The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-10-30
Let Us Reason Together.

!
We dc not believe that one in ten of the
Intelligent voting population Of Virginia when
he mind is brought directly in contact with
the legitimate issues of this contest, will
doubt the correctness and business OF the
position of the Rspubliean party. 1t en-
braces the ideas which are comprehen-
ded in the three amendments to the
Constitution, and the public policy fog
isally flowing thercfrom. These principles
have been endorsed by the people OF Virgin
ia BY an almost unanimous vote, and Incof-
porated into the fundamental law OF the State
They have been proclaimed again and again
by the Conservative party, in their Platform
resolutions. On the hastings, before congress
sional committees, and in every ether concelV-
able way. They are ostepsibEV recognized az
irreverAble. and that it is to be the future
policy Of the national and State governments
te deal with tho former slave aud freedman,
citizens. with equal rights before the
Law, entitled to the protection OF the law, auo
the 1nunin1ent Of franchise. They are
the settled, determined and irrevocaoEe
principles Of the national government, and
any attempt to impair their force, defeat
their operation, or contravene the logical re-
suits involved, is undisguised treason.
We are aware that the Conservative lead
ers do not avow, in technical terms, their
hostility to the national constitution, as
suerafted with these three principles, or the
administration which is the representative
of the ideas and policy composing them
Abandoning the legitimate ground OF manly
encounter and open disputation, they seek to
disguise the true issue. aud conceal tnelr
malignant, yet iruitlass hostility to the con-
stitution and the government by raising
false. wicked and brutal crusade against the
negro, under the prstense that he is seeking
to dominate the white race, and costroi the
State. They have no just charges to prefer
against him. They cannot deny that every
vote he has cast has been merely to support
the very laws and principles they have solemn
" obligated themselves to uphold. They
can arraign him for Nc reasonable sonsplfa-
CIV. no unlawful combination; they can
charge him with 90 organized or morgan
;zed as.empt to control the offices Of the State,
nsr to interject into municipal or state legs
Iatiop any law or policy that Is not in haE-
,nony with the popular ediet of the pso-
Pile.
The truth Of these assert ions will bs de-
MED BY no Intelligent man in the State
! Then what is there practical or substantial
in this wild clamor and wicked aggression q.
gsinst this class Of the people! Nothing
absolutely aothing. The sole purpose and
design is to excite the passions and preJu-
dices of the white people against the ne
rrees, who were faithful and true while il
slavery, and have been respectful aud tract
able since emancipation, and all for the pur-
pose Of retaining the Offices and power in
the State which they have SO shamefnlly
abused and perverted. They all know that
it will not do to submit to the Judgment o
| the people the record OF their own acts
/ They well know with what reckless uisre
! ard Of the interests OF their constituent
I that the taxes have been squandered, the pub
die debt has been increased The spirit aud IN
tent of the constitution violated, and gen
Grad s,olicy Of ruin aud disaster inaugurated
aud if brought into trial upon these right
fal matters Of adjudication, they would he mer
eilessIy condemned for their unsaithiulnes'
and imheeility.
Do act the people understand this spe
cious device and false pretense? Do the,
est see that these very men who have 81
outrageously betrayed the trusts reposed III
them, and prostitutad the departments Of gov
ernment to the lusts of selashness, are thu
GLASS of people who are thruslng this sense
less, vicious and harmful issue OF rae
I,arejudioe and passion into their face
for the purpose of binding their eyes t
ssheir OWE short -comlngs and the Welshtie
!, matters involved
! We ask the people, in all seriousness, t
look at this mater squareiy, consider it care
fully, and then determine whether it Is no
one OF the baIdest receptions these lead
ders are attempting to @raetice that was eve
presented to Intelligent minds !? They vel
|iknoEy that their administration cannot stant
the ordeal Of an impartial scrutiny. The
Lean give no satisfactory explanation for hav
| ing sqaanaerad $25 100000 of the State
assets. They cannot make clear why the
exhausted the last day Of the constitutions
l4isnit for the legislative sessions, expende
the hagd-earned taxes Of the people, and in
stead of measures of relief for the people
Increased the enormous public debt, by
! failure to pay the interest thereon. The
attempt to delude you with the seduction c
nominal tax of so cents Oh the one hun
dred dollars, while your public obligation
are stealthily growing upon you every day.
They ask you to compare your taxes wit
those of other Southern States, aad see no
u,