Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-01-08

Der, volume, and depth Of nagigable
rivers and excellence Of ports and har
bors; for al natural facilities for the
Development cf internal and foIeign
commerce and material prosperity and
power, Virginia may safely challenge
lot only examination, but comparison
with any other equal area on the earth q
surface.
POLITICAL PARTY RELATIONS.
The duties Imposed upon US in the
existing crisis, involving the reconstruc-
ton Of the foundations Of society, i'm
pei us TO be guided by higher consid-
erations than ordinarily control politi
cal party organizations. OF the people
who confded to us our present trusts
a great majority is not identified with
any existing national political party;
and although they were formerly divid
ed among opposing parties, they now
stand united upon common conserva
tive principles. Adhering to those
principles, Virginia seeks these ends:
TO secure and maintain her full consti
tutional rights and relation, and to per
form all her constitutional duties as one
of the coequal members Of the Union;
to exercise all rightful powers Of self
government and to determine, adjust,
and regulate the internal, domestic, aud
municipal interests OF her people, their
relations and rights, including such as
are known as civil rights, III strict COZ
jormity to the Federal Constitution and
the late decision Of the Supreme court
Of the United States expounding recent
amendments therto, and the respective
powers of the Federal and State GOV
| ernments thereunder; to obtain an equl
table settlement of her just claims
against the common Government; to
promote universal reconciliation upon
the basis of equal justice to all the
States and people; to cultivate harmon
ious relations with the common Gov
eroment, and to yield a liberal support
to every department thereof cooperating
| in the accomplishment of the ends thus
sought Virginia, recognizing no such
obligations as bind her to any national
party organization, maintaining her
| fidelity to all who are and who shall
become allies in the defence OF meas
ures calculated to secure the ends
named, is ready to cooperate cordially
withmen Of whatever party in uphold
ing those measures by whomsoever
proposed--supporting those who
support them, and opposing all OPPOSE
ton to them. One of the articles,
announcing the principles and purposes
recently ratified by an overwhelming
majority Of OUT people, declares that,
disclaiuing all purpose of captious
hostility to the present executive head
of the Federal Government, ''we will
judge him impartlally by his official
/ action, and will cooperate in every
measure of his administration which
may be benefcent in design and
calculated to promote the welfare of
the people, and cultivate sentiments of
| good will between the different sections
Of the Union" The article was no
| political expedient of the hour. 1t
embodies the sentiments of honorable
men, and binds by the obligation of
good faith ard justice. 1t pledges
| such liberal support as may be consis'
tent with cur principles and justified
by the developments of the future.
| recommend its re4f'iImation by the
General Assembly, if no untoward
event occur to forbid such action.
Let none suppose that we attach
Importance to the dispensation of the
official patronage of the Federal Gov.
ernment in Virginia, OF take interest
in it beyond desiring to see appoint
m ITS conferred upon honest and
capa''e IN n. If any imagine our peo>
pie can De Influenced by such paltry
considerations they fail to comprehend
the moral and political level on which
we stand.
Ii a period Of declining political
craftsmanship, when national parties
seem to be in process Of transition and
| transformation, Virginia stands upon
her own firm ground foatholic pat,io~
tisrn, of constitutional justice and
equality, Of universal peace and recon-
citation; ground broad enough and fit,
il not destined, to be occupied by all
good men Of all parties.
THE UNITED STATES AND THE DEBT OF
VIRGINIA.
While resolutely rendering full JUS
tica to all others we seek with conf
dence that justice for want of which
our State suffers. Virginia has just
claims upon the United States, the
consideration of which ought not
longer to be postponed. In time Of
war, and as one Of series of war
measures, the United States dismem.
bered our State, making no provision
in respect to her previously contracted
debt, for the payment Of which both
the now discovered parts had united in
pledging the faith Of the whole. The
responsibility of the debt was left
between Virginia and West Virginia,
with no arrangement for its equitable
distribution between them, and with
such conflict of claims as renders any
voluntary settlement OF compromise on
the part Of the two States plainly
impossible; while neither has such
remedy rs the exigency demands for
enforcing an adjustment
The United States, in controlling the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Virginia, failed to
adjust necessary terms of separation :
failed to make any provision against
the grave and perplexing difficulties
which have resuited-and such failure
has postponed and seriously interfered
with the rights Of public creditors; has
left the seeds of alienation between
states d between the people and the
Government; has imposed upon us IN
just burthvrs which repress the ener-
gies of our people, restrict our means