Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-12-15

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perpetuation exceeds that for the public
veal, and party is fostered at the expense
Of principle. When venality triumphs IN
onr public places. and the insidious approach
es tyranny are UNDECIDED by the masses
when at local elections Federal soldiers, by
order Of Federal officials with loaded mus
kets and fixed bayonets, surround the polls,
or Federal battle ships with shotted cannon
beleaguer 8 city to overawe its citizens in
the free exercise Of the elective franchise
when i'm beetle and corrupt local governments
are forced upon people, and they punished
for the ineficiency ard rottenness of those
very governments by the arbitrary de-
privation Of all civil government all
rights and all liberty arrested by thousands
without warrant Of law and driven to prison
like cattle to tho shambles, it is time that
the alarm-bell was sounded and the people
awakened to a sense Of the dangers impen-
ding. They alone can apply the corrective.
They have the means of redress in their own
hands. Let them insist that the doctrine of
the indestructibility of the Union as the
fathers framed it shall be recognized, and
that the original and inherent sovereignty
Of the States and the strict administration
of the powers delegated by them to the
Union shall again be acknowledged /, let
them demand the inviolability of the habeas
corpus the subordination Of the military to
the civil authority; ''the maintenance of the
public faith, State and national, untarnish-
ed honesty and economy in the admins
tration of public affairs the equalization
and reduction Of tariffs and taxation to
the lowest degree consistent with the main
tenance Of the public credit; free educa-
ton for all a fostering care, encourage
ment, and elevation oflabor, and until fully,
finally and permanently accomplished, uni
versal amnesty and impartial suffrage -
1t is in no partisan spirit that [ utter these
words Of warning to you. l should be
dereIict in the execution of the high trust
reposed in me did I not make known to you
the perils which surround us, and indicate
the course which in my Judgment it is wise
to pursue I would that I could present
less sopbre picture -thatT could congratu-
late you upon the complete restoration of
the National Government to its pristine pu-
rlty and excellence, strong in the affections
Of the people and the just execution Of their
sovereign will. But as affection is not be-
gotten Of force, nor honesty of corruption,
SO liberty is not nurtured by tyranny nor
peace by violence. Not until the people
rise in their majesty and re-assert their liber-
ties, now trampled upon; not until kindness
shall supercede hate. and patriotism rise
superior to partisan selGshness, may We look
for the Inauguration of can era Of good
feeling"
Let us hope that patriots and statesmen,
good men and Christians, everywhere
throughout the land, regardless of past asso-
Citations or affections, will unite in an honest
and earnest effort to redeem the nation from
this unnatural and dangerous condition Of
affairs, to the end that peace and fraternity
may be again restored among the people, so
that the nation, united, purified, and har-
monized, may march onward to the grand
consummation of the mighty destiny which
awaits it.
MISCELLANEOUS. sl-
Upon the subject Of special legislation and
the organization of joint stock companies,
banks, &C., respectfully refer you to my
ldot dhHuai HleoeaSo Ibd INC ueseaSo VI
date the 9Th of March, 1870, for an express
sion of my views.
Upon the subject of the organization of
the militia, the James River and Kanawha
Company, the organization Of an insurance
bureau, and one or two other subjects, [
shall probably take an early occasion to ex-
press my views to you.
Such of the reports of the several depart
ments Of the Government as have been re-
ceived are herewith submitted. especial
ly call your attention to shat of public prin-
ter and the superintendent of weights and
measures. The former gives a very lucid,
and, SO far as 1 am able to judge, very sat
isfactory exposition of the management Of
his department, and the latter embodies in
formation of interest ana importance. The
recommendation by the public printer that
tie bills of his department be no longer
subjected to Executive approval meets with
my cordial concurrence, and for the reasons
he assigns.
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