Staunton Spectator, And General Advertiser

For the Staunton Spectator.

Mr. Editor: In looking over your paper of the 30th January last, I noticed the proceedings of a meeting held by the Democratic Republicans of your county. Being myself an Old Democrat, I read the proceedings of the meeting with much interest; but I must candidly confess, Mr. Editor, "that my Republican Simplicity was very much shocked" at the gorgeous array of Colonels, Captains, and Esquires, who were in attendance. I had ever been taught to believe, that the Democrats of Old Augusta, were composed of the plain, substantial, Yeomanry of the county ; and that but very few of the titled gentry belonged to that respectable party. As before stated, I am an Old Democrat, and have seen a good many things in my time—I have observed the array of titled gentry that belonged to the Old Dominion during the existence of the Colonial Government; but after the Revolution in this country, I thought I saw an entire and radical change in that matter. In our Republican times, our distinctive appellation, was that of plain Mister, and not 'Colonel, Captain, or Esquire: I had always been taught to believe, that such titles, were only sought after by Old Federalists, and modern Whigs, and never by Democratic State's Rights Republicans. I hope the respectable individuals who composed that meeting, and who lay so much stress on the word Democrat, will not feel themselves aggrieved. The Deducter did not wish to offend—but the Old Soldier only reminds them that this hankering after titles of distinction., has an "awful squinting;" but I hope the people will not abuse it.