The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-01-01

one hand, and the people Of all the other
States and Ahe Government of the United
States GU The other. We earnestly seek to
secure those relations upon the only stead
fast and sure basis Of equality Of rights and
benefits and mutualityof confidence and re-
spect between all the members of the Union.
The highest interests of the whole country
demand Tor us the speedy establishment Of
sucf. relations for as our welfare for the
/ future is bound mp in that Of the United
States so the prosperity Of the whole de-
pends upon the well. being Of each of its
constituent parts. The body Of the Union
cannot have health so long as any member
suffers AS the revival Of our material in-
terests concerns the whole Union, so do the
recognition, and preservation, in the future,
Of the just pride, self-respect, and integrity
of our people; for States decay and men de-
generate with the loss of independence of
thought and pride of character. Whether
posterity shall adjudge us to have been right
or wrong in the opinions which engaged us
in war, yet if, as history teaches, the noble
virtues of fortitude and courage belong to
no people capable of assimilation aud treaeh-
cry If the voluntary endurance of four
years. ordeal Of heroic suffering and saeri-
flee be proof Of devotion and spirit of hon.
or, then the record Of Virginia entities her
to the respect of mankind. Reluctant and
slow to draw the sword, Virginia furnished
for four years the chief theatre for the most
sanguinary and devastating civil war which
the modern history of the world records,
ard her bosom bore the deepest wounds its
blows inflicted With the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of her territory, the vast destruction Of pub.
lie and private property, and ether greater
losses within her borders, her hereditary
system of labor, her social polity, her bank
ing capital and circulating medium were an
initiated at blow. AS the conflict of arms
closed, her sons returned to the ruins which
were once the homes, and then and
since have applied themselves to
the pursuits of peace with industry,
prudence, and order, such as are not paral-
leled in any history Of periods next succeed
ing similar wars. In no instance has tur-
bulence or commotion or any combination a.
gaiust public authority had organized exist
ence among our people. Neither cherish
ing resentments nor repining over the irrev-
ocable past, abating no jot Of self-respect,
: Welding to no act of establishment. recog-
nizing the indissoluble bond by which the
destnies of Virginia are bound up with
those of the Republic, they have with true
and brave hesrts and with uplifted brows
sworn their fidelity to the restored Union !;
they have sternly accommodated to their al
tered political relations, and have striven to
bring order out of chaos and veal out Of
ruin b the faithful performances eff every
obligation. 1t is with the confidence which
conscious self-respect inspires, it is in the
spirit that becomes men, that We boldly
claim reciprocity of respect and respectful
goodwill between our fellow citizens of the
North and ourselves. What we want is
peace with honor not the name and forms,
but the living realities eff peace. 1t is cause
for congratuIation that in every section Of
the country the passions engendered by war
have aeemed to be passing away and it is
not to be doubted that, sooner or later, he
roic deeds and qualities, on whatever side OF
the conflict or by whomsoever achieved and
illustrated, will be preserved by the whole
Republic as memorials Of common glo-
ry.
With government of equal laws and
with order and tranquility firmly established
within our borders, with ardent desires for
universal reconciliation, with hopeful augu-
ries for the future, we invite immigrants
from whatever section of our common coun-
try and Of whatever nationality to cast their
fortunes with ours. Let the living tides of
immigration come. We vouch to all cor
dial welcome and ample guarantees for life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, what
ever their political or religious affiliations Of
the past, present, or future.
The natural advantages and resources Of
our State speak for themselves. For varie
ty and fertility Of soils, for diversity and
peculiar value of agricultural productions
for salubrity and mildness Of climate ex-
empt equally from the rigors and diseases
prevalent in many northern, southern, and
western sections; for vast, various, and east
ly accessible mineral wealth for superiori-
ty and abundance of water-power and other
requisites for unlimited manufacturing en-
terprises for number, volume, and depth of
navigable rivers and excellence Of ports and
harbors; for all natural facilities for the de-
velopment of internal and foreign commerce
and material prosperity and power, Virginia
may safely challenge not only examination,
but comparison with any other equal area On
the earth's surface.
i POLITICAL PARTY RELATIONS.
The duties imposed upon US in the exist
ing crisis, involving the reconstruction Of
the foundations Of society, impel us to be
guided by higher considerations than ordi-
narily control political party organizations
OF the people who confded to us our pres
ent trusts great majority is not identified
with any existing national political party !;
and although they were formerly divided a
mong opposing parties, they now s'aud uni
ted upon common conservative principiss.-
Adhering to those principles, Virginia seeks
these ends; to securs and maintain her full
constitutional rights aud relations, and to
perform all her constitutional duties as one
of the co-equal members Of the Union to
exercise all rightful powers Of self-govern-
ment and to determine, adjust, and regulate
the internal, domestic, and municipal inter-
ests of her peopl e. their relations and rights,
including such as are known as civil rights,
in strict conformity to the Federal consti-
tuition and the late decision Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States expounding re-