National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-29
RUFEANIsH IN VIRGINIA.

The unprovoked and cowardly attack
upon Hon. ]. B. Sener in Virginia on Mon
day last, while addressing meeting of his
constituents, calls for the seVerest reprOba-
ton of all law-abiding citizens. The fact
that If was led by his opponent and sec
onded by the friends by whom he was sur
rounded shows the total unftness of that
opponent to become law-maker in a coun-
try the Constitution and laws of which
guarantee TO every man the freedom of
speech. The representative in the councils
of the nation should, above all other men,
be able to control his own tongue and tenn
per. Blows and threats are notarguments,
and the people will have little difficulty in
discriminating between the bully and the
gentleman. We have too much respect for
the voters Of the First Congressional dis
trict of Virginia to believe that they will
elect man to represent them in Congress
who resorts to the bludgeon to enforce his
dictation upon an opponent as TO how he
shall speak. If their object in sending a
representative to Congress is to secure a
fair discussion Of questions of public policy
and the enactment Of laws for the protec-
ton of their lives and property, they will
perceive the necessity Of selecting a man
who understands and observes the courte-
sizes Of debate.
The conduct of Major Douglas in his
recent joint discussions with Mr.. Sener pro-
nomces him to be person devoid of
those qualifications which are requisite to
command either influence or respect in the
National Legislature. The days of the su-
premacy of bullies and rufians, with their
barbarOus tactics, in Congress, passed away
with the institution of human slavery. In
tellect, industry and close application to
the business of the country, combined with
due regard to the rights and privileges of
others, and those personal courtesies CON-
mon among gentlemen have supplanted the
coarse brutality Of the plantation and the
rough and unpublished, dOmineering man
ners Of the bar-room which formerly OBJ
tanned 70 considerable extent, and fire.
quently resulted in an appeal to the bloody
'code of honor" We forewarn the citi-
zens of Virginia that the interests of that
State can in no respect be advanced, or its
influence in the National Councils be
strengthened by the sending to Congress
men ofthe stripe to which Major Douglashas
shown himself to belong. The attack upon
Mr.. Sener has every appearance to have
been preeonceTted. 1t occurred in Major
Douglass own county and neighborhoOd,
where, more than in any other To-
cality, It might have been expected
that his opponent would have been
treated more as an invited guest than
as personal enemy. 1t might have been
expected that especial care would have
been taken to conduct the debate with the
utmost fairness and avoidance Of undue
proFOeation to bitterness Upon the con-
trary, the opportunity for quarrel appears
TO have been eagerly sought after, and
foreign subject seized upon for the sole pur-
pose Of raising question of veracity. This
done, the difficulty was precipitated by the
casting Of = missile by the leader, and the
immediate following Of his whole pack of
roughs, as if this were q preconcerted
signal
No doubt the object Of the Democratic
candidate was attained by the manning Of
his competitor to degree that win render
II impossible forhim TO continue the canvass.