Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-09-06
Nomination for Congress.

AS we stated last week, the choice OF Con-
gressmen is restricted to two classes to WIZ
Those who can take the iron-clad oath, and
those whose disabilities have been removed,
and who, consequently, are not required to take
it. There are not, in this District at least, |
great many of either class who possess the 9th |
er requisite qualifications to make suitable rep
resentatives in the National Legislature. We
should be represented by the very best that
can be selected from the few who possess the
requisite qualifications.
Without any disparagement to others in 9TH
er portions of the District, we think we are
justified in saying that Augusta county can
present in the person of one of her sons,
whose disabilities have been removed, the peer,
in talents, character, public service, legislative
experience, and claims to popular support, OF
any that can be presented by any county in the
District As the reader has no doubt antici-
pated, We allude to Hon. A. H. FL. Stuart,
who was few years ago elected, by a trium-
plant majority, to represent this District IN
Congress, but was refused admittance because
he could not and would not take the iron-clad
as his political disabilities have been removed
by act of Congress. We suppose the delegates
to the Harrisonburg Cow from this coun-
ty, will vote to secure the nomination of Mr..
Stuart, if he be willing to accept it. We
write in ignorance of his wishes upon the sub
ject He was elected, but was prevented from
serving by a cause which did him honor-it
was because his sentiments were in accord with
those of the great mass Of the citizens of the
District-because he was true exponent of
the people whom he was elected to represent.
The fact that he would, in truth, represent the
people of this District, was the reason why he
was, by Radical policy, prevented at that time
| from acting as their Representative. Besides
| his indisputable qualifications to make an able
and faithful representative, the fact that he
was prevented from serving for the reason we
| have stated, gives him special claims to the
support of the people-such as no other in the
District can present as ts4l
| 1t seems to US that it is due to themselves
that the voters of this District should re-elect
| Mr.. Stuart The right which was wrongfully
denied them, they now have an opportunity to
exercise, and we think it is their duty to do so.
The right to be represented in Congress by the
person of their choice was then denied the vo-
tiers of the District That right, if their choice
be the same, cannot be denied them now. Ii
elected, he must be admitted, and that too
without taking the oath. This would be a vic
| tory over the body which had violated the
rights of the people of the District-''a con-
summation devoutly to be wished. !"
A communication signed Rockingham
published in the Old Commonwealth of Har-
rsonburg, compliments Judge A. B. Cochran
of this place, and recommends him as a suit
able person to represent this District in Con-
gross. a 33 I n3la
A communication in the last Nadscator
signed ''Old Augusta" calls upon VIM. II.
EGnger, Esq, of Harrisonburg, to announce
himself candidate for Congress, subject to
the action of the District Convention. sIa
On Monday week, by the bursting of the
boiler at the steam saw mill of Geo. L. Berry
in Culpeper county, Reuben Gaines and Horace
Parker were instantly killed.