The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-04-16
Representation ana EeEiss:stion.

lIc pFCltt OF clVltiItlOH HE Illc
phases Of its history, at least, +, that OF repre-
sentatioa of the people in the government that
presiles ever the social structure. The people
IN the aggregate, and each individual unit
that helps to make up this aggregate, Their
thought Is, their interest pecuniarly and NOR
rally. come within the definition Of the repre-
sentative idea, and that Legislator who casts
aside, or foroets tits aud these to follow the
Hckering will-of-the-wisp OF passion and pre-
luslce, or the More degrading and corrupt III
iluences OF ambitious design, ceases to perform
the duty which the highest obligations to his
constituents imposes, and proves reereant TO
solemn trust Conferred upon him. 1t has been
a favored, we may say, Il generally acShowt-
elged assertion, CHIT enlightenment and reput>-
iclu government are concurrent facts, that the
one is the preliminary, the necessity, and the
other the probable result. We shall not dis
ct1ss here the truth Of this. The worlds eSpc-
rience does not demonstrate, at least, that they
have always existed together, for States in
whic', the highest intellectual acumen has been
found, have oftin1es presented the tiercest des-
potic power, embodiedn the organism Of an arts
tocracy or the terrible grasp OF one man power.
England and France anl the German princi-
palites have illustrated This in their yicissItlldes
Of revolutions and peace, without appealing to
the origin, pro- ress and fate of those great d-
D nsstics which existed long before the Saxon
lad set his foot Oh Britain, or the race which
point With pride to the Houses os Ilapsbur9
AMI lIohelzollern hal emerged from the bar
barisln ofthe Npmadic period or the fierce thu
bulence OF feu.lalism. We can, tlnhesitatingly
however, affirm that the more general the diff
fusion Of intelligence, the more perfect the APP
prelension which man attai,ls OF his own rights
and capacities, the more DESTROYS the man be
com IS OF having his own individuality repre- sen
tie and considered III the government to which
q he gives his allegiance. And we may reality
believe That even when the people have now no
voice by ballot Or speech in the administration
OF their affairs, will, in the march OF events in
the future, rise up and demand the precious
privileges yoach>afed to the American peo-
day; fer i'll the United States, at least, thl
principle Of political equality was demanded
and respected rs the Cornerstone Of the GOV.
ernn,ents, Federal and State.
Blt in this papcr it was not our design to in
dllge in {; criticism on the misrule Or good rule
of other nations, nor i'll conjactnres on the goa
to which they are tending, but to glance at lie
a,ubltcanism as it exists here. aud the rights Of
the people, by reason thereof to accept, demand
and insist that their representatives should have
in mind always their immediate wants, their
Inherent rights in the laws which they make
and in the schemes which they promote.
1t is especially proper tllat the people of the
Valley of Virginia should reflect upon this now.
srt view Of the circumstances which surrounl
them and tie bill Of fare which has been pre-
eented during this session OF the Legsla
Srrru. Let us see how this looks. Three month,
OF time 1rlve passed away in Virginia daring
ahs session, and what has been done pronlotiN
Of the good Of this section. The earlier periot
was consumed on the Petersburg Charter, and
except that it proved the occasion for the enun
citation of Catholic principles of freedom by the
Governor of Virginia, its advocates nray IS wei
have never drafted the bill. The State wa
resting Under the odium Of partial reputation
aud the people under taxation uuevenly dis
trihAtetf, and not even yet has any method slf
fcient for the evils that environ us been sug
g,sted and advanced The laws of Virgini;
already piled up by anactineilt and amend
melft to an Ilwictlly bulk, have Just been Econ
Eolidated into one code at much expense, and
bills almost innumerablc have been presented
for the modification Of laws whose efficacy have
never undergone the test of trial.
Trifing has been the order Of the day, an(
the great measures demanding consideration
have been postponed to the end OF the session
then to- receive q hasty and preciptate actor
which will probably leave the people i'll the same
meshes of doubt and difficulty which have 81
long retarded them in their efforts to advanc,
the material prosperity OF the country and tllei
own personal prosperity and happiness
But tits not on taxation and finance alone
that the people OF the Valley will hold thei
? delegates Co accountability that the people 0
the Southwest will demand oil their delegates
reckoning. 4 proposition frsugnt with til
s,r.s,1eAest benefits to tho agricultural and indus
trial pursuits of these sections was before tn
legislature and it has been snothered almos
before it was examined. We mean by this tn
charter extending the Valley railroad from Sl
lem to the Tennessee line. 1t will not do 70
delegates to come home and express merel
their favour for the bill, to point to the record
to show that no negative vote passed their lips
The bill was Of the highest interest, it Involve
more than any other Of the session the pros
pefity OF damage to the portions OF Virginia W
have enumerated, and their representatives mus
demonstrate by positive acts, nnflaeSing IL
Dor, by their persistent endeavors, that the
have done all in their power to have granite
this charter which, ilst in itself to all, wou
{ have proven OF such inesti1able advantage t.
their constituencies. lie who can say he hi
so laborad will receive the plautlits of thos
whose will he should have reflected, and n
other. It is not pleasant to write OF inadequac
OF political agents. But iii snot within the pow
er and scope of legitimate journalism to writ
only of what is pleasant. A cardinal demo
cratic idea CT the olden time was that the dele
gates Of the people should reflect the will Of tf
people when chat will CONFIRMED with law an
constitutional right. He is not sent to repre-
sent his own personality alone, but Tie Alajo
will OF his constituents. Ii he could not hon
estly do tais he should resign the agency b.
could not conscientotsly conform to,and PERM