The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-08-24
Affairs in the South,

War to the General of the U. S. Army, given
in consequence Of the declaration in resolution
passed by the House of Representatives as to
the condition of some OF the Southern States /:
and the rights Of citizenship therein. Whether
the Democrats who introduced and passed the
resolution designed it as a mere sham or pre-
tense, corresponding with the policy OF shams
and pretenses which govern that party, to de.
ceive the Northern people and allay their APP
pretensons OF the consequences that might
follow the election of Tildcn, or NOT, the Presi-
dent and Secretary Of War have taken it for
what its words and declarations literally mean.
The resolution declares a condition of things
that should not exist in any pure government.
The rights OF the humblcst eitizcll should be
hedged around by all the safe guards that
the Constitution and laws provide, and a
government that will not or cannot give pro-
lection to the life and the liberty of its subjects
should be blotted from the map of the world.
The Democrats have declared that political
crimes exist, that outragcs have been perpetr,-
ted, and may hereafter be committed, and the
President has properly responded to these de-
clarations OF the representative body of the
people, by institutiag steps to uphold and pro-
tect the sacred guarantees of citizenship. 1t
viii not do, therefore, for the democratic
speakers and writer's to assail the Chief Magis-
trates OF the nation for believing what their
party in the most solemn manner have enacted
into law. II they intended little cheap capt
ital for campaign purposes and to secure it
chose to trifie with matter of such grave and
paramount import as the lives and liberties of
the people, they cannot blame the President
that he has interpreted their language and re-
solve into serious affair. His position and
that OF Congress forbid that either sllonld
Sport with the dearest interests that pertain to
Republican institutions. He has met the posi-
ticn as becomes the high responsibility OF his po-
sition, to see that the laws are enforced and
that Republican form OF government is MAIN
tanned in the States and the rights OF citizen
ship are projected and defeL6ed.
1t is very amusing to hear the clamor OF the
democratic speakers and writer's about the H.
snrpation OF the President, the tendency OF his
acts to Imperialism, and the absorption OF the
rights of the States and the people. One plain
fact presents itself, however: il no law is vio-
lated, no punishment will be inflicted. If the
law is violated punishment ought to be infllc-
ted. Tie shedding OF blood and death have
too frequently followed the exercise of political
| and civil rights. 1t is time this thing were
stopped, and ii the resolution OF democratic
Congress and the order of Republican Presi-
ell
OF the people no body ought to complain, and
neither party can claim exclusive credit for it.
The honor and patriotism OF the policy will be
equally divided. Why should democrats COM
plain If there is any truth in their resolution
and why did they pass the resolution If there
is no truth in its declarations? The President
would have been grossly .lereIict in duty had
he not recognized the serious import of the
action OF Congress, and he was bound to be-
leye that that high Legislative body was Sc
rious. in the record it has made upon this grave
subject.
Congress called for the action Of the Presi-
dent and he promptly responded. He is proper
ly not obnoxious to the harsh criticisms of the
democratic press for doing that which the re-
surrttit, Ut arrrut7r,ti5 eusrr-s -irurly --nltss
for.
REFORM.-In 1860 the taxation for the Fed.
eral Government was sixty millions in gold
In 1870 it was four hundred and fifty millions
in currency, whilst the aggregate taxation,
State and Federal, which, in 1860 was one
hundred and fifty -four millions, in 1870 was
seven hundred and thirty millions in currency.
The democrats did not make this increase, for
the Republicans have been running the govern
ment during all this 10 years,-in the execu-
tive, legislative and judiciary departments of
the Federal Government Regis
ter.
The democrats had something to do with the
''increase.' The secession OF the Southern
States and the consequent war to preserve
the Union had something to do with it. The
debt and taxes of the country were substan-
TALLY the result of that event. The Republic
can party has paid off over $4,000, 000, 900 Of
the debt, reduced the taxes $500, 900, 600 dur.
Ing its administration, and now conducts the
government, at less cost, per capita, and less
per cent. Of loss, in proportion to population,
than any administra ton that has ever con-
trolled the government. This talk about the
taxes and the expenses OF government, in the
light Of the history Of the country for the Iast
l6 years, is unaccountable, unless npon the as
sumption that those who indulge in it. do not
take the pains to examine into what they are
saying. The extreme wing Of the Democratic
party precipit ated secession and war. The
War caused the debt, and the Republican
party has been gradually paying it off. This
can not be done, without taxation. It is ira
tional and partizan to approach the consider
alton Of the debt and the taxes, without con-
sdcring, likewise, how the debt and taxes
were created. You cannot separate the cause
and the effect, and the less said about either,
1t seems to lis, is best for the Democ ratio party
Hayes & Wheeler.
The Republicans OF StauntoE and Augusta
county, raised pole last Saturday, floating
beautiful national flag, emblazoned with thir-
ty-eight equal stars, and inscribed with The |
names OF Hayes and Wheeler, the Republican |
nominees for President and Vice. President, |
The pole is a towering Hickory, surmounted |
with rake and saw, representative of the la
Dor OF the country, whose interests It is the |
mission OF the Republican party to protect and |