The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-12-02
Will Morality and Honesty Control!

pirit above the low devices and base schemes
i the mere political highwayman, wlso goes
III the make all the time. We mean the cleo |
ion Of the basement officers and q United
States Senator. The first is first with Virgin
y. It comprehends the selections ct men who
Kill be entrusted not only with the fair fame
II the State, but with the money of the pec-
pie, and hence, they should bc without reproact,
IS we'll rs without fear in the discharge Of their
duties. We suppose there Is no question As to
the fact that the presrut Est and End Auditors
should not be retained. The highest considera-
tions OF public policy and public duty require
this. While we have never heard It intimated
that they connlvcd with Mayo and Coleman in
robbing the Treasury, yet the fact that it was
done II. the manner it was effected, without
their connivancc, is proof sufficient that they
are totally unfit to watch the grave interests
connected with theirimportant Offices. Their
carelessness in permitting system OF tliievery
to progress right under their official nose, is
about as criminal as the aggressive offence Of
the officers arraigned upon the charge Of en-
bezzling public funds.
There Is All odor Of responsiveness rotten
dishonesty, connecting the Conservative party
with Mayo's and Coletnan's stealings. In a.
spasm Of fright, the criminals were prosecuted
one found guilty and placed in the peniten-
tiary. That was enough. 1t had the appear
ance OF rejecting upon the integrity of the
Conservative party, and the specious and false
plea of insanity was put in for the other, and
he is now in the ''hands OF his friends" justi-
fed by this action in stealing, and squandering
in gambling and drinking saloons. the hard
earnings of the people, which he was sworn to
| care for and preserve. He stole the peoples
money. He caroused with it until his nervous
! system became derangcd. and then he was tIe-
clared insane, and that he was insane ut the
time he cody devised the ingenious method by
which he effected this robbery. His friends
did not dare to 60 into court OH the merits OF
the case. They knew he had robbed the State.
That he committed great crime-none great
err in the eyes of all honest men, than for a
| trusted officer of state government to betray
that trust and rob the people who had rcposei
it. And to escape the Penitentiary, where
the law and the evidence would have consigned
him, an inquiry of insanity was conveniently
arranged and interposed between the crimina
and justice, and the accused acquitted. There
never was greater outrage committed upor
justice, upon the fair fame of great common
wealth 1t is a burning shame, that party ne
cessities will go so far as to compound a {elo
ny and thus make the actors more guilty thar
the original offender.
The basement offices will have to be changed
and new cut and deal demanded.
This Legislature cannot afford to even seri
ously consider the prctensions Of John Goode
Jr., for the U. S. Senate. His completely witt
the frauds by which ne received the certificat.
of election to Congress, is sufficient to 6amn
him now and forever as Is public mail The
Legislature will be false to- its duty, false tt
the people OF Virginia and fails to all the high
er considerations that should 'vern delibera
tive bodies, ii Mr.. Goode is rec, agnized as q
| competitor for the exalted position I. t represen
tative OF Virginia in the United STATE Senate
The Serate Of Virginia will have to firmly
put its foot upon the frauds and corruptiu US b,
cate Of election to % seat in that body. To Ell
dorse the agencies THAT have been proven, to
have been employed to effect his return, wou> Id
be to sink that honorable body into the deep
est depths of degradation, and stamp with dis
grace the State OF Virginia.
Let the members OF the Legislature. and es-
pccially the representatives from the Valley.
remember that the popular lieas: is ycarning
for reform-lemands an exhibition OF moral
courage commensurate with the wild spirit of
corruption that is flooding the country and i'm
plicating all the great interests of the constituent
body. The people are awakened to the wrongs
that have been inflicted upon them In the name
OF party. and the corrupt machinery known as
the caucus. They want honesty in their pub.
lie officers in their law makers-and
if those now in authority dare throw them
selves across this healthy current Of public
sentiment, they will be swept out of position,
into merited disgrace.
The Conservative party cannot longer reyel
in the political deta,chcries that have stained
its record in Virginia. They cannot drag the
people down to the low level the politicians
have reached. There must be leyelino mn
wards to standard Of right and justice cor
responding with the instructive honesty of the
masses. and unless this is the case, the whole
Conservative fraud that has preyed upon the
vtals Of the State until it has hcdged around
her almost insurmouDtablc difficulties, will be
swept off the political boards.
WELL EEDoRsED.-Sincet the arrest Of Gen
Mcdonald, and his trial and conviction for de-
frauding the government while holding the Of
flee Of Supervisor Of Internal Revenue. at St.