Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-10-30
An EsOtlsiie and Fresumptuous Card.
The last VALLEY VIRGINIAN con-
tanned the following "card:"
4.

The last VALLEY VIRGINIAN con-
tanned the following "card:"
I To the People of augusta:
My competitor, Gen. Echols, infory n
cd me be would attend the Courts, Of
Greene and Goochland this week and
canvass in the county Of Fluvannn.
am here on my way to meet him., and
will do So, the fates being proJ itious,
at every point. Whilst l am thus
carried to the eastern part Of the Dis.
tuct, l see from the Staun ton press
that there will be public sp eaking all
over the county to continue until neal
the election. This means th at delega'
ton of Staunton lawyers is to canyass
the county while | am combating the
claims of Gen. Rchols elsewhere. Trus,
the notice does not clearly disclose the
object, but 1t Is ob gious to any observer.
aud the result will prove the accuracy
of my prediction, that as the meetings
are to be political" the tenor Of the
speeches will be a direct endorsement
Of the platform on which Gen. Echols
stands and therefore Immediately in his
interests. Why does not tins notice
develop clearly TO the people Of this
district that the friends Of Gen. EchOls
will speak at these points?
l appeal to you to say if there Is any
ssrt of fairness in this arrangement. Is
it possible for me to meet Gen. EchOls
whenever nc speaks in the East, and at
the same time meet a combination Of
canvassers arrayed in his behalf all over
the county. l can encounter any Ordl-
nary opposition when l can combat
its representatives face to face, but il Is
impossible fer me to be az more places
than enc at time. l congratulate
myself. fellow citizens, that the issues
of this canvass are in your hands alone
and with an abiding confidence in your
sense ofjustice and fair play, l commit
the result to you.
JOHN L. HARRIS"
The circumstance which seems to
have called forth this ''card" is that
SEINE fifty Or sixty Of the leading citi-
zens of Aulusta had politely invited
Messrs. \. II. II. Stuart, Hugh w.
Shelley, Marshall Hanger, James II
Skinner aud Dayd Fultz, to address
the people of the county and city at
such times and places as might sui! their
convenience, on the complicated qucs-
tons OF finance and currency, which
now occupy so large share Of public
attention. This, Mr.. Harris most pre-
sumptuously and illogically construes.
into an act Of hostility to him! Verify,
we have come to a pretty pass, when
the free and enlightened people ofthis
county are not to be at liberty to ask
the opinions OF their oldcs. and most
trucst citizens, in matters OF greatpub-
lie moment, without 81 st obtaining the
consent Of Mr.. Harris?
On what meat hath our Caesar fed,
that he hath grown so great: Does be
think that the people belong to him. and
that he alone las the right 10 shape
their opinions. 1t is time that such
assumption on the part Of our would-be
representative, should meet an aprro-
pirate rebuke. His head seems TO be
turned by his giddy elevation to the
height OF a seat in Congress.
This card is a gratuitous insult to
every man who signed the invitation to
Mcssrs. Stuart, Shelley, &c.
We doubt if one Of those slgncrs had
thought Of Mr.. Harris Or his Congress
ional aspirations, when they signed that
invitation. They were looking 10 high
or objects and were influenced by higher
motives than the desire 10 elevate this
or that man to office. They desired
information on questions Of vital inter
est to the public, and they knew who
they could trust aid who were not
seeking Office. Had they not a perfect
right to do this? Or have the people
fallen SO low that they must follow
b.indly the dictates of these would he
party leaders:
We bad thought that freedom of
thought, and the right to seek counsel
of those in whom they ,onfidc, was the
birth right Of every citizen ofthe Repub-
lie. But it seems we were mistaken.
They must look to Mr.. Harris alone,
for advice. The people are no longer
the source Of all power. They are no
longer responsible for the wise admins
traton OF government. Their province
$ to register the bchests Of Mr.. Harris.
Andpr who Is this Mr. Harris, who
so presumptuously rebukcd the people
Of Augusta County and Stanton, for
looking to their Oldest and most trusted
fellow-citizens for instruction and advice
IN matters which so deeply affect their
interest.
What has he ever done to inspire
such unboundcd confidence IN his wis
dom and patriotism? He has been in
Congress some ten or fifteen years. He
has had The best opportunities of show
ing his ability to serve the public, and
yet what has he done? What measure Of
public policy has he ever made? What
luminous report on important or vital
questions has he prepared
We have had Congressman before,
such as Stuart, Mcdowell and Letche,,
all Of whom in much shorter time Of pub
lie service than Harris has enjoyed, es-