The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-03-26
sss1rnsajsy .......... March &c. 1872.
THEN AND NOW.

me IAeglS.lt ufe 4 OF Virginia on 'ile etets-
burg charter and the interposition of eGeeu
five outhority to countcracs its banefu' ln-
uence, should be kept prominently in the
snbHc Mind They constitute such clear,
iorcible and unim passioned vindication of
'se Republican party Of Virginia, and the
Fate ridley we have endsayored to incul-
.ase, that wo woald be ding injustice to.
snrself and hs unmiadful OF the lagic Of
.vsuss which IS so prominently transparent,
we're We 20 permit the occasion to pass with
olt proper comment. an
The. issue Of ths recent Guberratorial
.luyass is to- fresh in the popular renem-
srapce to be forg ,tten at this early date
The Petersburg charter, emanating from and
receiving tha en- lnrsemant of the Canserva-
tive Legislature, is the essence Of the inham.
W togy .argu-aents aad appeals OF the Con-
servative press and speakers, including Gov.
gemper, during Chat CANVASS. The whole
campaign was narrowed down to an unjust
and Unconstitutional war upon one class OF
citizens. reco ynized as sucii under fund amen
tai and statutory Esw, aud inangnra'ed aud
porpetuated for the un'leniable purpose OF
attaining power through the Inclination Of
race prejudice II was a canvass carried on
in violation Of the spirit of the Cpnsttu.
tion--in contravention of TIE plishted faith
Of the State-and blasting to her revivng
and growing interests Success barring been
accomplished, anl waiting into power under
the imperious command of 5000 majority.
it naturally followed that the Legislature 70
tsiumphantly elected upon the issues made
should seek the hrst opportunity to place up
On record, in some enduring form. the sub
stance of that auimltsi contest. The Pc
ser56urg charter was its Legitimate offspring
It was the quintess nee Of the idea which
the people had been exasperated to accept
It trampled upon the bill of rights, the
guarantees Of the Constitution, and the for
neal aceeptan;es of tbs people. It Was to
this kind Of legislation that the spirit Of the
Conservative party as developed ia the last
CANVASS. tended. 1t bud to follow as the
nightirhs day, in order to be consistent wit h
itself. !, Bat when thu spirit and doctrine
taught b. the speakers and press Of Con-
servative persuasion, upon which Gov KEN
Per was elevated to the position he now holds.
were formulated --thrown into substance.
and bvought cut iii the shape of the Peters
burg charter--they shocked the popu a.,
sense, and in :he light Of law, right aud JUS
tice, had to Do cpnleinned. Not only the
Governor OF the State, electrd by deludins
the people into The IN preston that there va
really an issue Of race 10 the contest, but
aiHiose the entire Conservative press of the
State which made the false issue, have beon
compelled to repu Hate the iogiea! result OF
taetr. own party policy, and give an urwil-
ing Endorsement to that OF the Republican
party. The Petersburg charter, revolution
cry aud unconstitutional, represents the one,
aud the G3verno& IN ,sslse, retoiny thai!
en- after, reflects the other
M IL, is thus seen That when the doctrae Of
the Conservative party as inculeated and
promulg gated during the recent election, is
brought into practical application to the af-
tairs Of the people, and tested by the critic
sian OF right and reason, it sigually falls
The Legislature. still warm with the preju-
aic E Of the contest, seeks TO give vitality
sud effect TO these prejndices in the Peters
burg charter and the Governor, chosen by
tne party that invested the Legislature with
power. is compelled By the obligations of his
Gath and his convier iors Of official duty, to
arrest such legislation, assigning as his reu-
Eons for 50 doing the very arguments upon
which the Republican party conducted the
canvass againse him. Thus it is, that the
frst Official act of the Governor, having a
political bearing, is direct and palpable
population Of the issue upon which h, was
elected, aud a forcefal vindication Of the
position assumed and defended by the Re-
publicans. 10 this, G vernor Kemper i.
sustained. With singular and unprecedented
unanlmliy, by the rejecting people of the
State, Irrespective Of party Affiliations. aud
ia this too, We fad comprehensive vindica-
tIon Of our own cou Sc, as tha6 10 consonauca
with constitutional right and the dictates of
the highest public expediency We did not
expect this exhibition, in SO short time, al
though we were convinced that it would
come sooner or later as the passions engsn-
dered by the appeals Of the blabhing polite
ians subsidized, and reason asserted supremacy.
The Conservative Governor and the Conse.-
eative press have been driven to this position
ny the Irresistible power of Fundamental
law, and hare the r Republicans can rest their
cause for the present. Their defence and
J Justification come from their enemies, the
more forcble because reluctant, and sustain.
I'd by rea>oIs drawn from the Bill of Rights.
Ia Constitution, piighted faith, aud pu bic
policy. There never h Is been. 10 the pe|ti-
cal annais OF the country, such sweeping
condemnation Of the pplicy of a party, out
ri its owe uouth. as that fusnisi,ed by the
We Message Of Gov. kemper ans: its a4inp