The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-07-25
THE CONGRESSIONAL CANVASS.

| trum to present their claims to the voters
of the District for their sufrages and the
$4,000 per annum salary, were Judge j..
T. Harris, Col. r. T. W. Duke, Col. Chas
I. O'Ferrall and Gen. John E. Roller
Col. Skinner was not in the ring, although
we understand him to be candidate be-
fore the Convention for nomination.
Judge Harris opened the discussion.
After making some personal illusions, he
stated that the issues involved in the No
vcmber election arose higher than the con-
siderations of mere persons They were
national in their scope, and comprehended
the perpetuity of Republican institutions.
He arraigned the administration Of Presi-
dent Grant, as corrupt, weak and vacilla-
ting, and fortified his position by quota
tions from Republican authority--the
speech of Senator Sumner. He claimed
that the election of Greeley was demanded
by the necessities of the time, and that it
was not appropriate to delve into the mus
ty records of the pastto drag up what had
been said upon questions not german to
the present issue. The old Wing and Dem
mon object moved by common purpose,
end that we must look to practical results,
rather than consider the dead issues of the
past. He claimed that Greeley would GER
tainly be elected. The Southern States,
with the exception, probably of South Car
DINA, would cast solid vote for him, which
with the vote of New York, Pennsylvania,
Indiana aud Illinois, that were certain
for him, would give more than enough to
consummate the result. He stated that
if Greeley was not elected, he did not want
a seat in Congress. He repealed his rea-
son for supporting Greeley, and stated
that in all practical, live questions. Gree
ley was with the Democratic party and
South, and quoted from speeches in the
South in 1871, to prove it. He made Il
fearful exhibit Of the taxes paid to the
Federal Government, by the State, amount
ing to $4,000, 1000, while only $4,000
900 was collected for State purposes
Most of this large sum, he contended, went
to the carpet-baggers one way or another,
mostly by stealing, and by them sent back
to their northern homes. That out Of
$4,000, 900 spent in Washington City,
| not one cent of it was paid to Southern
people. He closed his remarks by state
ment of the various bills he had introduced,
and had passed, in Congress having refer
ence to relief of the people of Virginia and
the South. His position, as member of
the Committee on Claims, gave him an OPP
portunity to become acquainted with the
wants and expressions Of the Southern peo-
pie, and he had labored earnestly for the
passage of such bills as their necessities
demanded.
Judge Harris speech had favorable
effect on the audience. He made in his
second speech, manly defence Of Govern
or Walker, who had been attacked by Col
| O'Ferrall, asserting that it was unkind to
assail him, while he was absent in North
Carolina, fighting the battles of the Con-
sentative party and the South.
| Col. Duke followed Judge Harris. At
ter personal allusion, he announced his
candidacy for Congress, subject to the de-
cision of regularly constituted Conven-
ton of the Conservative party, declaring
it as his belief that there could be no eff
fciency in party organization, unless the
ussages of party were strictly adhered to.
He then proceeded to give brief review
of his personal history-his birth place.
early education, and matrimonial alliance
He then hsanched off on Federal politics
stated the issue as Greeley or Grant. He
quoted from Greeley's editorials, the Gin
cinnati platform and the acceptance, tc
show the kindly feeling of Greeley for the
South, and the broad, national views, he
entertained, as we'll as fraternal regard fol-
the Southern people. He alluded to Da-
vis's bond, as the browning act Of Greeley's
life, which should commend him to the
| confidence and support of the Southern peo-
pie. h then referred to the expenditure
Of the Republican party within the pas
ten years. They had collected over foul
billions dollars, and had appropriated on
" two hundred and fifty million dollars te
the reduction of the public debt. He dis
I cussed the foreign and home policy of the
government, charging that the former wa:
disgrace to the nation, and that the ar
my, instead of being used to protect ths
: frontiers, was employed to Cypress and out
rage the Southern people. lie charged
that when the war closed we had 67s YES
sells, and that now ne had only 170-50s
either stolen or given away, as the record
of the Treasury did not show that cen
9 had been received for them He statet
5 that $100, 100000 had been stolen in col
u Letting thsrevenue Of the government.
J, Mr. Dukes remarks were very forcible
and were highly spoken of by many of hi
hearers, after the close of the discussion
Col O'Ferrall next took the stand. FL
alluded to his acquaintance in the Vale,
j. and Augusta county; his comrades in tn
) late war-his Virginia birth, and his at
tachment to the old State, etc. In ap
preaching the political issues, he said tina
he was neither for Greeley or Grant tina
s he had never asked any favor of the yam
kee government, and never would, no
would he cast reflection on his course a
Southern soldier, or upon the gallan
;, dead who fell in the cause of Virginia an,
:. the South, by voting for Horace Creole,
a whose skirts are stained with more South
" ern blood, than any twenty men of tn
North. He was bitter on both Gran
: and Greeley, and should regard the cleo
ton Of either as a great calamity to tn
country. He here made a fierce attack up
on Gov. Walker, and charged that hi
: course as Governor of Virginia had beel
oppressive and in conflict with the wishe
and interests of her people. He charge,
s that both the Cincinnatti and Ra1timor