Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-12-07
The Proposed walker Party"


The Proposed walker Party"
We regret to learn that some of our more ar
dent politicians about Richmond have set on
foot movement, for the purpose OF establish
ing a new political party, to be called the
walker party.
We think the movement unwise and prema-
ture. The people of Virginia are IN no conoi-
ton now to participate in partizan politics.
We think. with Com. Maury, that, for the
,rosont at least, sit is the policy of Virginia to
ascbow notifies" Our attention should be d.
roctad 70 the improvement of our material IN
.orosts II will be time enough to talk OF po-
Itical parties when we are restored to our iui'
RIGHTS in the Union, and are In condltlon 10
hack our opinions by our votes At present.
-ro bove no recognized right to participate In
the nolitica contests of the nation, and 1t seems
70 ne. therefore, that it is rather an Idle tnlng
for rs to be vaporing and saying what we Wouio
do if we had the power to 90 It,
But we would regard any movement OF eh e
kind as premature even if we were In the 1ui
en;ovment of our~rights. At present, every
+b;ro ;s in transition state. We have not the
affirmation that is necessary to enable US TO
form an intelligent opinion as to what VIII. De
hest for US in the future We have put NIUE
knowledge of what Gen. Grants policy VIII De-
ond still less as to Gov. Walkers. we must
await further developments. In few weeks
or months. we will have full knowledge on THESE
s,biacts Tn the mean time, we should occupy
POSITION Of armed neutrality. We must meet
every issue as it arises and deal with 1t as oese
MO can The whole people Of Virginia should
stond tooetber as one man. There should be
no splitting up into separate parties. Dy HAIL
tanning this kind of compact organization we
have. thus far, been able to ward oil the dead
" blows that were aimed at Virginia. Let Us l.S
preserve that organization intact, at least un'n
WE are fully restored to the Union. After tnat
is ACCOMPLISHED, we must expect party dl'is-
ions. Such divisions are incidents to free ihS'i,
+n,;ons They spring out Of differences OF
opinion on questions of public policy, anu are
inevitable in all governments IN when lfeeuon
of oninion and discussion are tolerated..
As for ourselves, we are free to confess tnat
we are not prepared now to take any denni'e
nos;tion in regard to political parties we want
moro LIGHT before we can determine what our
nolitical relations may be in the future We
are in state of anxious expectancy. OuF puf-
nose is to cooperate in the future, with that
nartv which may seem to US to have most at
boort the interests of the country, and, more
osnec;allv. the welfare of Virginia. But with
the lights now before us. we are not prepared
to say what party will come nearest TO our o..
standard We are now in condition OF point
;col;ndenendence, and, for the present, we mean
70 maintain that position. Wea untrammelled
bv anv narty affiliations. We are neither re-
nnbl;cans nor democrats. We owe no feaity'
and but little gratitude to either of-those par
ties We think they are both corrupt enete,
worn ont. We would be glad to see both OF
them set aside. We should like to see new
organization spring up, which would cast ASIDE
tbe dead issues of the past, and represent the
living ideas of the present day-a party which
would respect the rights of the States, on the
one hand. and faithfully fulfill the duties OF the
oenera] Government on the other. We want
nartv which, while it would reject the narrow
dopmas of notification and secession, Would, al
tho same time. steer clear Of the more danger
Gus heresy of consolidation.
We are not among those who believe that the
organic law of our country has been changed
bv the var-we do not think that the sword i
the best expounder of the Constitution. Mo-
are we advocates of the fashionable doctrine
notification. We believe that the war has
settled the question Of the indissoube charac
ter of the Union-we agree to that. Further
we know that the war has abolished slavery
and given to citizens Of African descent the
rights of citizenship-we acquiesce in that
But, we maintain, that, in other respects, oul
government remains now, what it was before
the war began.
We mean to take no leap in the dark. VIZ
wish to know where we are going, before VIZ
commence our journey. At present, we know
s. little of the policy of Gen. Grant and Gov
Walker that we cannot decide whether we shall
support or oppose either, or both. We shall
be gratiied if the course of both shall b
marked by that wisdom and patriotism which
shall draw us to them by hooks of steel. w
should deplore the necessity of opposing either
We earnestly hope that no such necessity vii
arise. Their future conduct will determine
that question. Oar first duty is to our country
We shall endeavor to fulfil that duty faithfully
But we can give no bonds for the future, ex
cept of conditional character. We shall form
no entangling alliances in advance. We shall
wait and watch. IF Gen. Grants and Gov
Walkers administrations be wise and patriotic
we shall sustain them-if they be not of tina
character, We shall reluctantly, but firmly ant
respectfully, oppose them to the best of oul
ability. But, as we before remarked, we have
not the requisite information to decide tina
question now.
Hence we conclude this article, as we com
menced it, with the declaration, that, in oul
Judgment, it is unwise and premature for tht
people of Virginia, at this time, to entanglt
themselves with any party organization what
ever.
The Government Works at Harper's Ferry
were sold last week at auction. For the Mus
ket Factory $l76,0 900 was received, and for the
Rife Factory 1000. The sale includes the
buildings, grounds, and the magnificent water
power attached to them. The purchasers vii
use the buildings for manufactures.
The Washington Chronicle, the New York