The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-08-28
SPEECHES. on MoNDAY.

tive party, on Monday last, Gen. ). Ech-.
OILS, Capt j. Bumgardner, Col NJ. G Har-
man, j. Marshal Hanger, Thos c. Elder
and A. kolner, were called upon and
spoke, and J D. Craig made a PROPOSE
ton for three cheers for Kenlper. which
was responded to There was ! feature of
the various speeches, which we hope will
distinguish all others that may be dsliv-
cred. That was the absence Of ha rsh cpl
thets and personal abuse There was not
a disrespectful word used towards any one
of the Republican candidates personally.
The views of the speakers we're given in
strong language. This they had right
to do, and while we widely differ with
them as to the real issues Of the canvass,
we are gratiied that the campaign was
opened in Augusta in the courteous manner
it was. It contrasted favorably with the
reported speeches of Kemper and Withers
up to this time
We do not know what the speakers would
have done, had they been deprived Of the
thread-b bare allusion to Louisiana and
South Carolina. This was the burthen Of
their remarks, forgetting that under the
policy Of ':local self-government," so siren
uously insisted upon by the Greeley sup
porters last fall, the people Of those states
were left to manage their own affairs,
when in conformity to the United States
and the laws Of Congress, as they please.
The most prominent thought i'll Gen. Ech
OBS speech, we have noticed elsewhere.
He is forcible, earnest speaker, and COM
manded the close attention Of his hearers.
Capt. Bumgardner, went into mythology
to illustrate his views, reminding his hear
ers that way down in the dim distant past
when the Gross and Crescent were the rail-
lying cry Of opposing forces it was said
wherever the Turk planted his foot there
forever after no grass grew So with the
ssRadicaP' party in the south We think
if Capt B. had consulted the statistics, he
would have found that more cotton is be-
ing grown in the cotton states now than
there was before the war, thus showing
that his illustration is without the virtue,
Of reality. The Capt conteaded, however
that it was not whether the white man or
negro should rule Virginia, but whether
Hughes and Woltz should sit down in
Richmond and issue their orders to their
plant followers to rule Virginia. He
made an earnest appeal for active exer-
tions, and spoke in high praise Of Col.
Withers for his action in accepting the
second place ON the ticket
Col. Hartman spoke with his usual ener-
gy, and was for work. The Colonel idea
is that Uotes are more effective than
lcords, and for them he desired everybody
to work In his ardor, he went up in his
majority from 10000 to $4,000. The sa-
fer plan would have been to fall to five or
ten, which would make the fall in Novem
Der next 60 much easier.
Maj Koiner couldn't get out of the lava
beds. He had forgotten there had been
war. He wanted the constitution as it
vas, we suppose with the Fugitive Slave
Law in tact. He was Of opinion thar we
we're retrograding as a people. We differ
NTH the Major. We are going forward
as fast as people generally go as d nation.
But the Major SAID he had almost forgot
ten how to make speech, as he had be5n
separated from that business SO long.
He is certainly not we'll posted, and we
wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't half
right.
Maj, Elder spoke briefly and gracefully,
promising his services in behalf Of the
ticket during the canvass, as did Major
Hanger.
Mr.. j. D Craig, in response to call,
responded by proposing three cheers for
Kemper, which Gen. Mchols and himself
gave with u vim No body else was heard.
These gentlemen make great mistake
in supppsng that the thinking people of
Augusta and the State, can be fooled by
the negro question and south Carolina af-
fairs. They have sense enough to know
that State government cannot be run on
such nonsense, and they want to learn
something about their own affairs The
utter incapacity or indisposition Of the
conservative party to meet the demands
of the times, in managing the finances Of
the State, is a question that cannot escape
their sincere attention. They expended
all the money they could get hold, and yet
did not pay the interest on the State debt.
The enormous amount of forty five mil
lions debt, is being augmented by the ad-
dition of unpaid interest, and yet the peo-
pie are heavily taxed year after year,
without any good results to show Of the
application Of the taxes.
We are much inclined to the belief
that these gentlemen will be very sick of
the negro hobby and the South Carolina
scare-erow by the 4th of November next