The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-01-13
Republicans of Virginia.

| The writer of this article desires to call your
attenfipnto the following suggestions. which
ne trusts will, if adopted, lead to the formation
OF party in this State, that will not only give
the same protection to all of our people and
their rights IN property; but will also build I'D
their material interest and recover for them the
influence they formerly exercised in the coun-
ellis OF the nation.
! Let all patriotic Conservatives, who are will
ling to let by cones be by-gones and who have
the Independence to strike for their own inter
ests as well as the interests of their race and
STATE Qff defance OF tie sneers Of men, who,
when in authority, legalized robbery, by enact
ing the Funding bill, Fidncialy bill, and bill
authorizing Courts Of Justice to ignore Con-
federate contracts failed to give the same pro-
lection to property they did to money fold
| debts and thereby reduced to poverty, many
OF our best citizens} be invited to meet MS in
convention, with the assurance that we are
WIRING 70 adopt the name .'Conservative-Re.
publican" (Which name implies union of
Conservatives and RepubIicans,) as the name
OF the new Organization, and the following
platform as bond of union:
LIST. The repeal of all Federal laws, which
are oppressive to the people of the Southern
States.
I'd. The repeal Of all State laws, which are
oppressive to the Republcanslof Virginia; ALSO
all laws which favor the lawyer and bondholl-
er at the expense Of the people.
3,l. The right of any Individual when in
dicted for crime, to be tried by jury OF his
own color.
18th. All registrars judges of election, &c.,
&C., to be chosen equally from each political
party
5th. The substitution of the ezra voce sys-
tenn Of voting for the secret ballot.
9th. The necessary legislation to enable a
creditor to garnishee the salary or an office ho-
der.
18th. The enactment of law preventing any
sacrifice of property at forced sales and requi-
ring all property sold on account of ante bellum
obligations to bring the value it bore when said
obligations were created.
9Th. The enactment of a law by our Leois.
lature, requiring Courts of Justice to enforce
all contracts for confederate money, in which
the contracting parties disposed OF their own
rights, or the right Of others, at their request.
9th. The enactment Of law allowing mi
nors, or any other person, whose property was
sold for Confederate money, or whose money
was invested in Confederate bonds, without
their consent, to sue in the State Courts, and
recover the SAM, or the value thereof
10TH The repeal of the recent Funding Bill,
and notice to the Virginia bondhoiders to lay
their claims before the United States Supreme
Courts.
llth. Virginia as she was Gn territory prior
to our late unhappy civil war. and the nee
sections.
18th. The settlement of the debt, which Vir-
ginia owed in 1861, pom some equitable basis,
say, interest and one hundredth part Of the |
principal 10 be paid annually. said settlement
to be made as soon as possible after the recon-
struction of the State.
18th. A reduction Of the expenditures of the
State Government in its various departments,
to the lowest possible Standard consistent with
proper administration of said Government.
18th. A thorough system of free schools |
throug hout the United States as soon as the
condition of the public finances will justify it.
The writer Of this article desires to call the
special attention of the Republican members j
of the Legislature to those clauses, which e.
late to the Funding Bill aid reconstruction Of
old Virginia. and suggest to them the policy CT
opposing any appropriation for the payment of
interest on the debt, which was created by old
Virginia, and Of notifying her creditors to car
ry their claims before the United States SIT
preme Court. Any of her creditors can do this
by assigning his claims to another State, which
State car sue Virginia in said court.
The Supreme Court viii doubtless decide
ithat the act OF Congress, which created the
State OF West Virginia, was war me assure and |
unconstitutional, OH the ground that Virginia
never gave her consent to the erection Of said |
State out Of her territory,
Should the act of Congress creating the |
State Of West Virginia the act reducing the |
remainder OF old Virginia to a territorial con- !
dition. and 5he ;tet creating the present Vir-
ginia out OF said territory, be declared constl-
tutona neither of the Vrginiss, as at present
constituted. will be legally bound for the pay
ment OF any portion of the debt. which was
created by old Virginia. AS a consequence
the Funding Bill falls to the ground On the
other hand, should this legislation be declared
unconstitutional, and Old Virginia still be i,a
existence, IN the eye of the Constitution, no
sane man would respect the Funding Bill.
The decision of the Supreme Court, whatever
it may be, will bind West Virginia as well as
Virginia, aud can 10 us no harm. Should it
favor the reconstruction Of old Virginia, every
true Virginian will envy the Republicans of
the Legislature, on account Of the part they
acted towards bringing about an event that
will carry joy to their hearts.
Let us urge the leaders of the National Re-
publican party to aid us in saving The life OF
the gallant, but now PROSTATE old Common
wealth-the mother OF 'sheroes, States and
statesmen Such magnanimous act towards
its chief adversary. in the recent conflict, would
add to the record Of the party that saved the
life Of the nation.
Respectfully submitted,
January l, 1875. ALBENIARLE.