The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-10
Extra Session.

Extra session.
The postponement OF the day Tor the |
of the extra session Of Congress
to the 18th OF October meets with some
because of the alleged embar-
rassment it will occasion to the government
for the want OF the necessary means Tor Its
legitimate uses. It is stated that it is posi-
BILE the day may be changed to an earlier
period in view of facts which will soon be
presented from the War Department. 1t is
quite likely, however, that the President and
his Cabinet carefully considered the advan-
tages and disadvantages attending an early
meeting Of Congress, before they concluded
to issue the proclamation fixing the 10Th OF
October. Congress meeting at that time
will run the extra session into the regular
session, and practically make them one,
which, we think, would be more desirable.
for the members and better for the country,
IL the condition of the various departments
of the government will .llow of the delay in
the meeting OF the extra session.
There is one thing very patent, and we
presume it is that which has influenced the
President in his action. That is, the coun-
try wants quiet-a cessation from political
excitement. The material interests of the
people absolutely demand it. We have been
in turmoil so long that the practical business
Of the country has greatly suffered, and
every consideration of public policy requires
that as little political excitement as possible
be instigated, until business shall have re-
sumed its normal channels. Then, it is
right and proper that a fair trial should be
given the policy the President has adopted
IN reference to the Southern States. No one
questions the exalted motives which have
governed DEMONSTRATIONS. which look
to the peace and prosperity of the whole
country, With Congress in session during
the summer months, and the inflammatory
little demagogues sending their firebrands
throughout the country, the popular mind
might become infamed, so as to be inca
pable of aiding in accomplishing the patriotic
ends the President has In view. 1t is from
no partizan considerations that the post
ponement of the meeting OF Congress has
been determined upon-with no reference,
primarily, to party organizations or party
prospects, merely for party. 1t is with
view, doubtless, to have crystalized the con-
servative sentiment of the nation in the sup
port of policy that is designed for the good
Of the nation, regardless Of party or section.
II party machinery shall be affected by lit
it is necessary that party organizations shall
be readjusted to accomplish this purpose, it
will only demonstrate that parties are not
what they should be, as now managed, and
their modification is demanded by the high
est interests of the people. If parties insti-
gate strife and prejudice, and interpose OBJ
stacles to the material welfare of the nation,
the sooner their modification is effected and
they made to conform to the ends OF good
government, the better. 1t is good govern
ment, peace, progress, and prosperity, thai
should be and is the ambition of the Presi
dent, and if in adopting methods to affair
these ends, a severe surgical operation has
to be performed upon present parties. let il
be done. Parties must not stand in the way
of the public good. The accomplishment Of
that is what parties are organized for, and j
they are incompatible with it, then the
sooner they are destroyed the better.
All the genuine interests of the country
and especially those of the South, demand
that the Democratic party, as it now exist
in the Southern States, controlled by the
most itnpolitic sectional considerations
should be dissolved. 1t stands as menact
to the Constitution as it is and the laws al
they area repelling barrier to the intro
duction of enterprise and capital-a defiance
to the national sentiment OF the country
The success OF The Presidents policy implies
the modification, If not the dsintregation, O
that party If the people of the South de-
sire peace and fraternity, they must remove
the aggravating cause Of strife, and that !!
the narrow, sectional ideas upon which thu
Democratic party is based.
The President has only to persist in thu
policy he has adopted, and the ends he aspire
to will be reached. It trenches upon indi
vidual pride, at first, to acknowledge that
party with which we have been identified is
an obstruction to the public good. But thi
will soon wear away under the influence o.
the actual good accomplished. In the cours'
OF time, higher considerations will asser
control than mere partizan prejudice. and
the final outcome will be that patriotic, con
sentative men will lose sight Of party nomi
nalism in contemplating the benefits real
lied. s'Hc who serves his country best
serves his party BEST" will be maxim o
popular acceptance, and men will esteem it
higher honor to serve in the cause of the
country than to be numbered with the adhe
rents of a party organization that antago
nizes public prosperity and peace.
The South, particularly, is not so muct
interested IN the success of parties as she il
in the development of her resources. Will
peace throughout her borders, we may rea
sonably expect new departure in materia
enterprise, in the encouragement of manu-
factories to utilize her own products, ant
add wealth to herself and the nation. In
deed, the prosperity Of the entire countr!
will eventually find its stimulating source ir
the South. When once capital and edu
Gated enterprise are directed to the advan
tages presented in the Southern States TO
furnaces and looms and factories, they viii
gravitate there in obedience to law o
trade. There is not department OF me
chanical industry that could not be bette
and more profitably conducted in the South
ern States than in the Eastern, and wher
the people have gotten their feelings calmet
down and their political animosties cauter
lied, it will be natural thing for them tt
direct their attention to profitable and In
viting business undertakings. The field il
illimitable in the South. There is no branch
OF industry that would not find in the Soutf
remuneratiye returns, il conducted by ex
perienced intelligence and energy Their,
is, Ia truth, higher mission for the Soutl
THAI the political disputations and conten
tions which have so deeply harmed her here
tofore, and If the political agitators are made
to stand aside, and practical business mel
come to the front. the future will open NJ
hopefully for this highly favored section.
Mr. Johns Hopkins Baldwin, insurance