The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-11-30
SMASHING OF STATES,

dressed letter to Col. r. W. Hughes, U. s.
District Attorney, making inquiry as to the
~eligibilitys1o seat in the Legislature of A
"A. Gray, who held the position Of Commits
ssiouer in Chancery during the war, has writ
ten response, in which be maintains that
Mr.. Gray is ineligible to seat in the Legis-
lature, until his disabilities shall have been
removed by act Of Congress. Col Hughes
takes identically the same view of the subject
shat re advanced in various editorial articles
Ill the 'NslnaINIAN, previous to the election.
JIe regards the position Of Legislator as an
Asodice," according to Che explicit provision
pof the State Constitution and the election
law, and suggests that no elected member at
tempt to take his seat, who is obnoxious to
.the 3rd clause of the 18th amendment to the
Federal Constitution. At the same time, he
expresses the earnest wish that bill be
speedily passed by Congress not only reliev-
ing these members elect to the Legislature,
but bill Of general amnesty, and concludes
with the following pregnant paragraphs:
Uutii the removal of the disabilities of those
who lie under them, however, we must enforce
the law as it is. 1t is very serious thing
for any citizen-certalnly for any legislator
to set at defiance the constitution and laws
our country. And the case here is the more
aggravated because these legislators elect have
not only assumed themselves to trample down
the National Constitution, but have called
upon the good and well-meaning people in
,uany of the counties and districts of our
Commonwealth to aid and abet them in this
defiance of the solemn and sacred law.
Who will contend that it is not better that
our country should be governed by the enact
cd law rather than by the popular passion and
caprice? A % 0a
I will not believe that either branch Of our
Legislature will seat members claiming to sit
in violation of the supreme law Of the land.
Whatever else may be said of our State, none
can deny to her the well-earned reputation of
loyal and profound respect aud obedience to
the constitution and laws of our great coun-
try.
This opinion of one of the law officers Of
the United States, will have the effect of
smashing up several states, which had for
their object the election Of speaker. Two OF
the prominent candidates for that position
come under the condemnation of the 14th
amendment to the Federal Constitution
Gen. James A. Walker, Of Pulaski, and Col.
Geo. E. Deneale, Of Rockingham, which en-
hances tho chances of the election of Maj. j
Marshall Hanger, of this county. Neither Of
the delegates from Rockingham, nor the Sen
ator from the Shenandoah district, will be
able to take his seat at the commencement
Of the session. There are several others who
will be placed in the same category.
Says the Albany Argus There are siz
Radical Governors now before the public who
have been impcached, or who stand before
the country disgraced. Holden, of North
Carolina, was impeached and removed. But.
Ter was impeached for fraud and corruption
in Office in Nebraska. Davis has been dis
graced in Texas Bullock has stampeded
from Georgia to avoid impeachment. Aus.
tin, of Minnesota, is now charged with hay
ing taken bride Of $4,000. Scott. Of
South Carolina, is charged with Improperly
issuing State bonds to the amount Of 800
10000.
Ex-Controller Connolly, of New York, was
arrested on the Goth LIZ had not succeeded
in giving bail at last accounts, which is fixed
at 81 ,000.0 00
Mayor Hall, and the whole auditing board
8 in number, will also be arrested. There
Hever was grander set Of scoundrels than
the Tammany Ring.
The canal is now opened to Lexington
On the 9th. three through freight boats
reached that place from Richmond, loaded
with coal, salt and young fruit trees. $40
4 procession marched through the streets
Of Paris, with impuuity, favoring the resto-
,ation Of the Napoleon dynasty, and shout