Staunton Spectator

For the Spectator
WASHINGTON, January 18th, 1871.
There has always been something in the tone of the press of Virginia at variance with that cheap personal gossip so fully indulged in by newspaper writers in certain parts of the country; else I might speak of the arrival or departure of Stauntonians and other noted natives of the old commonwealth in town, what they came for and what they did; and also state who, if any, have been allured hither by the probable creation of a new judicial district in the State, or the internal revenue service, or some more general Executive favor which has not been absorbed by the house of Dent.
There is now a lull in the excitement about San Domingo. The President insisted upon action touching annexation upon the wildest chimera and unfortunately was backed by a sufficient number of sworn supporters to bring the matter to an issue. And by the breach thus created in his own party as well as by the fusion of Liberal Republicanism with liberal Democracy not merely in the States of Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri, but virtually in every State in the Union, with liberal minded men, statesmen and scholars, all over the country decrying the condition of the Republican party, the handwriting is already placed upon the wall that the number of years of uninterrupted reign of that party shall be twelve (1861-1873.)
We have been treated to another Woman's Rights Convention, which has just closed. It was a general conclave intended to produce a marked effect upon the legislation of Congress. All the "big guns" of that persuasion were here, but they displayed impudence rather than ability, beauty of person, or gentility of demeanor. The whole noise about woman's suffrage is, after all, a very small affair. The association is about like the regular army of the Sandwich Islanders, which according to Mark Twain consists of "200 men, mostly brigadier generals." These strong minded females are individual seekers of notoriety rather than generals.
A remonstrance against female suffrage signed by 1,000 of the most respectable ladies of the North, was laid before Congress a few days ago, the list being headed by Mrs. General Sherman.
The election of U. S. Senator by the Legislature of Va., to succeed Mr. Johnston, has been a matter of interest and speculation in political circles here. Those who knew Mr. Stuart when he sat in the Cabinet and remember the golden days of statesmanship when the eloquence of Clay, Webster and Benton echoed in our legislative halls, and when amidst all the brilliancy of that brilliant period his courteous bearing, flashing eye and manly eloquence were noted by every one, would hail his return to political life, and most of all, his election to the Senate, as a bright gleam of the happy past.
Mr. Johnston has given entire satisfaction, having proved himself to be a man true to his State in every particular. His re-election is earnestly desired by his numerous political friends, yet he labors under a disability which is a loss to the State. I refer to that timidity and reserve, so often consequent upon genius, which his limited experience in active political life has not been able to remove. It is to be hoped that the Legislature will not fix its choice upon one who, like Moses, is "slow of speech and not an eloquent man."
Anon,
J. C. R.