The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-04-17

nation, that he did not want to be elected to
Congress, and would not take his seat if elect
ed, if the great and good Horace Greeley was
defeated
But we trust we have the nerve and the
courage to pursue that course which our
judgment plainly marks out to us to be right,
whatever obstacles rhay have to be encounter
ed at the outset. We should regard ourself
as deficient in the most essential element Of
journalist, did we fail to give expression to
our convictions upon public questions and
policies We regard both parties in Virgin
la as professedy entertaining the same gen
eral ideas and belief The one, we are fore
ed to believe, seeks power through this en-
dorsation, as an expedient to accomplish that
which it would not dare to openly proclaim
before the people. The other, having brought
them into existence, is sincerely DESTROYS Of
carrying them out for the general good
Nominally then, the issue will be as to men,
in the coming State contest. Really it will
be, as to whether Virginia is willing to place
herself in antagouism to the national govern
ment, and all the pledges she has made, to
crafty the selfish ambition Of a few chronic
politicians.
These questions will be more fully devel-
oped during the approaching contest, and we
shall discuss them firmly, frankly and fear
lessly. We shall steadily, sternly and def
antly maintain our convictions as to the best
} policy to be adopted for the prosperity of the
State, and shall not be shaken from our pur-
pose by epithets Or insinuations, conveyed BY
Radical" "scalawag," snegro and carpet
; bag party" and such indecencies, as only a
vulgar and weak mind and cowardly spirit
would employ. With men Of broad, compre-
hepsive, aud enlightened intelects, such as
We regard the editor of the Harrisonburg
Commonwealth, and manly bearing that
disdans the logic of the fish market, DIFF
ference Of opinion is always attributed to
, honest, but antagonizihg convictions. With
, the little tom tits and supple-jecks of party,
too many of whom have thrust themselves in
r to the editorial profession, never having
themselves caught the inspiration Of an idea,
or understood the application of principle,
it cannot be expected of them that they will
do otherwise than revel in their congenial
filth, and substitute slang for argument.
! IL. III. q
US, and whose lead follow? Must We ras
high up the old Democratic battle flag, and
keep step to the music of State Rights P
That would not do. The distinctive doc
. trne of that grand old party, has been
b swept away on the bloody tide of revolution
Must we unfurl the banner of Conservatism
as practiced in Virginia That would be
{ simply to affirm Radicalism in the essence
Must we follow Baldwin, as he declared him
! self during every canvass we have had since
the war? He has now become par ercel
a lence Union man embracing the alag
with all the ardor of love at first sight
Stuart is non-c ommittal-regards the Con-
j servative party as rotten, and is devoting his
genius to the more practical business of reg
ulating street lamps and improving side
walks, end adding to his fine estate around
the city. Smith cursed Greeley in enc breath
). and voted for him in the next, and to-day
would not give the toss Of a copper cent fo'
either party. And SO it is all through the
; catalogue of persons and parties, wherever
we joined efforts in an earnest endeayor to
b accomplish COED. ':Where, oh where
: must the weary soul find rest p 1t is only
in the conviction Of duty to judgment and
conscience. 1t is only IN doing your owr
, Notwithstanding to follow the lead of the
self styled captains, whose political history i:
a mass of duplcity and inconsistency, ane
!. who play upon the prejudices and passions Of
the people, that they may drown reflection
and lead them into the channels Of politica
debauchery.
>-
o REPUBLICAN STATE CoNvENTIoN.-The
Executive Committee of the Republican par
h ty of Virginia, met in Richmond on the 10th
y Hon. W. H. H. Stowel in the chair, arc
Il after harmonious session, fixed upon Lynch
e burg as the place, and the Both Of July, as
1t the time for holding the State convention tt
e nominate candidates for Governor, 1t Gov
f erno or and Attorney General, to be voted fol-
: in November next II was determined thai
e each county should be entitled to two dele
d gates for each representative in the Legisla.
i ture. That, we presume, will give Augusta
= ei.ht-this county having three representa-
y tives in the lower House and one in the SEN
ate.
r RICHMOND WEEKLY ENoUIRER.-The Enquirer
i establishment is progressive, and is pushing Ut
r. the interests of that venerable paper with grea
6 energy. The Weekly Enquirer has been greatly
enlarged, and is an eight page, faultless in
Typography, filed with excellent reading matter
y and edited with spirit and ability. Mr. Wedder
e burn, the business manager, seems to understand
: what the people of Richmond and the State want
r in the newspaper line, and is filing the bill in