The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-07-01

''H- :.
:. [Coslmunieasion.l
'sThe New .Moyement"-Col. Baldwin
,,:lsa Speaks. =. 81
Fellow citizeass ! ~
IF amy thing could be
regarded as singular and unheard Of these
DAYS, it would be the letter Of Col. Baldwin
to the people of this District, advising them.
to vote for his brothef-in-law Gray, for Cons
.gress. First-strange that any man should
presume to direct all the voters of the Dis
trict; second stranger, still that he should
overlap the bounds of delicacy and direct
them to vote for his brother-in-law. More
over it is singular the letter is published just
in time for the last. issue Of each paper in
the District, thus giving no time for reply
before the election This letter is not less
remarkable IN it's statement OF facts. For
instance, in the first sentence it says, II fear
they (the Walker partly are about to let the
Radicals take control Of the District without
struggle" From this, the reader would in-
fer there was'a Republican in the field, when
the fact is, that on last Friday they were to
have had Convention at this place to nom-
mate a candidate and. not a single delegate
from any other county attended and nothing
was done. Consequently they have no can
didate, and Col, Baldwin knows that, for he
says further on, Wells Radical 'may at the
last moment be. sprung upon us" Again he
assumes Mr.. .Gonaad, Is a candidate in the
face of the fact that he is not regularly an
nounced in any paper in the District, and
that in answer to letter requesting him to
run and make an aettte CANVASS. he answered,
SAYING he would Hotcanyass, but. placing his
name in the hands of fhe. geptlcmen written
| to, the latter publinhed he correspondence
without ANNOUNCING hifnl, had there The mat
ter ends, except two. Winchester papers have
his name at their bead: i refer to the pa.
pers of the District for the truth of this.
So COL Baldwin creates the necessity by
aahaag, tsoo candidates in order to call upon
the people to avoid the dilemma by voting for
his near connection" Again Col. Baldwin
announces this to belaw.t 8 go elect a man to
Congress who by theoCenstitution and laws of
the United States. is prohibited to hold Office,
State or Federal, wenId seem to be flying in
the face of the national authority Chow defe-
rental all at onceto . the national authori-
ty Ply and would give Congress substantial
reason not only to reject our representative
but disregard all votes cast for him, and to
give place to his Radical opponent" This
| Col. Baldwin announces to Be constitutional
law, that if an eligible man receives
one hundred votcs and his ineligible opponent
receive 5000, the former would be entitled
to the seat. For mark-he says it would af-
| ford Congress a :" Substantial reason" In
the discussion Of constitutional questions how
can reason be: Substantial not founded in
law? This doctrine is in the face Of every
decision on the subject. He makes this as
sertion too, in the face of the fact that num-
Der of Southern men have been elected to
Congress since the war with disabilities and
/ admitted to their seats. For instance P. NJ.
Young, Con federates General and Co.ser-
vative~ from Georgia, was admitted to his
seat-and further in the face of this fact,
during the last winter Mr.. Payne Of Wiscon-
sin offered resolution covering precisely
Col Baldwin's views of the law. TO wit {:
| that the eligible candidate should be de-
clared elected and disregarding the votes cast
for the candidatey under disabilities
! This resolution was referred land never heard
of again. so Congress refused to TO exactly
what Col. Baldwin say they aoi1 do. The Col.
ought to look into the proceedings of Congress
a little before he makes such sweeping asser-
tons. Ass to his linear connection and his
capacity to make aogood representative I
have nothing to- say.fsI have ceased to no.
tice him. az ,s .s'
In conclusion, I-appeal to the people of
the District to vote their sentiments without
regard to Col. Baldwin or. am body else
Let him vote his olvN sentiments but not un-
dertake to vote yours. Washington issued
the first address of, warning to the people
Col. Baldwin the second / will be pardon
ed for stating that it is the first time in the
history Of this District,Ithat any one man
has voluntarily undertaken to influence, in
behalf of another, a whole District of free
men-all his peers. in political rights and
privileges. The time was, and is yet, in some
countries, when Kings ordered their linear
lconneetions" to high places and ordered their
subjects at will, but that time, thank God !!
has not come to us yet The fewest number
Eof men ever known to take the old Dominion
on their shoulders was NINE but it seems
now the honors are divided out and ONE is to
say who is to 90 to Congress. If the Colonel
had COMMITTEE of nines on me-: the thing
soould be serious, but when it comes down to a
committee of ono, / beg to be excused from
regarding it. Col. Baldwin having said, if I
were eligible there would be no objection to
me, hope after reading my cards on that
subject, the people will concur with him and
give me their united support.
| Respectfully, a.
+:s@ .Y.T-' szSA JOHN T.5HARRIs. /.