The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-12-30
County Politics.

UCIWCSu AiAi ptttdlo cLiltt Ndyts OP'Os AhSJ
are the only candidates announced, or will
likely to be announced The lifelong friend
slip that has existed between Geo. Seawright,
Esq, and Mr.. Stuart has operated to bring
Mr.. Seawright to the conclusion not to allow
his name to be used in the canvass, and we
understand that neiher Mr.. Lightner nor
Capt. Cupp willask the suffrages of the people.
Although Captain Opie claims to be the
standard bearer of the Conservative party,
by reason of his nomination by the ConveE-
ton that assembled previous to the regular
election in November, we cannot see that there
is any particular pertinence in the claim. OF
course, it is not our purpose to interfere be-
tween the gentlemen who are now seeking the
honor Of representing Augusta county. Our
object has already been accomplished, in giving
the death blow to liking Caucus" There lkls
been no man bold enough tosugggest Conven-
ton for the special election, all conceding that
the days of the caucus in Augusta county are
over; that the people intend to elect mea
now and hereafter to represent them, without
the intervention of Convention, and that any
movement to revive the caucas system would
meet with the unqualified negative OF the
great mass Of the voting population.
The part we took in the election of Novem-
Der was for the purpose Of efecting this OBJ
ject Having succeeded in arresting the atten-
ton of the people, and placing before them the
wrong they were doing themselves in surren-
dering their manhood to few active polite
ans-exciting them to a proper appreciation
of the elective franchise, and their duty as
citizens to repudiatc the pretensions OF the eau
Gus manipulators-we have no disposition to go
farther at present. While Capt. Opie asserts
that Mr. Stuart is a ''Radieal in disguise, = we
must have some better evidence than yet has
been adduced to influence us to support him
in party sense. Indeed, we shall leave the
matter with the Conservative party, to deter
mine which Of the gentlemen in the field is
the one whom they desire to represent them.
We supported Mr. Seawright in the recent
election, not because he was Republication
this he is not, but because he was not a parti-
Fan of either party; and for the further rea-
son that his intelligence, his purity OF life, his
high character in all the relations OF citizen
ship. were such as to elevate him above the at
mosphere Of partizan prejudice ard feeling,
and give healthier tone and more manly
cast to representative position and duty.
We believe in the policy We adopted, and
the end we accomplished-we have been in
strumental in doing good for the county, in
emancpating the people from the thraldom o.
party tyranny, and stimulating them to indie
l Wn cric
slavery in any and every form, whether OF the
body or mind We would like to see every en-
franchised citizen go to the polls and cast 6
vote that would represent his honest jndgmel
and conviction, whether the person voted fol
be Republican or Conservative. 'rhisis what
is meant by our system of popular govern
ment-the will of the people expressed at the
ballot box-not the selfish designs Of a few
scheming politicians controlling the masses
but the sentiment Of each individual resulting
from independent thought and action.
The Conservative party has maintained it
2 ascentlency, by the most degrading system Q
oppression and desnotism. The leaders of TIN
party have not addressed the reason of TIN
people, but appealed to passions and preiu
4
cjpitatel the masses into doing the behests
the p1OtGfI1S uUInsttSOs5 Jhotsht o
, reflection.
+ We trust and believe this day is past--tha
, the people have fully determined to do thei
own thinking, independent of the curb-ston
statesmen who have heretofore moulded an
directed the political affairs of the county, an
that the agencies which have been in the pas
employed to defeat the popular wish, if fair
expressed, will be repudiated for all time t
, come. II this shall be the result, the consum
nation is satisfaction enough to us for on
campaign at least, and we can afford to STAN
aside to allow the new order Of things to worl
out it's own results at the ballot-box.
Nor MEMBER.-The statement that Pres
ilent Grant, Posbmaster-General Jewell, ant
ex-Speaker Blaine, were members of a secre
order known as the American Union" wa
Il. Il l.