The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-01-04
Col. ]. S. Mostly.

Col. J. 5. Mosby.
An illustration Of the intolerant and pro-
scriptivc spirit OF the Democratic party of
Virginia may be found in the recent history
OF Col. John S. Mosby Probably no officer
in the Southern Army from Virginia gained
a more brilliant reputation as a daslling cav
alryman than Mosby-none won more un-
fading laurels on account OF daring courage
and unbroken success in nearly all of his
hazardous campaigns. a supporter of Doug
las in lSGO--a Union man from conviction,
he eNerted his influence to arrest the wild
spirit of secession that vas careerng over
his State and section, believing that there
were remedies in the Union for all the ills
of which the South felt aggrieved. But his
devotion to lbs native State was stronger
than his attachment to the Union, and when
her authorities decided, against his views of
expediency, TO link her fortunes with the
Cotton States, in combined effort to estab-
fish a separate government, Mosby was one
of the first to offer his services as partzan
ranger. His daring and brilliant military
SCI vices are 4 part of the history Of that sam
culinary struggle. He did his duty as he UNI
derstood it at the time and did it nobly and
bravely.
In 1872, when the Conservative or Demo-
cratic party of Virginia, took to its embrace
Horace Greeley, as the exponent Of its prin-
ciples, and its candidate for the Presidency,
Col. Mosby, like a great many other Con-
| federates, refused to support him, and cast
| his vote for Gen. Grant. He believed then
and believes now that the South had no
truer friend than Gen. Grant, as President,
and this would have been more signally il
Illustrated ifa disposition had been manifes-
ted by the people Of the State to give his adj
ministration a fair trial, and live up to the
obligations OF amnesty and the situation
which they had promised to accept. Col.
Mosby himself proved this. His support CT
| the administration was honest, unselfish and
from sense OF duty. 1t was recognized as
such and consequently many favors were
extended to Virginians, Former Confeder-
ates) through his influence. Never asking
position that he himself might be benefited,
yet many appointments were given to his
| friends, simply upon his request and recon-
| mendation. There was nothing in this that
any fair minded man could object to, and
much i'll it that every one should approve.
1t was the basis Of a policy, which, if it had
been generally adopted, would have placed
Virginia in far different condition to that
which now distinguishes her. Had the same
| national spirit-the same loyal adherence to
the results OF the war, been more generally
exhibited and practiced, thousands and
| their skill and capital, would now be aiding
in developing the rich resources OF the State,
instead of contributing their energies to the
growth and prosperity of less preiudiced and
more liberal communities. Col. Mosby saw,
| as every impartial and ejudiced man
must see, that this was the true policy Of
the South and especially Of Virginia. 1t was
what our obligations required of lis, and it
was precisely what was necessary to bnild up
| the material interests of the old Common
| wealth.
Instead of the people, however, joining in this
liberal, wise and commendable policy. they
turned against Col. Mosby. They pursued
him with a vindictive hatred and insane
prejudice such Us had never before been di-
rected against any man, except in the case
of Gen. Longstreet, in louisiana and Gov.
Orr, in South Carolina. Although q resi-
dent of Virginia, with family and property
located where he had lived before and
during the war, with all his sympathies and
affections for his native State still warm and
| active, yet because from a sense of duty he
gave an ardent support to the national adj
ministration, he was prescribed socially,
his business taken from him, and he abso
lutely driven from Virginia to seek, through
his profession of the law, the means to pro-
vide the comforts of life for his children.
He had large and lucrative practice, but
| it all left him, and for no other reason than
that he chose to support the laws and Con-
stitution of his country, and the adminstra-
ton that upholds them.
| What does this imply and what is its eff
feet? 1t means that no man is to be tolera-
Ted in Virginia, it matters not what his de-
votion to his State, who will not allow Il
party of prejudiced and dishonest bigots to
do his thinking. He must act with the DEM
ocrats in their reactionary and fathless poll
cy, or leave. This is the logic of it, The
effect is to keep from the State all who will
| not surrender their convictions of right at
the bidding of the democratic prescription
lists, who plan and execute the edicts of the
Democratic party.
| The surplus wealth of the country is most
ly with Republicans. The intelligence of
| the country, is largely with the Republi-
cans. They possess the two essential ele-
ments for Southern prosperity-brain and
money. They will never come here until
change is made apparent in the temper of
our people and a welcome extended to all,
whatever their political belief, who are will
ing to help in the great work of building up
our waste places. When rhen like Mosby,
who were born and raised on Virginia soil,
whose every interest and feeling are identi-
fed with her destiny, are prescribed, and
their business taken from them, for no other
reason in the world than that they chose to
act with the Republican party, what may
strangers EXPECT Of like political conviction
1t is about time this madness were caeck,
ed. We are about entering upon another
four years of Republican administration.
We expect it to be controlled by q liberal
and generous feeling towards the South, if
it is allowed to do so. The people of Vir-
ginia will be offered the opportunity to
adopt different policy to that which has
distinguished them since 1865. The future
of the State is intimately involved in the de-
termination to which they may arrive. If
they intend to persist in the cultivation of
yindictive. revengeful partizan spirit to all
who will not wear the Democratic collar,
we might us well build II Chinese wall
arouad the old Commonwealth, and prohib- |
it entrance, for the kind Of population we
want will never come here to encounter
such prescription as Col. Mosby has been
the victim Of
The people, who own the property and