Staunton Vindicator

Some six or eight months ago, we suggested to the town council the idea of building over the market house, then being constructed, a large and commodious town hall, sufficient to accomodate any assembly, political, agricultural or religious, which might meet in Virginia in the future. At that time, the inducements to build such a hall were as great as ever before,--it being only a few months previous to the assemblage of the Democratic Convention which met at Petersburg, and which most assuredly would have convened here if we had had a hall large enough to have accomodated them during their deliberations,--and the objections as far as least as the present outlay of money was concerned, were infinitely less, as the price of the ground and the foundation would have been saved by the proposed plan. We had thought that the council had decided upon this question, and that all their arrangements had been made for carrying out this improvement, so beneficial in its results to our town, but for some reason, of which we are not cognizant, the movement fell through, and we are still destitute of any public room large enough to hold a common size country meeting. But we did not commence this article for the purpose of investigating the reason for, and complaining of the failure of the council to complete this most desirable improvement, but it is our intention again to suggest to the council, to form some plan by which the town and county may be supplied with a suitable public hall for their own convenience, as well as the convenience of the State at large. The importance of such a hall is obvious to every one. Staunton is the centre of the State, and to Staunton all eyes are turned whenever a political convention or any other assembly is to be convened, and it is only the want of a suitable room for the accomodation of the delegation in their deliberations, which prevents every convention of every kind from meeting in Staunton. This position was well illustrated last fall when the democracy of Virginia were casting about them for a place to hold their convention. Staunton was immediately suggested,--in fact, was the first town in the State spoken of, and the only legitimate objection which could be urged against the convening of the convention here, was the deplorable want of a hall sufficiently large for the accomodation of the delegation, and neither of the journals of this place could with any show of truth deny the existence of this objection. Now, to form some idea of the importance of such an improvement to our town, just consider what an amount of money was lost to the currency of the town and county, by the failure of that single convention to meet here. From all accounts, there were at least, 800 delegates to that convention.--We have no means of telling how many mere spectators were in attendance, but put down the whole number of strangers present at 1000, which is a very low figure, the necessary expenses of each individual would have been here, $2 per day. The convention being in session four days, would make the whole assets to our hotels alone, $8000. Taking into consideration what would have been expended with our different mercantile establishments, and we do not think that $10,000 would be too high a figure at which to place the sum which would accrue to our town from one single convention. Thus we see that in a pecuniary point of view, we would be amply remunerated for any expenditure which we might incur in the completion of such an improvement. We could mention many other important reasons for our suggestion, such as the bringing together of strangers from all parts of the State in our town where they may become acquainted with the lands of our farmers, the different productions of our soil, our public works, our schools, ;&c.,-- but this article has already extended to a length which we did not intend. We will conclude by recommending the building of a large and commodious town hall, to the serious consideration of our city fathers.

Below, we give the report of the opposition meeting on the 27th of Dec. Our neighbor of the "Spectator" says that it was "one of the most spirited and animated we have ever seen assembled in our Court House." We consider it a very fortunate circumstance that human nature is so endowed that all men do not view the same circumstance in the same light, and on this point, we must beg leave, with all due deference to our neighbor's opinions, to differ with him, and say that it was not a harmonious meeting. The elements would not unite, and unity of sentiment did not prevail, and we will adduce one instance to show it. Mr. Imboden is an acknowledged leader of the American party and it is to be supposed that his opinions have weight, but when he offered a resolution to this "harmonious meeting," he was instantly pounced upon, and his resolution defeated. And we would especially call attention to this fact for the benefit of our democratic friends. We infer, and the inference !
is a fair one, that the opposition of this county, and district too, will run a candidate for Congress if a suitable opportunity presents itself, and in view of this fact, it becomes our duty to advocate the time-honored principles of democracy, and call for a convention, if we have more than one candidate in the field. But we are digressing from our subject, viz: the meeting, which was opened by Mr. Christian in quite a lengthy and pointless speech, in which he failed to prove a single proposition laid down. Mr. Doyle was then called to the stand, and after an unlimited amount of slang, abuse, billingsgate, and a mean anecdote, which neither edified nor amused, took his seat; and here we would take occasion to remark that pity for a helpless foe, or contempt for a bootless and powerless opposition, are the only incentive which would induce us to mingle with them in their political gatherings, and when in these meetings our party is made the subject and butt of an abusive and slanderous tirade, candor compels us to say that even the pity which we feel for their weakness or the loathing for their contemptuous subterfuges, but confirms within us the belief that could they once more obtain possession of the reins of government, not even the sacred memory of a Washington, a Henry or a Jefferson would stay their ruthless hands, from our only chart of safety. After Mr. Doyle had take his seat, Mr. Powell Harrison was loudly called for. The speech of our young friend marked him as a rising man, but we would earnestly advise him, in the disinterested spirit of friendship to "turn from his evil ways," before the becomes too thoroughly imbued with the old fogy principles of whigism, for it is our experience that the dreadful disease becomes chronic if not arrested in its first stages. But we want to hear from many other "harmonious meetings," and finally the "harmonious meeting" which is to assemble in Richmond, on the 18th of Feb., which is to be the progenitor of the "great opposition convention," to assemble in 1860, in which all the combustibles of the Union are to unite and immortalize themselves by a grand finale, after which they will be content to disperse to their homes and sink once more into oblivion. But we must let this "harmonious" speak for itself.

At a large and enthusiastic meeting of the Whigs and Americans of Augusta, held at the Court House on Monday, December 27th on motion of J. Givens Fulton, Esq., Robert Guy, Esq. was called to the chair, and L. Waddell, Jr., appointed Secretary. The objects of the meeting having been briefly explained by the Chairman, spirited and animated addresses were delivered by Bolivar Christian and R.L. Doyle, Esqs., after which the following resolutions, offered by Mr. Christian, were unanimously adopted: Resolved, 1. That as Whigs and Americans, we have adopted and cherished our political principles from an honest conviction of their truth and patriotic virtue, and such conviction is neither weakened nor strengthened by the circumstances of temporary defeat or final triumph. 2. That our confidence in the wisdom of that policy which leads us to foster and rely upon the resources of our own country as the basis of a great "American system," has received a signal support in the recent Message of the President recommending to the party of which he is the representative, and which has heretofore been opposed to such policy, the adoption of a tariff recognising the principle of protection to American manufactures. 3. That we cannot, consistently with a sense of duty to our convictions and our country's prosperity, encourage by our votes the candidates of the Democratic party who oppose the principles we profess; and that we esteem it a privilege to sustain our faith by voting for candidates of our own party uninfluenced by the prospect of either victory or defeat. 4. That we approve the proposition of the Whigs of Richmond, to hold a State Convention on the 10th of February next, and that the Chairman and Secretary of this meeting, together with _____ others, to be selected by the Chairman, be appointed to represent this county in said Convention. 5. That these proceedings be published in the Staunton Spectator, Vindicator and Richmond Whig. On motion of G. W. Imboden, Esq., it was further Resolved, That the blank in the 4th resolution be filled by ten from each Magisterial District, and that any Whig or American from this county who may be in the city of Richmond be authorized to act as a delegate. A motion was offered by John D. Imboden, Esq., proposing as the sentiment of the meeting that no candidate should be brought out by the Opposition in this Congressional District. The motion was opposed by Messrs. Harrison and Christian and was subsequently withdrawn by Mr. Imboden, who proposed that the present meeting adjourn to the February Court for the purpose of taking the matter into consideration. The motion was not carried, whereupon, on motion of Ael. Wm. A Bell, the meeting adjourned sine die. ROBT. GUY, chairman. L. Waddell, Jr., Secretary. The list of delegates will be published hereafter.