The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-19
Professions and Practice.g


June, 1876, adopted the following resolution
as a part Of the platform with which it pro-
posed to 60 before the people in the Presi-
Dental election:
Third.-The permanent pacification of the
Southern section Of the Union, the complete
protection of all its citizens in the free en-
joyment of all their rights, are duties to
which the Republican party is sacredly
pledged. The power to provide for the en-
forcement OF the principles embodied in the
recent constitutional amendments is vested
by those amendments in the Congress of the
United States, and we declare it to be the
solemn obligation Of the legislative and exc
cutive departments of the Government to
put into immediate and vigorous exercise all
their constitutional powers for removing any
just causes of discomfort on the part of any
class, and securing to every American citi-
zen complete liberty and exact equality in
the exercise of all civil, political, and public
rights. 70 this end we imperatively demand
q Congress ard Chief Executive whose cour.
age and fidelity to these duties shall not
falter until these results are placed beyond
dispute or recall.
Upon this plank it nominated as its candi-
dates for President and Vice President,
Hayes and Wheeler. General Hayes, in his
letter of acceptance, dated July Sth, 1876,
says:
1.-THE resolution of the convention on the
subject of the permanent pacification of the
country, and the complete protection of all
its citizens in the free enjoyment of all their
constitutional rights, is timely and of great
Importance. The condition of the Southern
States attracts the attention and commands
the sympathy of the people OF the whole
Union in their progressive recovery from the
effects of the war. Their first necessity is
an intelligent and honest administration OF
government which will protect all classes OF
citizens in all their political and private
rights. What the South most needs is
peace, and peace depends upon the suprem-
acy of law.
"There can be no enduring peace II the
constitutional rights of any portion of the
people are habitnaily disregarded. A divi-
sion of political parties, resting merely upon
distinctions of race or upon sectional lines,
is always unfortunate and may be disas-
trous. The welfare of the South, alike with
that of every other part of this country, de-
ponds upon the attractions it can offer to la
Dor and immigration, and to capital. But
laborers will not 90, and capital will not be
ventured where the Constitution and laws
are set at defiance, and distraction. appre-
hension, and alarm take the place OF peace
loving and law-abiding social life. All parts
of the Constitution are sacred, and must be
sacredly observed-the parts that are new,
no less than the parts that are old. The
moral and material prosperity OF the South
ern States can be most effectively advanced
by hearty and generous recognition OF the
rights of all by all, recognition without re-
serve or exception. With such a recognition
fully accorded, it will be practicable to pro-
mote, by the influence Of all legitimate agcn-
cies OF the General Government, the efforts
of the people of these States to obtain for
themselves the blessings of honest and capa-
BILE local government. II elected, l shall
consider it not only my duty, hut it will be
my ardent desire to labor for the attainment
| OF this end. Let me assure my countrymen
of the Southern States that, if 1 shall be
charged with the duty of organizing an ad-
ministration, it will be one which will regard
| and cherish their truest interests, the inter-
ests of the white and the colored people,
both and equally, and which will put forth
its best efforts in behalf of civi. policy
| which will wipe out forever the distinction
between the North and South in our COM
mon country
Mr.. Wheeler, in his letter, adds:
ssWe compelled these [Southernl people to
remain in the Union, and now duty and in
| terest demand that we leave no just means
| untried to make them good, loyal citizens
How to diminish the friction, how to stimu-
late the elevation Of this portion of our
country, are problems addressing themselves
to our best and wisest craftsmanship. The
| foundation for these efforts must be had in
fcfx fto no q rp
| to have equal, exact Justice accorded to
| them. Give them to the fullest extent ev-
cry blessing which the Government eonfers
upon tie most favored. Give them no just
cause for complaint, and then hold them by
every necessary means to an exact, rigid OBJ
servance of all their duties and obligations
under the Constitution and its amendments,
to secure to all within their borders manhood
and citizenship, with every right thereto be-
longing"
These were the professions Of the party and
its candidates when they were about to ap-
peal to the people for their suffrages. The
campaign was conducted under the solemn
pledge from press and speakers, that if Gov.
Hayes should be called to the Executive
chair, he would be true to these pledges. The
est effort would be made to obliterate Sec
tional and race lines in politics, and to "put
into immediate and vigorous exercise all con-
stitutional powers, for removing any just
causes of discomfort on the part Of any
class, and securing to every American citi-
zen complete liberty and exact equality in
the exercise of all civil, political and public
rights.
We we're met in these assurances by the
representatives of the Democratic party,
with the charge that these promises were on
ly intended to beguile the people, and that
if the Republican party should succeed, its
practices would be in direct couflict with its
professions-th the military arm of the
government would be used in the South to
control State governments, and the liberties
of the people subordirated to the behests Of
partizan managers, and for partizan pur-
poses.
President Hayes, as an honorable man
had no other course.to pursue than that lie has
adopted. He is simply reducing to practice
what the Convention that nominated him de-
clared would be the policy of the party, and
what he announced in accepting the nomi-
nation would be the principles that would
govern him should he be elected. Republi-
cans certainly should not interpose obstacles
to the operation of these principles; for he
is merely doing what they pledged that he
would do. Democrats should cease their OPP
position, for he is showing to the country
that there is such thing as honesty in poll
tics, and that the promises he made will be
faithfully executed, unless they, in their
blind partizan hate. shall make it impossible
for him to do so.
Surely the country has had enough of par
tizan politics enough of strife and conten-
ton. 1t is about time that the conservative
elements were working together for the COM
mon good, and uniting their efforts in giving
emphasis to every endeayor that has for its
object the peace and prosperity of the coun-
try. The South especially wants repose. If
it can secure it under Republican admins
tration, and by cooperating in carrying out
the spirit which has thus far distinguished it,
it would bemadness not to do so. Extreme