
best interests of Virginia were placed in
apardy