The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-01-11
The 9Th Of January.

OF the democratic party OF Virginia, q meet
ing of a portion of the citizens of Richmond,
and OF the State, including members of the
Legislature, was held in the Hall OF the
House OF Representatives on the Sth inst,
Hon. r. NJ. L. Hunter, presiding.
! 1t seems from q statement of Mr.. Meade,
in the meeting, that the call was made at
the suggestion OF the Secretary of the Ma
tional Democratic Committee, received the
evening of the 9Th, to the effect that Nl-
ginia should speak on the Sth, and that lie
did not have time to consult generally in re-
gard to it. 1t was an emergency that re-
CURED prompt action, and he assumed all The
responsibility for the call. 5 -s.g.l.s
A committee was appointed, with Judge
Meredith as chairman, to report resolutions
expressive of the sense of the people Of
Virginia.
The Resolutions adopted declare that the
complications that have arisen have been
caused by the illegal and fraudulent prac-
tees of the returning boards; that the only
mode Of extrication from the present dan
gers is by firm adherence to the principles
of the Constitution and observance of long
established presidents; that the right to
Fof any vote is vested in the two Houses of
Congress; they are also empowered to pass
all laws and rules necessary to carry tine
granted powers INTO effect; that should the
I,n II. II, do
OF procedure, and to declare which of the
candidates lave been coMstitutionaliy eleet
ed it shall be the duty OF the House of Rep
resentatives to elect President from the
three persons having the highest vote. That
the Cor stitution confers no power upon the
President Of the Senate to count the cleo
toral vote, and requires him simply to, in
the presence OF the two Houses, open all the
votes that the power to count the vote has
never vet been claimed by any previous
President OF the Senate; that the claim eXer-
cised by the Returning Boards OF sandry
States to manipulate the vote of their fellow
citizens was without law, and places the lib
critics of the people at the mercy of partizan
and corrupt organizations. The last rcsolu-
| tions call upon the Legislatures Of the States
| to declare in firm and u.lmistakable Ian
guage the sentiments of their constituents.
| Judge Allen, of Shenandoah, Col. Penn,
OF Patrick, Capt. Chamberlayne, Of Rich
mond, aud others did not approve the call,
nor the purport OF the proposed action. The
call, they thought, was unauthorized, and
the meeting could not speak for the people
of Virginia. ,~-.-''r +.-
/ 1t was very evident, from the speeches OF
those who did support the resolutions, that
the whole affair was a ruse, just like Bradley
Johason's resolutions in the Senate. The
movers OF 1t got the meeting together, intro
duced the resolutions, and not to pass them
might create wrong impression. They
had to be disposed of in some way, and TIE
least painful, it was thought, would be tc
pass them.
The State, of the 9th, Of which Capt
Chamberlayne is editor, says of the meeting
| In short the call wrong, If as to the PEG
pie OF Richmond, wrong if as to the people sener
ally and placed, could not fail to place, every
| body in an embarrassment.
| 1.-THE resolutions have gone forth as the expires
sion of the people OF Virginia, whereas the PEG
pie of Virginia know nothing about them. They
| have gone forth as the opinion of Richmond
whereas the meeting did not have majority il
it of Richmond people; they have gone forth as
drawn by committee of citizens taken from
many parts OF the State, whereas nine-tenths o
the committee were citizens OF single city.
| fortunately, the resolutions do no harm
| themselves, but the public earnestly hopes thai
no more unauthorized calls, seemingly official
shall be issued for gatherings that do goot
and may do much harm
sit has been fondly hoped by many that the how
raised around the ears OF a certain Committee O.
Nine some years ago, when they, without any
| authority, sought to act for the whole people
| would be a warning in the future to all unauth
orized gatherings, however respectable.
In Indiana resolutions similar in language
and import to those adopted in RiehNoad
were adopted, showing that they had a com
mon paternity, and that in New York city. A
resolution offered by Mr.. Voorhees,, providing
for Committee OF Correspondence -nt
Public Safety, to hold communication with
all the democratic organizations, in the soy
eral States was also adopted.
In Ohio resolutions were adopted clailnin.
Tilden's election, but promising acquies
cence in any adjustment made by the Two
tempt on the part OF the President OF the
Senate to count and declare the vote as us II
patton, and arraigning President Grant fo
following the example Of the military chief
tains OF Mexico" in enforcing the laws ant
preserving the peace in tie Cotton States
during the election.
/ In Washington, under the auspices OF The
Tilden and Hendricks Clubs, very wilt
and revolutionary meeting was held, Henry
Watterson, OF KY, being the princip speak
er. He declared there would be one hun
dred thousand unarmed men in Washington
on the 18th of February, when the count is
made, and that if necessary ''another Jack
son would be ready to lead them to preser
| walton of the Constitution and the Govern
ment.''
These demonstrations are but q part o.
the programme to force Mr.. Iiden into the
Presidency. They will as effectually fail as
all the other expedients have to accomplish
the same object. Tile Republicans are quiet
observers of passing events-havc resorted
to no inflammable Or revolutionary proceed
ings or expressions, and are patiently await
ing the arrival CT the 18th of February when
Rutherford 3. Hayes will be legally and
constitutionally declared President, and as
such inaugurated on the 4th of March next.
Virginia's Debt.
The Washington correspondent of the Bal
| fimOrn (IaZatta of thp 9Th saws
'sMr. Peyton of Philadelphia, who is said