The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-29
The caueus.

All the indications seem to favor new
dispensation for Virginia-an era of pros.
perity unexampled in the past, and promis-
ing future pregnant of hope. From 1869
to 1877, the popular mind had been kept in
a state of insane excitement by the wicked
appeals of chronic demagogues. From the
day the final rehabilitation of the State
ard her restoration to her proper position in
the Union, were announced the ambition of
the political junkcters had been directed to
devising means to impair the force of ma
tional legislation and restrict the rights guar
anteed thereby. A vicious purpose to evade
or nullfy plain and accepted constitutional
provisions. had stimulated inilammatory ap-
peals 10 passion, and through such agency
drove the popular mind from calm, COM
mon sense consideration of the facts as they
exist and the duty they impose. Had the
teachings of the hastings and the halls of
legislation, been to educate the people to IL
sincere acceptance Of the results OF the war.
faithful abidance of all the enactmcnts in
letter and spirit, and popular aspirations
directed to the present and future, instead
OF the past, different state of things would
now exist, to what does. The plain duty
was to meet consummated events fairly and
squarely; to leave the things OF the past, the
feelings. opinions. and education connected
with an institution and theory OF govern
ment incident to it, to the past, and live
away from it, under new dispensation call
ing for new ideas and new methods of
thought and public action. Had such been
the fact, instead OF sullenly repining oyer
effete notions, Virginia to-day would be
Union, capital and enterprise would be di-
recting industries growing out of our nat.
ural advantages, immigration would crowd
our highways, and the wastes OF the Com
monweal.h respond to the touch of indus
try and skill. We have absolutely worse
than frittered away almost decade. We
have not only not been improving the State
and developing her resources, but have been
crystalizing prejudice against ourselves
Which has been more disastrous than :. con-
dlGlOn OF positive iflacOlOn.
What is the result of this bat-eyed. reac.
tive, repressve policy? We are staggering
under a load of increasin. debt. that is
crushing the life out of the people. Capital
and enterprise have passed by and around
us, leaving Oil wonderful natural advan-
tages dormant aud unremunerative our
young men of spirit and pluck lave gone to
more inviting fields; the great mass of the
people have become dissatisfied and dspiri-
ted; and the periodical calls of the tax-gath-
erer the dirge-notes of popular hope.
| This was the condition of things, when
the People of the State determined to make
one supreme effort to throw off the incubus,
which sat like nightmare and was placed
upon them by the wicked devices and de-
signing schemes of the caucus politicians.
They realized that he who would be free
must first strike the blow, and the effect
only showed how weak and fimsy and
contemplate were the influences which had
before kept them bound as slaves to the ring
manipulators. In every portion of the State,
wherever there was an united purpose, the
People triumphed (; the politicians, who had
ruled with unchallenged power before,
driven into retirement; anG representative
men chosen to direct the future of the Com
monwealth, and shape her policy in the in
terest OF the constituent element.
The prestige and power of the caucus hay
ing been thus protested and paralyzed by
the expression of the popular will at the bal
lot-box, the duty of the Legislature elected
will be very plain. 1t will be treason to
the people to revive it in that body, and
thus subordinate the great concerns and in
terests OF the Commonwealth to its mis-
chievous and corrupt rule. Comparison Of
views, consultations, and unity of action
will be necessary, in considering the para
mount question that must be determined by
the Legslatu-e-that of the Public Debt.
The general purpose TO be attained is very
we'll understood-the specific method to eff
feet readjustment, can be coniided, for
its formulation, to few wise, experienced,
and patriotic heads, who comprehend the
wants of the people, and the equity OF the
case, and who will reflect the popular mind
in the measures they may suggest. This is
as near an approach to q caucus as will be
necessary, for there will not be man on
the floor of either house of the Legislature
who will not know what his constituents
want in reference to this vital subject This
should be the policy Of the delegates, in Or
der to enter, at the outset of their tlclibera-
tons. protest against the despotsm of the
caucus, and to throw something like an air
of independence and manhood about the in
dividual action of each member.
Not only upon The question mentioned,
but all others, there should be reflected the
popular will in ignoring the caucus. and
give to the deliberations of the Legislature
a tone which has been sadly wanting in past
years. There is no question OF political
party supremacy, as heretofore recognized.
The Republicans will not organize their
meagre numbers for any party advantage.
They will be merged in the issue on the
State debt, and the lines drawn between the
adherents and the opponents of the funding
bill fraud. 1t will require no party lash to
arrange aud direct the columns. The Fund
ing Bill has been condemned, and readjust-
ment demanded, in defiance of the caucus.
The machine politicians who inflicted the
wrong upon the State, have been protested
by the people, and it is Just as essential to
protest the agencies by which thei- ncfarious
work was accomplished
Such a course will be the first step TO-
wards liberalzing public sentiment. stimu-
lating public thought, and inflsing more Of
popular sympathy into legislation. 1t will
have the effect tn draw tooethar irrnsnoo