The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-04-27
PLAIN TALK.

There seems to be an undue degree of ncr-
vousness and anxiety manifested in regard 10
the next representation in the Legislature of
Virginia. from Augusta county. From the
indications, the candidates will be numerous,
and the scramble general. In our opinion,
the excitement commences too early. It will
he nearly seven months before the election
takes place, and ere that time we know not
what may come to pass It did not take the
Dutch any longer than that to dethrone an
emperor, destroy an empire, and make the
proudest and most martial nation on the
globe dependency. Under the Ku-Klux
bill Ulysses the First may, within that period,
have Virginia under his heel suspend Aa-
beas corpus, and send abroad through the
country the ukase that bayonets and not bal
lots are to be the order of the day.
But, seriously; we regard the agitation Of
the Legislative question at this time, as pre-
manner in which the excitement is being
brought about as unb scoming sensible men,
md detrimental to the best interest of the
county and the State A prejudice
has grown up against Stanton with some
persons in the county, that has no founla-
ton in reason, interest or policy. The
county and the city are mutually beneficial
and dependent The one cannot prosper
without the ether We are one people
have common interest to subservc, and a
common prosperity to achieve. IF in the
past the people of the county have permitted
themselves to be lead and directed and con-
trollcd by few men 10 Stanton, they have no
one to blame but themselves We are sure
shey have been warned of the insignificant
and humiliating role they have been playing.
The editor of this paper, in days of yore, was
in the habit of writing in bitter denunciation
of the semi-autocraey that was praeticed in
this county, but because he belonged to a
political party then that had the high honor
OF being in large minority at that time, his
appeals and warnings and denunciations we're
passed idly by, and were attributed to party
feeling The people aow see that we were
right then.
But we can see no reason now for charging
the people Of .Stauatoa with the sins, capri
ces, and selGshress of few Individuals
rLerA should be and really s common sym
pathy with the masses, and We should earnest
sy deprccate any attempt OF movement which
had for its object the farther enlargement of
the town and county people.
1t has been frequently remarked to us, by
friends from the county, that they intended
to have country delegation to tho LegsIa-
turc-that they were tired Of lawyers-tired
OF Staunton domination-aud that they in
tend ed to send farmers to the next Legisla-
ture. We have invariably responded that we
had no objection to farmers nor had we any,
thing to say against any class of men What
we wanted was Intelligent, honest and capa-
BILE men-mcn who would fairly represent the
interest of the people, comprehend the great
questions of State policy, and who could en-
force their views upon others. We want no
mere .fy"re beads, merely to wear the iusig-
MIA Of Office without the information and the
breadth Of thought to digest and understand
intricate questions of legislation-mcn who
can justly aspire to lead in the affairs of
State; and not such as would be satisfied to
simply record their votes, under the manipu-
lation of more astute and experienced legis-