The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-10-18
Court Day in Harrisonburg.

burg. Notwithstanding the announcement
that Col. r. A. Richardson. of Smythe
county, independent candidate Tor Lienten-
ant Governor, would address the people,
the usual number Of citizens, on such occa-
sions, was not in the town. The first day
Of the County Court in Rockingham geEer-
ally witnesses a vast concourse OF people
gathered at the county seat for business,
pleasure, amusement, and from the force of
habit. Although large number were pres
ent last Monday, there were less than are
ordinarily congregated.
Col. Richardson had arrived on the Satur-
day previous, in obedience to ali invitation
from committee OF gentlemen, who repre-
sent large element of the Conservative par
ty that is dissatisfied with Gen. Walker S po-
sition on the State debt. The mornings
train from Staunton brought Gen. Walker f.
also, Mr.. Gray, of Fluvanna, the distric
canvasser of the Conservative party.
Immediately after the arrival of General
Walker, he sought Colonel Richardson, and
after some conversation ard. consultation.
it was agreed that Colonel Richardson should
lead off in speech of one hoin and half;
General Walker to follow in the same length
of time F.; Colonel r. to have half hour to
reply, and General w. to close in half an
hour. One o'clock was fixed upon as the
mcnts had been made by the committee for
Clary's band to escort Colonel Richardson
from the hotel to the Courthouse. The
programme was carried out, and General
Walker proceeded to the same place accom-
panied by several personal friends.
About half-past one, Colonel Richardson
appeared on the stand, and was introduced
by j. II. Wartmann, Esq. He is gentle
man apparently about forty-fiye Or forty
eight years Of age, well proportioned, black
hair and whiskers, and withal, rather pre-
possessing appearance.
After some preliminary remarks, detailing
the causes that had placed him in the posi-
ton he occupied, and handsome allusion
to the attractive and beautiful country sur
rounding, he proceeded to state his position.
He claimed that General Walker had aban-
doned the platform of the party as adopted
at Richmond, and to fortify himself in this
claim read from report of a speech deliy-
cred at Wytheville about four weeks ago, in
which he stated that he haG said ''repudia-
ton was theft and forciblc readjustment
highway robbery" Colonel r. dwclt for
some time upon this text, and then proceed
ed to discuss the Funding bill, its oppressive
and ruinous operation, declaring it to be
unconstitutional in his view, and asserting
the belief that the Court of Appeals would
reverse its decision as to the contract feature
of the law upon review of the case. should
it be again brought before it. He fingered
for some time upon the Sovereignty of the
people, that all government derived its
powers from the consent Of the governed,
and contcnding chat such consent had never
been given for the enactment of the Fund
ing bill, that fettereG the State in the inter-
est OF her creditors, and absorbed the SOW
ereignty of the people. He declared that
there was no power superior to the sovereign
will of the people-that it could make and
unmake legislatures and courts, and this
sovereign will could and would demand and
effect readjustment OF the public debt and
the practical annihilation of the unjust and
intolorable operation of the Funding law.
He assumed that an interest rate of three
per cent. was as much as the people could
pay upon the amount set apart for Virginia
by the Funding bill, and that he would
never consent to any greater rate.
OF course we do not propose to give all
the points Of the speech, but the general
line of his argument. 1t was delivered with
luency and spirit. ard was we'll received
BY the large audience present.
General Walker was introduced by Capt.
Charles A. Yancey as the nominee of the |
Conservative party Of Virginia for the office
If Lietcnant Governor. The General opened |
lis speech by stating that although born and !
cared in the adjoining county OF Augusta,
lie had never, previous to his present visit,
,ecn i'll the town of Harrisonburg but |
,wicc-thc fist time, when Stonewall jack
ION was retrcating before Fremont, a pc
iod made sadly memorable by the blood OF
he gallant Ashby ciimsoning the soil of |
at the battle near by, and the
ecohd in 1868, when he addressed the peo-
,lc as the standard bearer of the Conserva-
i've party for Lieutenant Governor, when
colonel Withers carried the flag of that par
y in those gloomy days. He claimed that
e was true to Virginia when he offered his
ife in defence of her people and her cause,
nd when he led forlorn hope in the effort
o gather the shattered fragments of the
roken government Of the Old Common
wealth, and place them under the watchful
Of her own people. He re-
retted that Col. Richardson had scarcely
)uched the question ut issue, the State
eb., but had confined himself principally to
n assault OH him General W., and then
roceeded to define his position, fairly and
Oddly. He said he STOOD upon the Richmond
latforra squarely, and endorsed every word,
ne and sentence OF it. That, as member
the Legislature, he had opposed the Fund
lg bill, had used every resource he pos
esscd to defeat its operation and effect its
epeal-had offered the repeating resolution
'hic. passed in the Legislature, and re-
arded it an iniquitous law, and would favor
ny legal and constitutional means to get
d of the tax-paying coupon feature Of it.
[e was clear, bold and explicit on this point.
lie further declared that he was opposed to
ny increase Of taxation, and in favor of any
adjustment that could be effected without
)ercion, and believed that an adjustment
,uld be effected that would be acceptable
|, the creditors and honorable to the State.
e here discussed at some length the histo-
7 OF the Funding bill and the decisions Of
le courts, and said that lie would be no par
7 to any assault upon the ic'ary-that
e held its decisions as sacred, although he
light differ with them-that liberty itself
as only preserved through the independent
perations OF the CO ordinate branches Of
le government. He then explained the
mark he had made, and which had been
o frequently quoted against hjm-that
n | /