The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-10-17
, $500 October ~. 1872.
THE TWO RECORDS.

~ We mean, in this canvass, to do what we
believe to be right. We will not, if we know
it, make misrepresentation OF misapplicaton
Of a fact. We are aware, in the course we
> have .adopted, that We. hazard the favor OF
personal friends. for whose good opinion we
are not!insensitlo BY a calm, unimpasslon~
Cd, unprejudicsd view CT public questions we
olAve pretty generally photographed the fu-
turc. What we have predicted as logical
9 conclusions, have pretty nearly come to pass
b, Th;s il evidence that we have not been gov.
erncd by passion And however much we
may regret to be separated ia opinion from
some Of our citizens, We do notregard 1t with
in cur province as public journalist, to yield
our honestly entertained cow lotions OF pub
lie policy, aud the true, solid, enduring lnte-
rests aud peace OF Virginia and the South, to
popular clamor. We venture the prediction
now. that six mouths will not pass away be-
Store tho course we have pursued, will be re-
,.,,oognized as eminenty conservative and In
harmony with national and State prosperity.
,.e.;a With the views of fairness we entertain,
VIC regard tho appeals, week after week, OF
several Valley papers based upon the follow
ing paragraph, as unjust, insincere, and IT.
relevant to this canvass. Whether Gen
Grant ever gave such az order is question
= with US. If he did, it was issued in time OF
gawa1r,, when every nerve Of The Federal power
was stretched to its utmost tension to over
: come the ConIederacy. 1t was given as ne
csssity Of var, aud is so stated. This is tae
paragraph, said to be an extract from an OF
der Of Gen. Grant to Sheridan.
do all the damage you can to the ha'i-
roads aud crops-carry off stock OF all &C.
scriptions and negroes, so as to prevent plant
ing. If the ,car is to last smother year. let
the shenaudoah Valley remain barren
xaste." tyee
1T should be remembered chat this Valley
wa, regarded By both governments as the
rgranary Of the Confsderacy,' and that the
,l.strnction of material resources was one OF
~. moot humane methods of closing the war
and saving human life. AS evidence that it
was not issued in Vandal spirit, we have on
n to refer to the order Grant gave to allow
the soldiers who surrendered at Appomatto&
to take with them their horses, for the de-
.clarad reason that it would enable them to pae
Us.
There was far less of the fend and less OF
the yauaal shown in this order, than 10 that
of tn, Confederate authorities which set IN
flames their own capital, destroyed thousands
If dollars worth of property of private cltl-
xeus without caute or purpose that ever
vet has been shown. It was no more brutal
than the burning Of Chambersburg by the
Goufederates. We do not wish to oe regard
ed as justifyipg one more than the other.-
arbov were both extreme measures, not called
for BY the necessities ofthe occasions bo'
the reason assigned for making the 'Shenan
-doah Valley barren waste" was IN litary
ore. It was for the purpose of Gripping the
novcr of the Confederacy and ending hostli-
i,;e. The burning Of Chambersburg was
surelv revenqe and that of Richmond, craze"
co,oardice
Concsdng that Grant issued such an order
in time of war and for war purposes, how does
itoompare in ferocity, in 6endsh brutality, IN
savage cruelty, with this following prayer OF
. Horace Greeley, sent forth from his cushioned
chair and carpeted sauctlm, and blazing
HEARTH far removed from the stern trials OF
the camp, the smoke Of battle and the whistle
of minnie balls.
"But nevertheless we mean to conquer
them-not merely to defeat, but to conquer,
to SURROGATE them-and we shall do TINS
the most mercifully the more speedily
we do it. But aoten the rebeNtons traitors
are overwhelmed in the field, and scattered
like leaues before an angry ,0iad, 1t must MOI
be to return to peaceful and happy homes
They must find poverty at their ttresldes ana
sec psivation IN the anxious eyes Of mothers
and the rugs of children"
These were the sentiments III May 1861 Of
the philosopher, the kind hearted, the hu
name Horace Greeley If moro brutal
barbarous, 6endish utterance ever was made
by man or devil, we have never heard Or read
Of it.
The spirit breathed 10 this extract from
Mr.. Greeley's editorials, written in the calm
aud quiet of his sauctum, harmonzcd beauti
fully with his agency in assisting and encour-
aging Old john Brown in his incendiary mis-
sion with pixies, from Harper's Ferry, when
butchery, arson and rape were to be accom-
plished. 1t is akin to the hellish purpose
encouraged and fermented by him and execu-
ted by. Jim Lane and Montgomery,in leyasta-
ting the South border Of Missouri, in a time
OF peace, burning the houses, killing arc
stealing the stock, and numbering quiet
peaceable citizens, without regard to age, SCI
or condition. Lisping infants, women in la
Dor and decrcpid men were driven out upor
the praires by the searching flames of thei1
l. / L,t I,oC i,or ri,