Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-09-12
SELECTED REsDING G.
Greeley Mass Meeting in Rock inghana
Hon, }. Randolph Tucker-He ts
fer notwithstanding Letter.


LEXINGTON, Va, Aug. IL, 1872.
Gentlemen: My engagements will
prevent ME from meeting the people al
Taylor's Spring in your great county on
the 7 tn inst, and / must content myself
with presenting my views in the form of a
letter,
The struggle Of the Confederate States
for an independent existence ended in
1865, i'll the restoration Of the Federal
Union between all the States under The
Federal Constitution of 1889.
For the first time since 1860, Virginia
has a voice in the selection of Presi-
dent of the United States. She was ST.
lent in the Presidential elections of 1864
and 1868. She has a deep interest in
the present election, and it behooves the
oldest Commonwealth of the Union to
decide wisely and discreteiy and without
passion, whom she shall designate as the
Chief Magistrate during the next term OF
tie efhce.
If her voice alone could be heard, I do
not doubt that she would choose many
men in preference to either Greeley or
Grant. But in conference with the two
great parties throughout the whole Union
her people by their representatives in two
Conventions, have narrowed her choice
to these two men. Which shall she
choose That is The sole question; un.
less with power to choose, she prefers
silence.
But we know that her electoral votes
will be cast for one or the other. Then,
on which side should every man, who de-
sires to secure her peace and her liberty,
array himself in giving his vote at the ap-
preaching election ? His silence or his
vote may Be potential in tho result. A
solemn responsibility therefore rests upon
every man in Virginia in view Of these
facts; for the future happiness of her peo-
pie may depend upon it.
Whether rightfully Or wrongfully,
Slavery has been abolqaed, Negro suffrage
has been realized. tbs Union has been
restored and We cannot, i: we would, re-
verse these established facts. No man,
dreams of the restoration of slavery, Or
the Cenfederacy. Suffrage in its present
form is part Of oar o'cs Constitution.
There is no use in talking of these things
now-they are done, and we must deal
with them as practical men deal, with
fixed facts.
Tbs Democratic party of the country
has thrice met the Republican party, and
been thrice defeated The belief Of the
mass Of that party, as expressed IN its
late Convention, is. that defeat would
meet any nomination it could have made
at Baltimore, other than Greeley or Grant.
To make its millions OF votes potential'in
the result, it had to choose between these
two candidates. 1t did SO with ~unparal
leled unanimity; unparalleled because no
candidate of the Democratic party has
since the days of Andrew jackson been
nom mated without fierce struggle be-
tween it's distinguished statesmen for the
position. Greeley was nominated at Bal
timora by the Democratic Conventioni on
the first ballot. twenty to one.
The question then comes to ME as a
Denocrat Shall I repudiate the nomi-
nee o the Radical party or by my re-
fusal TO vote,so far help the Radical nom
nee.
That question I have decided. l hold
it to be my duty to that great party in
Virginia, and in the United States, whose
power in the integrity Of its Organization
I deem essen tial to the liberty and So sssy
of my people, to vote for Mr.. Greedy.
That party las defended, and will defend /,
the rights which have been assailed by
the Radical party in every Southern
State "a party which threatens to sub
merge the fundamental principles of Con-
stisutional Liberty everywhere in the
Union. I stand by my friends. and will
not help, BY vote of silence, the organiza
ton of those who have sworn themselves
to be their enemy and mine. l urge the
Democrats and Con servativss of Virgi nia
to do the same, aud neither by vote fol-
Grant, nor by silence, to uphold the power
of a party whose principles and whose
praetises are fatal 20 our liberties. and op-
| posed to the peace and prosperity OF the
whole country.
know that there are some who think
Grant preferable to Greeley; or who thinl
that neutrality is preferable to either.
cannot concur with either of these views
| Neutrality in contest which effect
our rights is rarely justifable. II is sell
| dom that the Issues of human affairs ar
50 nicely balanced. as to show no res soI
for preference between alternatives
II they are equally balanced, neutrallt..
becomes proper.
1t is said, that it is best that we TAX
no part, lest We thus endorse Greeley
views Of Slavery. the War, Negro Sufrag
Reconstruction Acts, &C., 10.
| But it seems to me- that men misappre
bend the pnrposs Of Suffrage, in argainl
thus.