The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-10-16


since the war, to very recent date. when
his paper was selected as recipient OF Fed
eral patronage, has been violent and ex-
treme Democrat But brief period since,
10 the Conservative Congressional Conven-
ton that assembled at Harrison burg, SO in
tense was his love for Democracy that he in
troduced resolution, which was defeated,
changing the name Of the party to Democrat
ic -Richmond Wig.
It is very true that such resolutions were,
offered in the Harrisonburg Convention in
1870 by the editor Of this paper, and it is
also true that the editor Of the Whig approx
ed them, being himself member of that
Convention We did it, as the preamble
stated, to define the party and its principles,
and to repudiate the non-commitalism and
false pretence implied by the name Conser-
uative. We nave always pronounced the
election of Walker, under the name Of True
Republican, and the organization of the Con-
servatiye party, frauds upon the people. We
we're disguised then with the Conservative
nomenclature, and we proposed to proclaim
our party views and sympathies, in accepting
the situation under the Constitution and in
the name of the party to which we had al
ways been allied The Convention did not
agree with US, and we acquesced. When,
however, this same Conservative party under
the manipulation Of Gen. Kemper, formally
declared in Richmond, Horace Greeley to be
its choice for the Presidency, and the graft
tude of the people Of Virginia for the tri-
umph of Federal arms and the subjugation
Of the Southern people, as it did in the fol-
lowing resolution
"We remember with gratitude the hero
ism and sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors
Of the Republic. and no act of oars shall
euer detract from their justly earned fame on
The full recards Of their patriotism.
We pronounced it falsehood and an out
rage. While we eecepted the situation and
believed it to be our duty to conform to the
laws, we had no thanks to express and no
gratitude to proclaim. that our people had
been made to suffer, and bite the dust, in the
struggle for what they believed at the time
to be right We did not regard it then, nor
do we regard it now. necessary to announce
a falsehood, and practice deception in the
hope Of securing power. There never has
been and there never can be more palpable
evidence Of insincerity, duplicity and double
dealing than that embraced in the resolution
we have quoted, offered and voted for by Gen
| Kemper as part of the Democratic Conserva-
tive national platform of the people of Vir-
! ginia. We were sincere in our effort to de-
clare what our party views were 10 the Har7
risonburg Convention /; and We were sincere
in our opposition to Mr. Greeley in the Pres
idential election, and we are equally. sincere
In our opposition to the petty tyrant who the
Conservative party Of Virginia are now sup
porting FOR Governor.
If the Why wished to further the claims
Of Mr.. Stuart before the people Of Augusta
Fit was unfortunate in its allusion to the Har-
rsonburg Conventions. His name was prom
inent before that body for the Congressional
nomination. He was defeated, however,
But his name having been presented for the
domination, with his consent, By all the usag-
es Of party, he was in honor bound to abide
the action Of that body. Did he do it! II
90 hat o d;J Tudgn II or.
ris, who was his successful competitor. and it
is believed he voted FOR Corbin Reynolds, the
Independent candidate against the regular
nominee. In other words, he bolted, and
set the example, which number Of the vo-
ters of Augusta will follow in regard to hina-
self in the November election.
| The allusion Of the Whig to the Federal
patronage, which has been given the Virgin,
ian, is simply contemptible, and could only
have come from a mind controlled BY merce-
nary motives Because the administration
has chosen a paper that supports its policy
and regards it to the best interest of the PEG
pie Of Virginia to harmonic their sentiments
with three sfourths Of the States Of the Union
and the national government, we are to be
charged with bad motives for accepting that
patronage. It is legitimate Advertising CIV
en- 10 us under the Law, containing informa-
tiou which the people desire to know, and
has to be published. It shows the disposi-
ton of the government to encourage healthy
national sentiment in the Southern States,
and to recognize the efforts Of those who are
striving to discharge the duties of good citi-
zeaship by upholding the laws, and carrying
out in good faith the pledges we have solemn
| ly made. We might, however, have Coz
tented ourself with branding as recklessly
false the attribution to US Of any other mo-
tive than that Of the highest and most con.
servative public policy for Virginia to pur-
sue, In the course we have adopted for the
control of our editorial conduct We now
dismiss il with the expression of supreme
contempt for the spirit that has coined the
word ''scalawag," as applicable to Virginians
who support the administration and Presi-
dent Grant IN his wise, manly and nationa,
views Of public policy, and the insinuaton
!