Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-01-24
For the Spectator.
WASHINGTON, January 18th, 1871.


There has always been something in the tone
Of the press of Virginia at variance with that
cheap personal gossip SO fully INDUCED In by
newspaper writers Ia certain parts of the coun-
try else | might speak of the arrival Or de-
parture of Stauns0nlans and other noted na-
lives of the old commonwealth in town. what
they came for and what they did; and also
state who, if any, have been aiiured hither by
the probable creation of new judicial district
in the State, or the internal revenue service, or
some more general Executive favor which has
not been absorbed by the house of Dent.
There is now lall in the excitement about
San Domingo. The President insisted upon
action touching annexation upon the widest
chinera and unfortunately was backed by
sufficient number Of sworn supporters to bring
the matter to an ISSUE And by the breach
thus created in his own party as well as by the
fusion of liberal Repu5licanism with liberal
Democracy not merely Ia the States Oh flr-
ginia, Tennessee and Missouri, but virtually in
every State in the Union, with liberal minded
men, statesmen and scholars, all over the coun-
try decryng the condition of the Republican
party, the handwriting is already placed upon
the wall that the number of years of uninter-
rupted reign Of that party shall be twelve
i1S61-lS73.)
We have been treated to another Woman's
Rights Convention, which has just closed. 1t
was a general conclave intended to produce
marked effect upon the legislation of Congress.
All the big guns of that persuasion were
here, but they displayed lmpudence rather than
ability, beauty OF person, or gentlllty OF de-
meanor. The whole noise about woman S suf-
frage is, after all, a very small affair The as
sociation is about like the regular army OF the
Sandwich Islanders, which according to Mark
Twain consists Of 1900 men, mostly brlgadler
generals. " These strong minded females are
individual seekers OF notorlety rather than
leaders of regular organization. remon-
STRANGE against female suffrage signed by 1000
Of the most respectable ladies Of the North
was laid before Congress i few days ago, the
list being headed by Mrs. General Sherman.
The election Of q. s. Senator by the Legis-
lature Of Va, to succeed Mr.. Johnston. has
litical circles here Those who knew Mr.. Stu
art when he sat in the Cabinet and remember
the golden days Of craftsmanship when the ell
ouuence of Clay, Webster and Benton echoed
in our legislative halls, aud when amidst all the
brilliancy of that brilliant period his courteous
| bearing, flashing eye and manly eloquence were
| noted BY every one, would hail his return to
political life, and most Of all, his election to
the Senate, as a bright gleam OF the happy
| past.
Mr.. Johnston has given entire satisfaction,
having proved himself to be man true to
his State in every particular His reelection
| is earnestly desired by his numerous political
friends, yet he labors under disability which
is loss to the State. | refer to that timidlty
and reserve. so often consequent upon genius.
which his limited experience in active political
| life has not been able to remove. 1t is to be
hoped that the Legislature will not fix its choice
upon one who, like Moses, is ''slow of speech
and not an eloquent man"
| Anon j. l.. Ii.