Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-08-27

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mail whether or not it is your purpose to
allow your name to he used in this connec-
ton.
Respectfully,
ALEX. B. COCHRAN.
FISHERSvILLE, VA.
Aug. 9th, 1873.
A. B. CocnRAN:--Sir: Yours Of the I'd
inst. came to hand last night, and accord
ing to your request, hasten to reply "by
return mail" that I have for the last two
months been so much engaged in building,
and in the grain and grass field thatV do
not know what has been rumored Tor said y
about Staunton. You know more about
it than | do [ have not spent an hour in
Staunton for six weeks, and know of nc
understanding OF arrangement about the
Fall elections. You sinsist that all Oh
iections to my Your course shall be made
known.'-NOw, [ insist that you excuse
ne from anything of the sort, for you
have more time and interest in your
sscourse' than 1 lave. | am otherwise
engaged in attending to my private busin-
ess. Besides. [ attach very little lmpOr-
lance to seat in the General Assembly,
and have no ambition to crafty. l have
only said in reply to direct questions that
if the people of the county desire my ser
vices, have no good excuse to offer, and
would feel it my duty to accept nominal
ton. [ still believe in the propriety of the
old rule, 'sGhat office should not be sought
or declined"
My dear Sit: You greatly mistake my
i,rrc INK bnf I n Saal, Fl
impair your popularity in order to get a
nomination for the Senate. My thoughts
and aspirations do not run in that channel
1t will altogether depend on the voluntary
action of the people whether L shall be
voted for for either House. | fear that you
have fallen into the common error OF poll
| ticians who allow their ambition to con.
sumo their judgment, since you seem tC
| complain of me that | have not paraded
''your course" before the public, and an
nounced myself in opposition to you. You
have been announced for months and had
no opposition pray do not find fault will
me for not opposing you; do not scold me
for what others ale doing. If | am nomi-
mated for either House, there will, doubt.
less, he public notice given. Have pa
thence, it is Il long time until the election
You will have ample time to vindicate
yourself if objections are raised to ''youl
course, ,,
Respectfully.
A. KoINER.
P. ST. was unexpectedly hindered from
sending this letter to the P. o. to 60 "by
return MAIL" and surprising the necessity
for hurry had passed, I have sent it by first
convenient opportunity.
A. X.
SrAUNToN, VA,
Aug. 18th. 1875.
MAJ. A. KoINER.-ly dear Sill: Your
letter written in reply to nv note OF the
End inst. has lust been received. and re.
greet exceedingly that in answering a note,
entirely polite and respectful. YOU have ia
ken occasion to give me a curtain lecture
and inject into YOUR communication a good
deal of unkind and spiteful matter. The
supreme indifference which YOU avow for
my opinions and wishes is source of some
unpleasantness to me. for [ confess much
prefer YOUR friendship and good opinion. to
YOUR enmity and bad opinion. If | shall
saw ANYTHING that wears the appearance OF
unkindness in replying to the subject mat.
ter of vour letter. / hope YOU will remem.
Der that YOU were the first to open the
doors of acrimony, and thai [ am acting
on the defensive. The discovery of youl
plans, doubtless, excited your ire, and be-
trayed YOU into unjust and unmerited
criticisms upon me; for your letter, while
ascrbing to Yourself much disin terested
patriotism. attributes to Inc nothing but
unworthy motives and purposes.
You say YOU have no ambition to sub.
serve in going back to the General AS
sembly. and will only do so from con.
scientious conviction that you have nc
right to decline a nomination. Now, my
dear sir. let me ask YOU if YOU would feel
it to be conscientious duty to serve the
people of Augusta in this capacity if such
service involved il personal and pecuniary
sacrifice? If you answer candidly Pm
sure yon will say no. Then. if am right
in this conclusion, what becomes Of your
boosted rule of action that, "Ofice is never
to be declined?" Few men can, without
excessive vanity, plant themselves upon
this doctrine, and insist upon its rigorous
enforcement. Very certainly, when MI.
Madison wrote these memorable words,
'tThat office ought neither TO be
sought nor declined" he had reference to
spontaneous recognition of merit, and a
corresponding demand on the part of the
people, for it's dedication to public service
He could have had no reference to a
nominating convention, for it is modern
continuance, gotten up solely in the in
terest of party, in order to consolidate its
strength. and where, in the ascendant.
prevent it from being defeated and over
thrown by divisions arising from "a multipli-
city of candidates. It isalso usedby the mi
nority party in order that it may profit by
the dissentions and divisions of the
majority party.
The best men are not always selected for
place by conventions, and in case of failure
to do so, they enforce obedience by a rule
more ineXorable than Mr.. MadisOn's rule:
to wit: Everything for principles and