The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-08-21
A DIGNIFIED REJOEsfDEsa

| The telegraph report last week represented
Col. E. E. Withers, the candidate for Tt.
Governor, on the conservative ticket, as hav-
ing used, in a speech at Wythevile, very
abusive language and epithets in speaking Of
| Col. R. W. Hughes, and his political course
since the war. In the State Journal Of the
18th, we fad the following dignided and sig
nfcent rejoinder
"For good reasons, we undertake to ex-
press the confident opinion that Col With
ers' language on the occasion has been exag-
gerated aad that he has not been guilty Of
the breach Of Parliamentary decorum ascrb-
ed to him. We believe SO from all our pre-
vious knowledge Of the character Of Colonel
Withers we believe so from the fact that he
has heretofore mes Mr. hughes face to face
in public discussion, and has fallen into no
undue indecorum before we believe SO from
the fact that the use Of suca q strain ofremark
would inevitably prevent any joint discussion,
between the respective candidates, OF the
great questions of public moment in which
the people deeply interested we be-
lieve SO from the consideration that as Col
Withers did DOT indulge Ia offensive epithets
when Mr. Hughes Was free from the tram
nels Of a nomination which forbid resort 10
the ordinary methods OF redress, Col. With
ers is too chivairic man to make use Of
these epithets as soon as circumstances have
| changed.
No doubt Col. Withers did criticise with
| severity and reprobation what he thought OBJ
jeetonabe 10 Mr Hughes speech, at Lynch
burg and general course in politics. He had
right to do so. Neither Mr. Hughes nor
any other Republican will complain Of criti-
eism however severe within the bounds Of
parliamentary propriety We confidently
believe he went no further.
The formally 'recognizod leaders Of the Con-
sentative party told the people twelve months
ago that the defcat of Greeley for the Presi
dency, would be the ruin Of Virginia and the
country-that the election Of Grant would
be the death-knell of free-goyernment, and
the inauguration Of d military despotisin.-
Well, Greeley was defeated and Grant was
elected Where is the ruin, and where the
despotsln Instead of ruin to Virginia, "a Re
publican Congress appropriated over half
million Of dollars 70 improve her rivers, CIV
ing employment to hundreds of laborers.-
It has ordered the construction Of two war
steamers, at Portsmouth, which will involve
the expenditure Of over million Of dollars
to Virginia mechanics and laborers. That
is the ruin that has followed.
These same leaders now tell us the election
of Hughes and the defeas Of Kemper will
ruin Virginia. Do the people believe ?
The election Of Hughes will commend the
State to che favorable consideration of the
government and the friends Of the govern
ment, because it will be evidence Of national
sympathy and support. 1t will secure to us
national aid to our gfea. water-lne, and our
school system, and invite capital ard immi-
grafton from the Northern and Western
Seates, all Of which the election OF Kemper
would repel, for the reason that the sectional
sentimentit would indicate, would be fatal to
tn ese benefits. The people should calmly
think Of these thipgs,and when their passions
are appealed to, su blnit such appeals to the
stern test afIoyic and common sense.