The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-01-19
THE FACTS FAIRLY STATED.

The mere fact that a Richmond corrcspon-
dent of Petersburg and Norfolk journal
has assumed that Judge A. B. Cochran, one
Of the delegates in the Legislature from Au-
gusta county, is a formidable competitor for
seat in the United States Senate from this
State to be made vacant after the 18th of
March next by the expiration Of the term Of
Judge J. w. Johnston, has given the occa-
sion for an indefinite number of editorials on
the subject. some of which have been con-
ceived in spirit entirely at variance with
justice and foreign to an impartial view of
the matter Among these, we note partlcu-
larly one from the Winchester Times. We
are satisfied that the gentlemanly editor of
that paper would not have permitted himself
to indulge in the discourteous spirit appa-
rently conveyed in his article, had he been
better acquainted with the intrinsic truth
of the case The evident object of the cor
respondent, to whom allusion is above made
is to place Mr.. Cochran in false position
to damn him with faint praise"-to raise
him up that he may have the pleasure of
seeing him knocked down.
Judge Cochran is not candidate for Judge
Johnston's position. On the contrary, if
Mr. Johnston's name is presented to the Leg
islature. he will give him cordial support.
Judge G. asserts no claims for the place,
nor is he an aspirant for it. We presume,
that if it should so happen, in disorganized
contest for the honor, it should fall to Judge
Cochran, he would accept it. He would be
more insensible to high compliment and dis
tinguished favor than any public man we
cline it, if rendered to him. If the surmises
and apprehensions of this correspondent
who has drawn upon his imagination for
most of his conclusions, should be verified
the result will have been accomplished with
out any collision, bargain or understanding on
the part of Judge G. and in the face OF not
even the remotest rrol ableexpectation He does
not seek the Senatorship, has not announced
himself, nor authorized any one else to an
nounce him, for the position, and he does no
expect it, The secret motive which frs
E originated and gave publicity to the candida
cy of Judge Cochran it is not difficult t.
, fathom. It was for the purpose of breaking
the Influence Of that gentleman in the Leg
islature How far the effort will succeed, il
, is for future events to determine.
The dogmatic assertion of the Times tina
Mr.. Cochran is 'third rate man" is a mat
, ter purely Of opinion, and the editor is en-
titled to his; But in the debates in thu
: House, in which Mr.. G. has participated, hi
is reported, even by those who did not agree
with him, as having exhibited fine powers o
oratory, close logic, and comprehensive grasl
of intellect It must be remembered tina
Mr. Cochran is quite young man, with Blu
; little Legislative experience being hi
first term and if he is only "third rat
man, it is remarkable circumstance tina
: he should have proven so potential, according
to the correspondent, as to beat the Conser
: vative leaders with the Radicals, and thel
turn around and beat the Radical leader
) with the Conservatives There must b
i something passing strange in his mode 0
: reasoning to enable him to accomplish thes
= unexampled feats on the Legislative boards
6 if the estimate of his abilities by the Time
6 is to be taken as incontrovertible.
8 The running allusion of the Times, to thu
Il election of Senator Lewis and Treasurer Rye
: and to the defeat of Senator Waddell for tn
: Hastings Judgeship, does not manifest tn
. most charitable and friendly spirit. If Nj
. Cochran voted for Mr.. Lewis to be u. S
> Senator, and Mr. Rye to be State Treasurer
it is no more than majority Of the Conser
= vative members of the Legislature did, an
9 it is no more than the people at the tim
;, deemed expedicnt and proper. 1t is to
late to indulge in any hypercritical reflection
about that matter. In the same spirit, tn
3 Times might condemn almost the entire Con
servati~e party of the State, for voting 70
- what is called, by those who are not fastidi
/ GUS as to terms, the black crook Constitution
. We cannot understand that any grea
crime was committed in the election of Judg
y Smith. Politically he is as sound as tn
J editor of the Times dare claim to be. He
! one Of the best read lawyers. of his age, in tn
: State; is regarded by those who are eminent
. ly entitledto give an opinion, as good judg
Of law and we believe, in the discharge 0
the duties of his trust, he has given satisfae
) ton to the bar and the people. He is gen
tleman of unchallenged integrity and beyon'
the reach of suspicion.
Mr.. Waddell is a gentleman in every sens
) of the word, and would, doubtless, hav
> made an acceptable Judge. We know then
: both well. and are only sorry that bot
could not have been chosen to alike positions
n 1t is no reflection on Mr. Waddell, eithe
k personally or professionally, that he was dc
IS feated. Judge Cochran was entitled to hi
3 choice and he would, in our estimation, hav
Il thrown himself beneath contempt, had h