The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-09-24
Tbs Seventh District.

The sympathy everywhere throughout the
Solth openly expressed for the revolutionsts'
in Louisiana, warns the people that it requires
the vigilance and energy of every friend of the
uati1i,al government to he active. While we
. lave no apprehension of formal outbreak in
the, South against the constituted authorities OF
the government, the spirit Of characterization
Is sufficiently Indicated to demand a stern re-
buke from the people, where national senti-
mants predominant -. No NOR. opportlne time
forahe expression Of this rebukc could be pre-
sseAtsd than At the November election. and to
chat and we regard it to be All Imperative duty
si3nSoscf1 mpon the friends of the admi.listra-
fion3hsf3kls Congressional district by the cir
sSxstnstances Of the times to prescn- candidate
upon whom may be concentrated the vote OF
every man, white and black, who is opposed to
the extreme sentiment and feeling represented
by Judge Harris and Col. O'Ferr.ll, the con-
SENTATIVE candidates.
We are as we'll convinced, as we could be of
any undcmonstrated and unaccomplished fact,
that the majority OF the voters of this district
are in favor OF sustaining the national govern
ment. as represented in President Grants adj
mfnistratiou, if a fair expression Of the popular
will could be gotten. If the people could only
be male to realize the Importance of exercisin:
the elective fr:lneliise-the duty that is imposed
upon; them to do so as citizens, as constituting
the only method under orr system OF govern
ment of incorporating their sentiments into
the administration of public affairs, We would
entertain no fears Tor the re suit. We believe
4l,o ~ *
national and not Sc ,tional. We are convinced
that if the people could be induced to see their
obligations to exercise the privilege OF franchise
in all inlpo tant elections, as We sec it. neither
Judge Harris nor Col. O>Ferrall would be re-
turned to Congress. A majority OF the white
people of the Valley Counties are to-tiay oppo-
sed TO the extreme views represented by both
IF them. in common VIII the .3.sry OF Their al
Citation. and the c,lored people, almost to
man. are in earnest Sympathy with the nation
nj sentiment OF the country. If the honest and
full expression of this sentiment could be obtal
ed. we can elect an administration candidate to
Congress from the It'll district.
What we want is to have infused into every
voter "A sense Of the obligation he owes to his
State and the cssntrs, to votc-to give express
sion to his convictions, aul thus manifest a
becoming interest in the laws and the govern
nant under which he lives, and to which his
allegiance is due. No man has a right to refuse
to vote so long as he recognizes the duties OF
citizenship, AMI claims the protection OF the
Laws. lie cannot, consistently with these du-
ties, will him selfa nonentity in govcrament.-
He is Il part Of it. aud he is untrue to the in-
1,ortant relation he bears to it, If he does not
actually participate i'll its administration, IN
the manner prescribed by the laws OF his conn
try. 1t is his duty to reflect his opinions aud
= convictions in his vote and this he should do
honestly and fcarlcssly. He lightly esteems
his manhood, his individuality, who permits
himself to be sw;lyed or influenced in the ex-
ercise of this high privilege by the passions OF
the hour, or the prejndices OF his neighbour
He is false to his citizenship, and worthy OF and
not entitled to the protection OF the laws, who
does SO.
If the people of this district and the State
can bring themselves up to a-full appreciation
OF the Importance of the elective franchise, be
impressed with the fact, that each vote may
leave its impress upon the laws and the lcgisli-
ton of the country-indeed that legislation is
but the reflex of the popular sentiment as i'll
dictated at the balo- box, We would entertain
misrepresentation OF re.urnin. from this district
a candidate to the national congress in full
sympathy with the national sentiment Of the
country. There will be something more to 10
i'll the next Congress than mere routine duty
There will be legislation affecting the future
OF Virginia and every other State of great i'm
portance, for. it is not to he expected that the
revolutionary spirit which is spreading disaster
all woe throughout the South is to be-pcrmlt-
ted to career recklessly and wantonly over the
country, without a stern and unmistakable re-
buke. 1t is atime wien den,agogles and time
servers, should be made to take Il back seat-lt
is a ii ne when men should be chosen to high
high positions of trusts, who have the manhood
and nerve to encounter the fierce sectional
iprejudica which are doing SO much to place
Virginia in Il false position, and throw a blight
over her FUTURE We should remember that we
arc ali intregral part OF this mltio I'll confed
er,tion-thlt we are destined to remain such
that we cannot afford to be shaken from our
legitimate sphere by the madness and folly and
fanaticsm of such destructives as have recently
outraged the national sentiment of the country,
and brought disaster upon Louisiana. The
people of Virginia have too long permitted the
marplots and place hunters to direct their for
trlles. There was never u truer or nober PEG
pie, and tbs a duty they owe themselves that
hey record their condemnation at the ballot
box of the blatant elemagogles. who never had
a. conception of representative duty higher
than subscribing their own sesfish ends and adj
ministering to the basest passions of human
nature.
We want q man to represent this district who
is not afraid to speak out his honest sentiments
who will dare to- proclaim himself the fricnt
of the national Observation-Disclosures will coop
crate with the dominant party Of the country
will support the laws and the constitution Al
they are, and thus bring us into harmony ant
sympathy with the government to which we
owe allegiance. We want no petty, irascibl'
agitators, who can do nothing but infiam'
prejudice against Us, and whose highest ambi
ton is TO excite the applause OF the tIiougl,tles
rabble, who care nothing and think nothing o
their duty as citizens of this great country.
To this end We shall be satisfied with nothing
lose than the n,s.st.,,t stint. Of thu. name nf .