The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-05-01

iahuSht pfppo5eu, anu that ouiJ Wy t. ~
governed more by passion than reason, was a
partial political disfranclisement. From our
stand point, we thought then, and think now,
that this was wrong, but they, holding differ
ent views, and maintaining different relations
to the contending parties, did not view the
subject 10 the spirit that we did. Many OF
our people expected harsher treatment. Col.
Baldwin, regarded himself, in taking up
arms for Virginia, as going into the contest
with "halter around his neck" with the
expectation that the string would be pulled
any ine morning that the gauge Of battle
might 90 against him, and that all he made
above decent soldiers burial, after dangling
for reasonable time from limb, was that
much clear gain, The wonder is, that a
more rigid enforcement Of the violated law
was not iosissed upon. 1t will hardly be
claimed, that il the South had succeeded, a
more considerate and lenieut policy would
have been adopted towards those we had con.
quered.
We make this reference to the past, not to
justify the restrictions that were suggested as
proper to be Incorporated into tho fundamcn-
tai Law of the State, but to show that it was
not unreasonable, from "Union" stand
point, to doubt the policy Of giving control
of the State-Bo those who had lead the war
of the sections on the unsuccessful side --es-
pccialIy as it was the Inauguration OF the State
government under concessions we had so ter
rifcally resisted We make it, too, to pro-
test against the isolated case Of Gen Lee,
who merely came under the operation of the
general rule, being selected to illustrate the
purpose OF the proposition. His granite vir-
tues will loom up in imposing and over-awing
grandeur through all the ages, and will com
mand the homage and admiration Of all peo-
pie of whatever section or cline. He him
self did not complain Of any injustice that
had been done Him, under all the circumstan-
css. and accepted the results, conformed his
conduct to the laws in act and spirit, regard
ing the disfranchisement as matter 10 the
light of public policy, and not verdict upon
his individual motives.
The editor of the Old Commonwealth 'ac-
cepts the situation" takes the laws as they
stand, and proposes to obey them. Elephant,
him elf distinctly upon the very same plat
form, that the Republicans maiutaiu. He
accedes to the proposition Of universal su
trage and acknowledges tho right Of the me-
gro to the ballot. He stands precisely where
we do. Now if both the Republican and
Conservative parties hold to the very same
general ideas-favor the enforcement Of the
same general laws-wherein must the negro
be to blame, if he chooses to vote with the
party that accomplished these results, 10
which are involved his freedom and investi-
ture with citizenship. and wherein must the
Republican party be regarded as more radi-
cal than the Conservative party, if they are
both sincerely governed by the same genera
principles of government policy? If mer
are 10 earnest in their declared purpose t
ohserve the laws as they exist, and are MOI
seeking power, by an apparent acquiescence
for the purpose of reversing the legis 'atior
Of the country, or paralyzing its Legitimate
operation, why do they hesitate to place tn
State in harmony with the national govern.
ment, that is pledged to these results, anc
has the power to carry them to their logica
Interpretation? There is no danger ofVirgin
ia falling under the control fany other thar
Virgiuians, or those identified fully with Vir
1 GINA interests. There is no party in thi
State, according TO our conception, that il
| inimical to tho welfare of the State. Blu
when 1t is assumed that the few Office seekers
and professional politicians. who have led
and will continue to lead the CONSERVATIVE
party, are the only custodians into whose
hands the honor and the prosperity Of tn
State can be entrusted, we beg leave to ente
our dissent and fatty join issue. We no
only dissent ourself, but we believe the grea
mass of the people will dissent, who are dis
gusted with this constant appeal to passio
and prejudice, and prefer to take commo
sense, practical view of the situation and con
form their action to the pest interests OF tn
State. Now. when the very bowels of tn
earth are ipstravail, tossing and agonizioI
under the loaas 81 ,waslth that lies 1nwombe
and looking for del yerance to capital an
enterprise when our free schools are strue
Cling against prejudice and false friendship
our great inland water line, reaching forth
for help, the people see and feel that it is n
time to be trusting to the efficacy Of sec
tional feeling and partizan hate, but mus
place themselves in position to receive aid
whence aid can be obtained, and that is from
the Federal government and Northern cap
italists. The embodiment of sectional pref
dice aud traditional distrusts, in the result o
the ne 1t election, will throw back Virginia
and all her great interests at least a decade
and make her the prey Of the moody passion
and selfish Iusts Of few men. who .woult