The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-01-25
NEXTPRESIDENCY.

| Line issues OF the next ITcStueutlal JAIL
paigu must grow out of the excuses of the
present administration, and be confined td
government, and reform in the civil service
We take it for granted that there will be nc
organized opposition to the Constitution as il
now is, including the 18th, 14th and 18th
/ amendments. It would be useless to discuss
the merits of those amendments, or the man.
ner of their adoption. They are part Of
the fundamental law of the country, aud op-
position to them now would imply a resistance
to the established basis Of our political exis-
tence We must take things as we End them
and advance from this base into the broad
field of official corruption, mal-administration
and usurpatiou. with aggressive intent. This
is abundantly fruitful for the exercise Of ev-
cry conservative and honest mind; and if W.
cannot check and reverse the stream of cor
ruption now sweeping over the land, and
achieve success by this policy, there is no
other conceivable manner to accomplish this
end.
It will become the necessary policy of the
Democratic party, to nominate some man.
who before the elimination of the slavery
discussion, and the final emancipation Of that
class of our people, was identified with the
party, but was in sympathy with the North in
the prosecution Of the late civil war. If his
record, throug hout, has been that of an hon
est man, although he may have differed with
the people of the South and many of the
North in the issues involved in the war,
there should be no objection to him on ac-
count of that difference, if now he has array
ed himself against the corruptioas and usur-
pations which characterize the present ad
ministration.
There are two men of this character, either
Of whom we would be willing to support, and
either of whom would not only command the
confidence Of the Democratic party, but win
over many who are identified with the Repub-
lican party Hon Lyman Trumbull, of Hi
nois, and Gov. Gratz Brown, Of Missouri =
They are both statesmen of comprehensive
views-they both were educated in the Dem
ocratic faith-they both were identified with
the ruling party in the North, during the
war-they are both now arrayed against the
official proAIgacy which is doing SO much to
mar the character Of our institutions in the
eyes Of the governments Of the world--they are
both fearless, outspokeu and determined
If the Democratic party will bring forward
as the opponent Of the Republican nominee
man Of the character sustained by these gen
tlemen, there might be reasonable hope OF
success.
The fallacy of the Alex. Stephens school
of politicians, who assume that the mode Of
the adoption Of the several late amendments
to the Constitution was fraudulent, and
therefore they are not BINDINGS apparent, when
we reflect that the chief magistrate of the
country, has to take an oath to support the
Constitution This oath estops all mental
reservations or palpable disregard as to that
instrument. Mr. Stephens idea Of treating
them as utilities, is nothing short Of direct
war upon the Constitution and the exhuming
of issues long since buried out Of sight
Such persons seem to forget that we had a
war-a bitter sectional war-growing out of
the difference Of opinion of the two sections,
upon the questions now sought to be thrust
before the people, and that these questions,
for all practical purposes, were determined
by the arbitrahlent OF the sword. To revive
them now, would only have the effect to ex-
cite sectional feeling, and secure the utter
defeat of the Democratic party. IF there is
any chance for success-and we confess that
there is very little, in our judgment-it must
be achieved by acquiescing in the results of
war, and arraying ourselves against the cor
ruptions that are now diffused throughout av-
cry department of the government.
In the political arena, we have indicated
the two men, either one Of whom would COM
mand the confidence Of rejecting, conserva-
tive minds of both parties. IF, however, the
wisdom of the Democratic party should lead
it to more practical field of selection, we
know of no man whose splendid administra-
tive talents, and broad comprehensive views
on all subjects, would command more serious
and favorable consideration than Hon. JOHN
W. GARRETT, Of Maryland. We believe as
much strength could be concentrated on him,
as any man in the country. He is Of char
acter to suit the progressive age in which we
live, and would be President ofthe entire
Union Irrespective of sections.
DR.. Howard, an American citizen, resid-
N,,ho No. to