The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-01
The Staunton Spectator and Maj. Hanger
Position.

In the editorial columns of the last Spec
and studied injustice must challenge the
of every fair-minded man
vino reads if, and who knows the provoca-
ton which elected it. tt commences all ed
itorial Oil Maj. Hangers position on the
Public Debt question:" by stating that ''The
last VALLEY VIRGINIAN made the asser-
ton that Maj. Hanger had changed his posi-
ton on the subject OF the State debt, and
then proceeds to give the substance of what
purports to be the speech of Mai. Hanger,
at Greenville last Saturday, in which that
gentleman said that he chad not at any
time modified or qualified his views as here
tofore expressed
The necessary inference from the Specta-
tors article is that the editors of this paper
have sought to do Maj. Hanger an injustice
by asserting as a fact, that for which there
was no foundation in truth, and which the
gentleman himself expressly denied. Com
mon courtesy, common honesty and justice
prompted the writer OF the article to have
stated that the opinion expressed by the ed
itors of this journal, as to Mai. Hangers
position, was based upon his speech at
Churchv;lle in which he declared in ''fayor
of an honorable readjustment aud opposed
TO any increase OF taxation" and was not,
as the alusion to it would imply, the off
spring OF desire to misrepresent and place
in false position a gentleman for whom,
personally, we have always entertained the
highest respect.
10 expect, however, fairness, courtesy or
manliness from sheet that has never had
an opinion of its own and is accustomed to
make up in Misrepresentation what it lacks
in brains, iii its efforts to curry favor with a
class of newspapers that despisc it's weak
ness and tolerate it only as the vehicle of
their refuse, is to be guilty Of credulity for
Which there is no earthly apology, and
Which would entitle its entertainer to a three
legged stool in close proximity to that which
graces the sanctum Of the Stanton iSpecta-
tor. But we have neither time nor lnclina-
ton to dwell upon subject SO distasteIu.
1t Is not our practice to assert as a fact
that which we do not know to be true, nor
do we express us all opinion that which, our
convictions do not justify. Last week we
stated that Maj Hanger had changed his
views as to the best policy to be pursued in
the settlement OF the State debt, and if there
is any force Or virtue in language, if the cen
struction of words into sentences is intend
ed to convey ideas, VIC certainly had ample
grounds for such statement. We will lay
the facts before our readers and let them
judge for themselves.
1t is well known that Maj. Hanger is the
recognized champion of what is known as
the Funding Party;" that he has defended
that measure in all OF his speeches. and has
stated, time and again, thst he has never
seen occasion to regret his support OF it. 1t
is well known that in his July address lie
favored an increase Of taxation to meet the
deficit in the State Treasury, if the proposed
retrenchments should fail to accomplish that
which it was claimed they would, and whilst
he favored any readiustment acceptable to
the creditors, he yet secuted the practicable
/ ity of such measure, and denounced it as
the subterfuge of the demagogue and I'M
worthy the support Of honest and sensible
men. lie maintained chat there was nc
middle ground between pay and repudiate
that the position Of the boEdhoder was toe
| imprcgnable to admit Of the indulgenceo OF any
hope whatever of compromise, and that
the readjustment movement was but the
cloak of reputation.
From that day up to the date of his
Churchville speech, we had never heard OF
any modification or qualification OF his ex.
pressed views" Our understanding Of hi;
position was, and we think it was an almost
universal understanding, that he had nc
idea any adjustment could be effected, and
that he would favor an increase of taxatio ion
! to meet any deficiencies. In his Church
vile speech, the Substance of which we re.
ported, there was nothing to indicate de-
parture from this position, his time being al
most entirely taken up with defence o.
the Funding Bill, and it was not until Mr.
John N. Opie accused him of being in favor
of an increase of taxation that he jumped te
his feet and emphatically announced thai
she stood on the platform, and aoas an fauo1
of an honorable readjustment, and opposed
to any increase of taaation.'
That declaration surprised not only the
writer of this article, but almost every one
| In the house. 1t was the first time we hai
ever heard him favor such policy. and W.
seemed to be as we'll posted with reference
to his public utterances as any ether of tlt
audience. 10 us it seemed the last note Q.
the Funding party in Augusta county, ant
| it was not without a sensation OF pleasure
| that we hastily jo.ted down his very words
After the meeting was over, and when W.
were on Our way home, without our having
referred at all to his reply to Mr.. Opc, Maj
Hanger himself called our special attention
to that reply, and asked il we ''iad gotter
him down correctly, as being opposed to in
crease OF taxation and in favor of readjust
ment:" We told him we had. The i'm
preston made upon our mind by his inqui
ries was that be wished the people OF th'
county to know that he had changed his
views, and that he now favored readjust
ment. Whether the facts and circumstances
as we have stated them, Justified such al
impression, we leave others to Judge.
| We do not know what Maj Hanger said al
Greenvile or Saturday, for we were not there
to hear him. but we. do know what he said al
Churchville, and we cannot see how his dec
laration there can be roconciled to his utter
ances in the Courthouse, without some
modification or qualification lie certain
| ly cannot believe the position OF the bond
holders so secure now, that any attempt at
adjustment would prove mere child's play
else why does he favor the very policy he 8
| few months ago so cordially condemned
| We would never accuse Marshall Hanger OIL
being 1emagogue--hc has always been TOT
frank and straight forward for tlat--but il
there has been no modification or qualilica-
tion'' of his views, lie stands seli-con
demned; least Of all would we charge him
with being repudiator, and yet if out o.