The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-01-11
BAYONETS.


funding cf the State debt, and the passage by
one branch Of that body of resolution, sus-
pending for the present the payment Of the
January interest, is to be followed by out
right aud total reputation. He assumes
this, too, in the face Of the fact, that the Lee
,islature, by unanimous vote, declared in
resolution, that they did not contemplate nor
would they consider any bill looking to repu-
diation This is nothing more nor less than
the most contemplate demagogueism.
He further assumes, that reputation of
the public debt sis not all This is mere at
tack on the out-posts Next comes assaults on
all debts due corporations. and fually private
obligations will be pronounced monstrous op-
pressions."
These assumptions are all gratuitous.-
| They are the resort of the professional dema-
gogue to create an alarm which has no founda-
ton in fact, nor justification in logic. 1t is
studied and premeditated effort to educate
the popular mind to believe falsehood and
to create an impression that the members of
the present Legislature of Virginia are NOR
ally SO corrupt, that they would absolutely
rob their neighbors. It is rather a serious
matter, for prominent citizen Of Virginia to
/ insinuate, if it does not amount to direct
charge, that the members Of the Legislature,
elected by the people of Virginia, are willing
aud have in contemplation to commit GRIM
inal act Mr.. Stuart should be more careful
in the language he uses to express his con-
tempt for the popular voice, and the assign
ment Of corrupt motives to the representa-
tives of the people.
Mr. Stuart, since the war, has been remark
ably familiar with military 6gures-such as
'sout-posts," &c.-to convey his ideas, and
rather partial to military power to enforce
civil processes. In recent letter addressed
to somebody, and repubIshed in the Rich
mond Wing, of the 8th accompanied by a
scathing criticism by "True Virginian," he
intimates that the claims against Virginia
held by foreign creditors, will be enforced by
the military power, if no other mode is efec-
tua1 in collecting Them Hear what he says:
"Ours would be very defective government
if such means-peaceful means-could not
be found through the agency of judicial tri-
bunals. But if they could not be found, who
can doubt that, if necessary. the strong arm
! ha y1,iiftaru ,aouor-af tha
would be employed to ettectuate the purposes
of justice.
Those who seek to provoke another COLI
sion with the Federal Government may posi-.
bly, crafty their wishes by attempting repu-
diation, but those who value the honor and
good name of Virginia as jewel above all
price, and wish to preserve peace and harmo-
ny in the country, will shun it as they would
pestilence.'
Very truly yours. &c,
ALEX. Fl. H. STUART.
Thus it is that this retired statesman and
defunct politician contemplates, with an all
of triumph, the possibility Of the State of Vir.
ginia being placed under the rule Of the bay.
onet-the property Of our citizens being sci.
zed by brute force-the State eviscerated o.
her sovereignty, and the bloody hand of mil
itary power lording it over the hearths anc
homes of our people, crushing out their very
vitality
"Those aoho seek to provohe another COLI
sion Nth the Federal Government may pos
sibly crafty their a0ishes by attempting repu
deation"H Was ever such an. outrageous
sentiment conceived from SO fimsy premise!
With no pretext from which to draw so mon.
strous conclusion, the only inference that
can be legitimatey dedueed from it is, that
the ghost of military power" is to be invok.
ed to brighten the members of the Legislature
from sense of propriety, and tremblingly O.
hey the behests Of this satellite of Military
Dictator. The mere enunciation Of the pos
sible resort to bayonet coercion in civil affairs
implies an approval Of tiff the spirit in which
the enuuciation is made, is considered. We
expect all such to take shelter under Repub-
lican tents if the least encouragement is given.
JAMES FISK, jr., AssAss1NATED.-On
Saturday evening last, James Fisk, ir. was
shot down by an assassin named Stokes, in