The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-12-04
Gem. Grant and the South.

Gen. Grant and the South.
The sentiment expressed By Gen. Grant in
his recent interview with Col. Mosby, gives
assurance of his kindly feeling for the people
Of the South, and that the fault will be theirs
if generous manifestation in his important
purposes is not brought about. We have
maintained through these columns for the
past eighteen months. that the people of Vlr-
GINA find their true interest in-=harmonizing
thier action with the administration and the
predominant political sentimentof the country
instead of cuItivating narrow, contracted
idea ofsectionalism, and adhering to the alb
solute ard disastrous notions which hereto
fore have grieved them. As We. have time
and again expressed it, the masses of the
people are tired of the political strife, intol-'
erancc, and bigotry. II has been the lea
ding politicians, the marplots of the State
who have so manipulated the popular feeling
as to bring it into obedience to reckless, ex-
cit.d passion. upon issues which had no real
substance in them. and were foreign and in
inical to a healthy national feeling and which
ha: estranged from us the sympathy Of
the country. We have reason to state, of
our own knowledge that the President is dis
posed to DO on friendly terms with our peo,.
-. &c tho Hou 10 ~
will so shape its cause as to give encourage
ment to this sentiment. ~ ii.is s,s ''7~ ts
In the election OF U. s.. Senator-the
most suggestive and pregnant instrumental
ty they will have to give is tangible evidence
Of reciprocity of .feeling--let the chioec fall
upon some one who can meet the represen-
tatiye of the dominant sentiment Of the coun-
try and the administration on friendly
grounds participate in the .caucuses, aud
thus throw the State in harmony with the
government. There would be no inconsisten-
cy in this. In the platform adopted il the
last canv ass the Conservatives said they did
not intend or desire to make captious war
| fare upon the administration. During tbs
canvass, no vicions attacks were made upon
President Grant. 1t was assumed that the
people were not called upon to pronounce a.
gaiast the Republican party Of the North
that they accepted the situation, and only
wanted to preserve the government Of Vir.
GINA from the fate of South Carolina and
Louisiana. Now, if this was sincere-if
these professions were not made to deceive
the people, let the Conservatives at once
take steps to throw the Staten line with the
ADMINISTRATION and the country. In order to
accomplish this, it will require some sacrifice
of personal feeling and abolition, and how
more befttingly could this be done than by
the reelection Of Senator Lewis to the posi-
ton he now holds? He has been faithful
aud efficient representative-be can be in
strumental in bringing about moro benefcen:
results than any one else, and such step
will be the most convincing testimony Of a
genuine desire to forget the aninosities Of
the past, and restore Virginia to her wonted
influence in the affairs of the national gov.
ernment led
| We venture tho assertion that such an
act of magnanimity on the part Of the Vir-
| ginia Legislature, would be received by the
President and the country with the highest
qualification, and secure for all the great in.
terests Of the State the hearty sympathy and
earnest reception Of the national leg
islature. A greater victory over sectiona
feeling and partizan rancour could not be
conceded, nor one that would be followed by
more lasting benefits. 81, .s.4 ges$ 81
It is time Virginia was looking at the
public relations of the State in a practica
view. We have much to gain, and nothing
to lose, by cutting away from old preju
dices and from party feud: We have oul
r great national waterlines to be aided-w.
have our public schools to foster. We ar,
poor and can help neither. We may get
the favorable recognition of tho govern
ment, by showing confidence in it.. VIZ
may lose all by not doing some act in testi
mony of the national feeling of the people
There is no principle to sacrifice. The
principles If the Republican party and Of
the administration. have been evidenced
in every conceivable form by the people
of Virginia, of both parties, in convention
resolutions, at the ballot box, by legisla-
tive enactment, and fundamental organic
law. Nothing more in this respect is ask
| ed. The convincing evidence would be to
elect to the United States Senate a man,
recognized by the country to be sincerely
I in sympathy with the sentiment so en-
phatically eauneiated in all there various
forms. s.,. .-.4sas..s t-aas g. ~
I Life Insurance Decision.
4 The following important decision was recently
rendered by the Circuit Court Of the United
States for the Western District Of Tennessee:
/ CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THR
WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE.
". f. Tat ct al. Heirs Of Doctor Samuel Bond,
Decd. os. N T. Life Insurance Co., Commons, j.