Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-03-22
Reception to the Governor.

( On Friday afternoons train from Rich
mond, there arrived Gov. Holiday, on his
way to Winchester, and Speaker Allen.
Gen. Echols, Messrs. Hanger, Vanlear and
other members of the legislature returning
to their homes. The Governor stopped at
the American Hotel. and during the after
noon paid visit to DR.. Robt. F. Baldwin,
Superintendent of the W. L. Asylum.
About 10 O'Clock at night number of
gentlemen, bringing the band from the
| D. D. & B. Insti tuition with them, called
at the hotel and paid the Governor the
compliment Of serenade. In answer to
loud calls he came out On the balcony, and
was introduced to the crowd by Gen.
Echols. The Governor said he was glad
to receive this welcome. There had been.
he said, great differences in the legislature
which had just adjourned, but it was
not at all unnatural that such should be
the case. This would not be the land Of
liberty that it is, if man didn't have a
right to his own opinions, and the adj
ditiOnal right to express them according to
his feelings. There had been good men on
both sides of the great issue of the day,
and their views, though honestly held,
were very different. Nothing could be
gained now by recrimination among those
who had differed, and he hoped there would
be nothing of that sort. After long and
allie discussion both parties had agreed
upon plan which he hoped would result
in benefit to the State-certainly it could
do no harm, if it could not do any good,
The State could not maintain her honor
if she settled her debt on any other terms
than such as were satisfactory to her credi-
tors. Such settlement he was sure she
would make, and finally emerge from her
trouble, ''as bright as the sun, as fair as
the moon, and as terrible as an army with
banners.''
Gen. Echols next introduced the distin-
guished Speaker Of the House, Judge Al
len, of Shenandoah. Judge Allen said he
felt himself in an embarrassing situation
in following the remarks just made. He
was known as Readjuster, and was so, be-
cause he had seen in two previous years OF
experience in legislation at Richmond that
the State was fast drifting into repudia-
ton, which could only be avoided by al
adjustment of the debt-one honorable to
all parties. He had tried to bring about
such one, but the majority of the legis-
lature had disagreed with him finally as, to
the best course to pursue. He could not
agree with the speaker who had preceded
him as to the value Of the new funding
bill, which he, the speaker, didn't consider
worth the paper it was written on, and un-
der which he did not think the creditors
would exchange their bonds. After thank
ing his hearers for their attention Speaker
Allen closed his remarks.
Gen. Echols being called for said it was
difficult to express the satisfaction he felt
at ueing among his fellow citizens again
after his long absence. In the legislation
in which he had participated, he had striv-
en- to faithfully represent his constituency
of the empire county of Augusta. 1t was
a legislature of widely diverging views,
which had at last come together and min
gled in the compromise of which those
who heard him had already been informed.
This was not the time to give an account
of his stewardship, as he would be here
home with them and have other opportu-
mites, and so he bade them goodnight.
After music by the band, and also by
the Stonewall band, which had arrived,
the crowd dispersed. The Governor left
saturday morning, and at Winchester was
received by the military and a large con-
course of citizens.