The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-06-13
The Fall Issue.

and elsewhere this fall, there is one that
should be made prominent ard paramount,
and that is the revolutionary purpose and
tendency of the Potter investigation. 1t is
needless to attempt to conceal the fact that
1t was the design Of the instigators of that
to cast talnt upon the Presiden-
tial title and reopen the question determ-
ined by the Electoral Commission. The
language of Mr.. Potter in framing his reso-
luton; the terms employed by him in ex-
planning its purpose the action of the Dem
ocratic National Committee in voting down
the resolution declaring it was nos the pur-
pose of the movement to disturb the Presi-
Dental title the vote in the caucus Of the
Democratic members of Congress rejecting
a similar proposition-all conspire to the
conclusion that there is reserved q purpose
to take action on the report Of the partizan
committee, when it shall be made. The
committee was called into existence for the
purpose of disputing the validity OF the
award of the High Commissioner has con-
Quoted the investigation to arrive at a re-
port in harmony with that purpose, and
when that report shall be given it will be
adopted, and there can be no other action
than to formulate declaration in accord
ance Herewith.
1t may suit the purpose of members Of
Congress who voted for the Potter invest-
CATION to declare their opposition to any
procedure designed to assail the Presidential
title, but if report is made, such as we are
justified in concluding will be made. from
the revolutionary ard reasonable spirit
manifested thus far in the proceedings and
the partizan and unjust rulings which have
governed them, then the very members.
so conservative in their outgivings now, will
be powerless to resist the mandates OF the
caucus, and will be driven to the support OF
any measure the plotters and schemers who
devised the scheme may elect. When men,
who have taken the oath of Office to support
the Constitution and the laws, can SO far
forget the interests of country as to regard
the peace of the nation as subordinate to the
command of party, issued through the eau
Gus, there can be no limit given to their sub
mission, and no assurance vouchsafed lncon-
sistent with the behests of party, that will
inspire confidence. The whole history OF
the proceedings connected with the Potter
resolution shows that it has for its object
an assault upon the title of the President.
1t is based upon the Montgomery Blair pro-
gramme, which avows that as its prime OBJ
iect. Mr.. Blair now declares that that is to
be the resultant Hayes is to be displaced
and Tilden installed, and that is the logic OF
the proceedings, if anything beyond mere
vapor and sensation. Hon. Alex. Stephens
says it must eventuate in either contempt
ible farce or horrid tragedy" and notwith-
standing the protests to this coming from
members who voted for the Potter resolu-
ton, it is very evident that such will be the
result. If the country is not precipitated
into revolution by the wicked and insane eff
forts of the Democratic leaders in and out
of Congress, great farce will have been
enacted, which, after having disturbed the
business interests Of the nation, will bring
into contempt and loathing the principal
actors, who will thus have exposed them
selves to public ridicule.
1t is the duty of the people everywhere to
enter solemn protest against any further
federation OF caucus politics, and to assume
the direction of public affairs in the interest
of peace and national progress and develop
ment. We already see to what extremes
the caucus machinery may drive men who
recognize its authority, overriding their
better judgments and honest convictions,
and threatening the stability of our institu-
tions. 1t is duty the people owe to them
selves as we'll as the country, to set their
faces squarely against m achine politics, to
frown out of existence the caucus, and give
expression to their own convictions in the
ballot they will cast for Congressman.
When it is remembered that not q Democrat.
ic member from Virginia approved the Potter
movement-that upon its merits each one
condemns it-yet through the power and
influence of the caucus, every one OF them
voted for it, we may form some idea of the
despotism of its authority and tine arbitrary
exactions it makes of all who recognize its
dictum. If its command could compel them
to support measure fraught with SO much
mischief and harm to the country, it is diff
cult to say to what limits it might aspire
and what agencies employ to consummate
its enGs. The People want man who will
represent Mem-who has the nerve and dis
position to proclaim his relations to his party
as secondary to his country, and to lend his
support to the higher and better interests
of the nation. Upon this point distinct
and positive declaration should be made and
the assurance given that the desperate
schemes of Tilden and Blair will find no
further encouragement or countenance.-
The developments thus far--and they sub
stantislly exhaust the field of investigation
SO far as they can throw suspicion on Repub-
licans-( Democratic rascalities, attempted
bribery and actual violences are not to be
considered !)-without even the first install
ment of rebutting testimony, show that the
milder of the alternatives suggested by Mr.
Stephens-a 'scontemptible farce''-will, in
all probability, be the result. Yet the meth
DDS and influences invoked may lead to serious
complications, and if not ''contemptible
farce" then ''horrid tragedy" must follow,
for the American people will never consent
to subversion Of the government, without
q determined struggle in behalf of estab-
lished law AID adjudicated authority. To
this dire resort the present conspiracy may
come. unless an untrammeled and uncor
rupted ballot is invoked as safeguard
against the Inauguration Of revolution. Ii
is time for the People to be aroused to
the impending danger and threatened
civil CONFUSION, and interpose there author
ity, through the methods prescribed by law
for their safety, as we'll as the preservation
and perpetuity of their political Institutions.
The class of de magogues and plotters, who
have precipitated this agitation, out Of which
no possible good can ensue, are IN fit to rep
resent the well-meaning and lawabiding
people of the country, and they should be
protested and repudiated as unworthy of
The confidence of those they have so palpa-
bly, and wickedly msrepr esented.