The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-08-05
ssShall Vlrginians Vote 20

ssShall Vlrginians Yote?"
Our answer has been, is, and will be-YEs!
Our duty to ourselves and to the great Demo-
cratic party of the country demands impera-
lively tbat,ip this hour Of trial, Virginia. fair
escutcheon be kept pure and stainless as
when given to us by her heroic sons of the two
Revolutions. When Virginians laid down
their arms at Appomatox, their matchless
honor, bravery and integrity were themes of
admiration-even amid our foes. None of
these did they surrender to the recreant,
whose quondam cognomen now heads the
radical ticket. Will they yield them now p
People of the Old Dominion, the spirit of
WASHINGTON looks down upon us while we
make our choice The issues involved arc
not complicated; our honor is concerned,
and We cannot, MUST NOT, WILL NOT
hesitate Should we fail to perform this
duty, COPS curses, mankind's, and our
own will rest upon u.s.
The Constitution of 1851 is undoubtedly
the Constitution of Virginia. Upon this
point all of our best legal minds agree-al-
though the Alexandra Convention made no
change in regard to the election of electors
for President and Vice President-on this
particular point the Constitution of 1851 re-
mains intact. On this ground-if on none
other, do we make out our case as having a
clear right-which makes it an imperative
duty-to cast our vote at the ensuing Pfesi-
dental election. By the provisions of sec7 Z,
chap. Z, title 3, of both the Constitution OF
1851 and the Alexandria Constitution, the
Governor is required, Goa or before the first
day of August, in every year in which such
elections are to be held" Chat is, election
of electors of President and Wise President
to s'appoint three persons in each county-in
the corporation of Williamsburg in
each corporation in which wards are estab-
lished, as commissioners, any two OF whom
may act, to superintend the election" etc.
This clearly defines the duty Of our Governor,
that is, if we have legal Governor. In case
he fails to execute the law-(no doubt he
will)-or if we have no legal Governor
and no intelligent man would venture to af-
firm that we have, then again does both con-
stitutions provide for the identical emergen-
cy. By sec. II, oh. Z, title 3, Of both consti-
tutions, it is provided that eff only one Of
said commissioners appointed to superintend
any of the elections before mentioned, shall
attend and be willing to act, he may associate
with himself as commissioner any freehold
er who may be present /; and if none Of the
commissioners attend, or none shall
hGve been appointed, then any two
frceholders present, and agreeing to act, shall
be commissioners. Any such commissioner,
appointed or agreeing to act as prescribed in
this section, shall take the same oath, per-
form the same duties, and be subject to the
same penalties, as if he had been originally
appointed commissioner.
Such is the law The infamous bill refer
red to the Senate (so-called proposing to
prevent us from taking any part in the COM
ing election vas defeated. We are free to
make our own choice. Are you For or
Against, men Of the Valley? But no! We
do not doubt you! For years did you face
famine and death with fortitude that has
made the name Of Virginia immortal, and
now you will not desert the Right! Let us
do our duty, and vote leaving to the Dem
ocracy Of the North their duty-counting
our rotel In your names We send them
greeting, assuring them that although the
birthplace Of WASHINGTON and HENRY and
MADISON and LEE is under the heel of the
oppressor-that Virginia
sis not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb
She breathes, she harnRss she'll come s1s'H come "