Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-10-26
QUALIFICATIONS FOR REPRE-
SENTiIIVES


The duty of every man in Augusta in
the next ten days is to enquire for whom he
shall vote. and why. 1t is no time now,
and in truth never, to allow our personal
feeling to color our ballots. On great
public question man would be as incon-
sistent to vote on personal grounds for a
man who is not in his opinion best adapted
to advance the interests of. the State, as he
would be, if member of an orthodox
church, to attend the mlnistrations OF a
free-thinker or atheist, merely because he
is personally agreeable to him. He possess
es bis right of suffrage through being a
member of a community, and he owes to
his fellow citizens, as well as himself, that
he shall not mis-spend the valuable trust.
In voting for men to represent Augusta,
county that his ballot shall be cast for the
common benefit; that its effect shall lie to
advance the common interest, and to up
hold the common reputation that the
county bears for integrity, intelligence:
and general worth. In the past Augusta
has stood high In the legislative halls of
Virg: mia; sh. has bad there not only able
men. but often great men, We may safe4
ly say that in all her delegations the ma
jority have been men of more than ordi-
nary ability. and in some of them there
have been names that will be remembered
as long as the Old Commonwealth is a
State. In this we take a pardonable pride,
and from it derive advantage. There are
counties in this State that are never heard
of in the legislature. Augusta is not one
of them. There are counties that are
known in the atmosphere of the State as
doubtful counties, from WHICH all PROPOSE
tions Of doubtful character about putlic
policy come. Augusta is not one of
them. Heretofore she has recognized The
necessity of fitness for position and, $ far
as the uncertainty Of politics Iiao allowed,
has sent lit men.
At :his time the Gttest man to send,
other qualifications being equal. is one
who has had some experience. There is
nothing more helpless than the man essay
ing his fist bath in the troubled waters CT
tlls legislature. He does not know how to
drass q bill he has no acquaintance with
the officers or members OF the body; he is
as helpless as the hoy the first days he
spends at school, and looks as aaxiol;siy to
the older members as the boy does w the
scholars of the session before. Finally he
drifts under tEe lead Of some more eX-
periehaed member, and gets set for the
session, ap4 unless il man Of unusual abil
ity he stays there OF s;lsle use to his county
or State.
In this view, the ticket agreed upon w
The withdrawal of the other candidates,
consisting of Messrs. Koiner, Hanger,
Lghtilsr and Echols, has a strong recon-
mendation. indaed, so much Importance
do we attach to i,S.gi":g at this crisis in
State affairs experienced represaI. t2tiyes,
that if the gentlemen named ON the Ad-
JUS er's ticket were debt. paying candidates
instsagg We should ave little hope OF any
p-aetie.i resnlt from til ,ir going TO Rich
mond. Experience il as important in ID
leg slator as it is in farmer, MECHANIC,
Il merchant, or editor, and is important ~
our county for her local benefits. On your
farm yea will not take a party of four in
expertenaed worku.en in preference to four
men of .exrefietlQe.
Let us use the sallie WELDON in selecting
lHel to represent us in the l. gisiat4 4Ire that
We 90 in our private business.