The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-06-29
WA. IT MEANS.

Wnlch nave heretofore envlr0ned them, that
discover an abnegatlon of principle in the
enlightened and progressive movement inau-
gurated by Mr.. Vallandigham. Such per-
sons, with swelling Importance and elastic
lungs, proclaim from the house-tops, that they
would 'rather suffer death than sacrifice
principle" --they are ready to "shufle off this
mortal coil' in the 'ast ditch before they
would give in their adhesion to anything a
Radical Congress had enacted. To attempt
to penetrate such iron-cad minds with prac-
tical suggestion would be about as reasona-
BILE as to throw pearl before swine They are
imperyious to innovation, and arc so welded
to fossils and impracticablcs that any depar-
ture from given line is regarded as crimi-
nal.
The snew movement" which is spreading
with rcsstless rapidity throughout the entire
country, and infusing the spirit that pervades
it into the minds and hearts Of all men who
feel the necessity-stern and relentless neces-
sity-of doing something to escape from the
clutch of the tyrant, does not contemplate
the surrender of any principle, nor the en-
dorsation, as a canon of party policy, of any
Of the usurpations of the Radical party. 1t
is simply declaration that We intend, in the
campaign of 1872, to adopt an oggressiue
mode of warfare-that we will not fight be-
hind breastworks, and be content with main
tanning position of negative hostiities.-
We mean to adopt the tactics of that grand
old Russian warrior, Surworrowa-"R Right
about face prepare ready charge bayo
nets !' and sup, and at 'em, men y We wish
to leave the breastworks to take care Of them
selves, while we advance into the ememy's
country, and conquer peace. We can ar
range the terms of the adjustment afterwards,
and as the conquerors dictate the conditions,
dema nding indemnity for the past and Sc
curity ion the future"
If we merely protest against the wicked
legislation of Congress-if We simply array
our wrongs as base from which to operate
and defend ourselves from the injustice per
petrated, we will accomplish nothing put ig-
nominious defeat Our policy is to accef'
he situation-let the forced amendments to
the Constitution stand-we cannot change
them by an unsuccessful contest with Radical
ism-and march forward to new, live, available
questions the Radical party upon
its general corruptions -dcmauding reform
in the civil scrvice-holding the opposition
to just responsibility for the Ku- Klux and
Election bills, and innumerable other acts of
legislation, designed to subvert the govern
ment, by destroying its equilibrium, and cen
tralizipg its power in the Executive head,
and as certain as the sun rises and sets the
Democratic party will advance to power
Let us once secure the Executive and Legis-
lativc departmcnts-let us get the President
and majority Of votes in Congress, and
then the great principles which were to all
appearances abandoned, will loom up, freed
from the mists and cobwebs which obscurcd
them and take their proper place 10 the ad-
ministration of the government.
No sensible man ever dreamed of reeog-
nizing or accepting the situation as .tina1.-
There is, and can be nc. fnaliyin legislation.
It is ever changing aud shifting to suit the
varying and progressive events of the day,
and the INITIATIVE condition of the country.
We must get the power before we can hope
to make change in the character of that
legislation, and give different direction to
its current.
1t is in this spirit that We accept the stu
ation-it wasin this spirit that the Conserva-
tive party of Virginia acted in the last guber-
material campaign-it was in this spirit that
the new departure was conceived by Mr.
Vallandigham, and endorsed by Judge Chase
and nearly the entire Democratic party OF the
country-and, if we are wise in tho selec-
tons of candidates for President and Vice.
President, it will be in this spirit that We
will triumphantly march into the possession
of the government in 1872.
Coon APPoINrMENT.-We arc pleased to
announce that, upon the unanimous recon-
mendation of the Stanton bar, Judge Me-
Laughlin has appointed Judge J. W. G.
Smith, Commissioner in Chancery for the
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