Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-09-23
Edifor .Qnecfnfnr /.


vention will assemble III Staunton to nominate
a ticket for the "House of Delegates" Justice
demands that all of the nominees should be ia
ken from the county-it casting more than five
times as many votes as the City of Staunton ;
and the City of Staunton having, already, her
due proportion of representation in the person
of her State Senator: besides in the Legislature
preceding the last, the City had the entire dele
ture, it had one-half of it. We understand, how
ever that the lawyers of Staunton are actively
engaged in advocating the nomination of the
Hon. A. ID. ID. Stuart and j. Marshall Hanger
the one, on the ground of his being an old.
tried and experienced stateman-the other on
the ground oil his having been the Speaker of the
House of Delegates. But we humbly submit
that, if Staunton is to have three fcurths Of the
representation in the next Legislature, she ought
to, at least, present men who are acceptable to
the country people, and in accord with what
they regard as their interests-the above named
gentlemen being as far from filing the bill as
any two men In the county. Weshal endeavor
to establish we think, to the satisfaction of eve
ry reasonable man. that there is as little identity
of views, and sympathy of any sort, between
these gentlemen and the people of Augusta. as
could by possibility, be found, if the county
were raked over, to find two men entertaining
the most antagonlstic opinions to those held by
the people. In the first place, both of them are
advocates of the Funding Bill.n and both are
in favor of raising from the people enough reve-
nue. to carry out Its provisions, and, at the same
quire an increase of taxation, almost, if not en-
tirely, double the present rates. Toiling men of
Augusta, who wiring scant subsistence out of
the soil, under the present heavy rate of taxa
ton, do you wish to elect men who will vote for
increasing your burdens and compel some of YOU
to abandon the State? Ifyou do not, then turn
out at the primary meetings to be held on the
4th OF October, and vote against all men favor
ing their clalmssor the claims of any others, en-
tertainlng similar sentiments The journal of
the House of Delegates of Virginia shows,
that Major Hanger is not only in favor of carry
ing out the provisions of the Funding Bill"
put OF Augustus paying largely more than her
just proportion of the taxes of the State; for he
opposed and voted against the bill known as the
" Ke-assessment BILL" which became, however,
a law and resulted in reduction of nearly L.
7OO, OOO dollars In the assessment of the lands of
the County. In other words the reduction of
the assessment of the lands of the county. at the
present rate OF taxs ton, will result in saving
to the people OF the county, of over 5000 dol
lars per annum, and over $4,000 for the three
years for which the old assessment had to run
under the IaW-to say nothing of the influence
which the reduction will have in the assessment
to be made 1875, as required by the Constitu-
ton. 1t is true the Major had constitutional
scruples in regard to this measure, which was to
and unconstitutional taxation. But we do not
regard him altogether as iaatallible as a Const-
tutional lawyer, for he declared on the floor of
the House of Delegates, that the bill, which be-
came law, Notwithstanding his objections, and
which required that personal property levied on
for old debts should be sold on twelve months
credit was unconstitutional and demoraizing
The Court of Appeals" however, passed upon
1t afterwards and declared that the act was not
only constitutional, but ''wise, humane and en-
ilently proper legislation - Let those who
have had their property saved from sacrifice
and the burthen of their taxation Hghtened by
wise, humane and benefcent legislation. consid-
er long and well before they cast their suffrages
nnn h.N hxyh I5 rInI I'D hnp,
these simple acts off justice. Independent of Mr..
Stuarts obnoxious financial views, &C., he has
no right to expect a nomination at the hands of
any convention, for the reason that those who
submit their claims to a convention are ip honor
bound. if there is anything at all in the system,
to support the individual who may be nomina.
ted. Mr.. Stuart takes entirely different
view of the matter, and plays at the game,
heads, win, tails, you lose" Three years
ago he submitted his claims to a convention for
nomination for Congress, but failed in obtain
ing 1t. Instead of supporting the nominee, as
he ought t. have done, he VIGOROUSLY gave aid
and comfort to the Independent candidate, and
1t is said either voted against or withheld his
vote from he gentleman upon whom the nomi-
nation had fallen. If he is unsuccessful in the
October Convention, may he not play that game
over again. Besides, Mr.. Stuarts adherence to
the Conser Vatlve cause is not as warm and as
strong as it might be, for less than ninety days
ago, he somewhat disturbed in mind and
somewhat doubtful as to which side of the po-
litical fence he would fall on. So great was his
perplexity and uncertainty of mind, that he de-
clared to gentleman, that, if General W. G.
Wickham received the Republican nomination.
he did not know but what he should support
him. People of Augusta, are you prepared to
cast your SURFACES for one, who ninety days ago
didn't know but what he would vote for one of
the most obnoxious Radicals in the State, for
the distinguished position of Governor 1t is
important at this time, especially, that harmony
and concert of action should pervade our ranks,
and that nothing should be done, calculated to
weaken our cause, for all we hold dear on earth
is at stake. If the record of the gentlemen,
spoken of is as Objectionable as we state, and
many seem to be apprised of it, pray give US
representatives of less craftsmanship and more
common sense.
II any assertion made in this article is denied,
the writer stands ready to make it good, by the
most indisputable proof.
COUNTRYMAN.
Sept 23-1t*