The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-02-01
The Grand Court.

The Grand Court.
The Presidential complication has been
/ fitted out Of the atmosphere OF partizan poll
tics. The passage CT the bill reported by
;hc Join. Committee Of the two Houses, has
re.esatcd the important question involved in
It to Il tribunal that canrot afford to act 9TH
swise than IN Difference TO the highest con-
>ideratien Of patriotism. and reach conelu-
sion which viii! command the respect, II not
Ike Implicit confidence, OF the country. 1t
tiispenses with the propriety Of any further
discussion OF the claims OF the respective
candidates, and renders irrelevant newspa-
per opinions as to the character Of the evil
tlenee npon which snch claims are based.
The facts, the evidence and the law are now
10 be taken under review By tribunal Sc
lectea in the interest Of all the people-the
peace. Of tile country. as we'll as the dignity
ard integrity OF the government itself. In
the presence Of this august court, entrusted
viii, such vital and transcendant interests,
and hedged around by the solemn sanctions
of the oaths they will take. partizan feeling
and passion may well bow In Difference, and
cease their conflict. Not in the history Of
this nor Of any other country has a court
been instituted that had grayer duties to
perform than will the commission author
lied by the act Of Congress have entrusted
to it. The manner OF its appointment, the
considerations that suggested, and the mo-
mentous interests coniided to it, forbid that
it should be met with distrust. or prejndged
in its action. There is not member of it,
WHO will dare to consign his name to infamy
by allowing partizan influences to warp his
Judgment. or party advantage to enter into
his deliberations. The sphere OF its work is
above party. Il comprehends labors as sa-
cred and inspiring as ever moved the mind
or conscience OF man. 1t shares in Import
ance, in dignity. and the vital concerns in
volyed, with the framing OF the Declaration
of Independence and the Constitution OF the
government. There is not member chosen,
whether from the House, the Senate, or the
Supreme Court, who can afford to think Of
either Democrat Or Republican. in parti-
zan sense. If unquestioned and incorrupti-
hle patriotism does not manifest itself in
every utterance and thought in connection
with the duties to be discharged, and the re-
suit to be reached, the guilty wretch who be-
trays his trust will go down in history more
Ioathed and detested than Benedict Arnold
more scorned and hated. il possible, than
Judas Iscariot.
The time for discussing the constitution
atty OF the commission Is past. Statesmen
differ about it, as they differ about the meth
cd to declare the electoral vote. This differ
ence is based upon convictions. 1t is ear
nest and honest. Hence the necessity for a
tribunal Of reference, to take into considera-
ton, the law, the facts, and the evidence,
and a true verdict render, from which there
may be no appeal. The contention and
fierce erE.ination arising from this differ
ence. has occasioned incalculable injury to
the material interests nf the country. II
persisted In, it might ieopardize the very
existence Of the Republic.
Although the commission is as equally
balanced politically, as 1t could be well
made. we have no Idea that the Judgment
of its members will be guaged and deter
mined by party utilization. Surely, in a mat
ter OF such transcendant moment, the men
who have been summoned to act, will throw
aside party and do their duty. under the
solemn sanctions of their Saths. and with
reference to the character and integrity oil
the Republic. Should they not, we might
well despair OF our system OF government
we might well renounce all confidence in
human nature, and write the epitaph OF free
nment-''Destroyed by Corruption. ,
We shall trust the commission-we shall
stecrfuIv abide its decision. whether in con
formity with our views OF right or otherwise
for we do not believe there will sit in tlli
august court. man who will dare to trift
with the interests Involved, and brand him
self as perjurer. md q traitor to his eoun-
try.
If Gov. Hayes shall be declared the legally
and constitutionally elected President 1t will
be in accordance with our present belief and
we shall be gratifled. II Gov. Tilden shall
be announced as the rightfui President, a;
much as we might regret the result, We shall
with equal candor, accord the Court hones
and upright intentions, and bow to its award
The vexed question OF who is President
elect, having been removed from the forum
of partizan disputation, it is proper that al
preiudiced speculation should cease, and the
people turn their attention to the practica
business concerns of life. awaiting the YER
dict rs that which will inspire the confidence
OF the country, and be sustained By its pa
triotism.