The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-08-07
STANNToN. Aug. !

Messrs John A. Harmaa,
Eaqar Alien and Cesar Perkins,
Gents Your kind Litter, informing
me of nv nomination. for the office or Attor-
new General of he Commonwealth, by the
Republican Convention holden, inshe city of
t.ynchburg, has been received This distn
guished honor, coming unexpected and unso-
liclted, from large and respectable body of
my fellow citizens, majority OF whom have
not the honor Of knowing personally fills my
heart with grateful emotions and leaves me
without words to express my thanks.
I appreciate this honor the more highly,
because it has been conferred in accordance
with my favorte republican maxim that Of
fee ought not to be sought, nor should it be
declined.
[ regret that the convention did not think
proper to confer this nomination upon some
one of the gentlemen named in connection
with the office, any one Of who is much more
competent to the discharge of the duties than
myself. La ee
In accepting the nomination, so generous
~ rendered, recognize the right of my fell
low citizens to know something Of my polit-
cal antecedents.
I have always denounced secession as a
political heresy of the greatest folly and
wickedness and | have always entertained
the belief, that had the patriotic people of
the South correctly understood the theory OF
our government, the attempt never would
have been made to carry 1t into effect All
power is derived from the people, and by del
egating powers they have organized a
national government, and State govcrnsaents
To the extent of the powers delegated by The
Cons tuition of the United States the nation
al government is supreme, aud oar allegiance
is first due to it The reserved powers, nos
delegated to the national government, remain
with and belong to the States, and to that
extent, the people owe obedience to the State
government. If che people Of State, after
having fairly delegated the power to the ma
tional government. have the right to resume
it at pleasure, thec the continuation of the
Government depends upon the popular whim
and is at the mercy OF the demagogues of the
country.
Parties exist in all governments; and, as
heretofore organized in this country, each
aimed to promote the public welfare, ditfe ring
only as to the means of accomplishing that
object.
But can this be said to be true as to exist
ing parties
The Republican party is zealously eogaged
in projecting and preserving the Natlonal
government, while the conservative parry is
seeking its overthrow and destruction The
one liberal, generous and coaciiatory, while
the other is lntolerant, proscriptive, vinae
tive All bitter ; the Cd loyal, aud the othe
disloyai the one the friend, aud the other
the enemy Of the government. Who now
compose the main holy OF the self-ca!ied cou-
servatige party, bat the oriainators, aiders
and abetors Of the rebellion the a7oWed OBJ
ject aud purpose oiwhich was to dissolve the
Union aud overthrow the government And
while thus party was engaged n their wicked
work, they gioriei in he name OF rebel and
so soon as the bloody strife was terminated
by superior force, the artfui aud cunning
tricksters of the party. put gu the LIVERY o.
Heaven and assumed the name Of consasga-
tives; aad with degree of lmpudence un-
PARALLEL, even ia Political sf;lirs. they ses k
to escape from the just condemnation of a
patriotic people by appropristing to the Re
publican party the name OF Radical. III!
is fair to judge efthe future By what has past
ed,w must conclude THAI this reckless party is
nov aiming to accomplish, by stratagem, in
trigue, fraud and ialsehood, what they failed
to achieve by the sword This party btteriy
assails the national government, and indls
crimnately condemns all its measures. s.
With no selfish consideration or motives to
swerva my mind from the true interests OF
the country, have been close observer Of
Con. Grants administration, and [ think
may challenge his opponents aud enemies tc
name one single act of his, which is not il
accordance with the constitution and laws
These are briefly my views of some. Of he
important questions Involved in the comlna
canvass, which [ stand ready to maintain
and if che Republican party shall prove vic
torous; my guide in the discharge Of my du
ties. will be the constitution and laws, with
out suffering nyselt to be warped by prejudice
on the one hand, or partiality on the other
And now, gentlemen. for the appropriate
and kind manner il which you have commu-
alcatad the action of the Convention, you
have ane grateful ack aowied gcmeuts of
Your obedieDt servant
DAVID FUETZ