The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-30
The Effect.

The action of Congress on the Potter res.
olution is having very depressing effect all
over the country. Business calculations
have been so radically deranged, by reason
of the sudden agitation of question that
the country had accepted as settled, that men
of enterprise and capital are completely at
sea, and will not encourage any proposition
looking to change Of investments, and es-
pecially in the South. We conversed with
very intelligent and sagacious citizen CT
the valley, few days ago--a strong and
leading conservative-and he informed us
that his information as to the temper of
Northern capitalists was very discouraging
for this section. We met with another gen.
tleGan whose acquaintance and correspon-
dence with northern men are very extensive,
and he gave us the same unwelcome ,intelli-
gence. The following extract from letter
written by an extensive operator in iron and
coal lands, and who expected to visit Virgin
ia this month, with a view to purchasing
mineral lands and engage in their develop
ment, shows how he has been affected
1--WE do not see any encouragement for so
doing make the visit, with the view we have
stated now. No one wants to invest how
on any terms. The recent action of Con-
gress, on the Potter resolution, so unsettles
business affairs, that they are resolved to do
nothing until things are more even than now
and quiet waters are reached.''
The delegation of iron men from Pittsburg
who passed up the c. & o. railroad last week
spoke in the same strain, They represent
the wealth of the iron interests of Pittsburg,
and recognize the advantages Of Virginia as
embraced in her mineral wealth, climate, ge-
ographical position and facilities of trans
portation, but did not hesitate to say that
they could not think of changing their invest
ments in the unsettled condition of affairs
created by the action of the Democrats in
Congress.
These are facts, and demonstrate how ut
terly reckless is the modern Democratic par
ty of the peace and prosperity Of the country.
1t does not furnish an excuse for their reyo-
lutionary course that they say they want to
expose frauds. There may have been frauds
and Irregularities committed by both parties
in 1876. 1t was charged and cou inter- charg-
ed that such was the fact at the time. The
dispute ran high and threatened the very ex-
istence OF the government itself. But the
business interests Of the nation demanded
a peaceful settlement, and with that end in
view the Electoral Commission was created.
and its arbitrament accepted as firal and sa-
cred. TO reopen the old sore-to again
plunge the country into sectional strife and
inf1ame sectional prejudices, by going over
| the same controversy, with no hope Of learn
ing more than was then known and believed
by each party as toithe other, would be mad
ness itself, and no other political organiza-
ton ever known to the country would have
SO lightly regarded the best interests of the
nation. j&
The sober sense.of the American people will
tolerate no such dangerous experiment.
They have too recently passed through the
throes of revolution and armed Conflict to
willingly take step that may lead to rep
etition of the same bloody desolation, and
they will not be slow in holding to severe
responsibility those who have recklessly dis
regarded the duties OF their position and the
obligations they owe the great mass of the
constituent body, by instigating and aiding
the revolutionary movements.