The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-08-01
To-Day.

4O-Ddy
We will not insult the intelligence OF the
gentlemen who will assemble in this place
to-day from the different parts of the
Seventh Congressional District, by presum-
ing fer instant that they will organize into
(, Convention for the purpose of making a
nomination for Congress. The manifesto
tons which have come up from every county
composing the District, furnish ample evil
dcnce that the people have been satiated
with caucus dictation, and that it is their de-
termination not to longer tolerate the des-
potic machinery by which they have been
inflicted with so many ills. Four counties
Rockingham, Highland, Bath and Flu
wanna, in mass meetings, have formally de-
clared against the Convention. One of the
precincts in Augusta-Mount Solon-has ex-
pressed & similar conclusion. One from
Greene, and probably others in that county,
has in like manner recorded its protest.
One In Albemarle has resolved against the
expediency of a nomination; and in all the
primaries held, there has been 20 competent
representation OF the people in favor OF
nomination. The very meagreness OF the
presence is an implied protest from the
great mass of the people who absented
themselves, against any affirmative action in
the selection of candidate. Not to respect
this negative demonstration, would be to
assume a responsibility that would invoke
storm of indignation which would spend its
fury upon the unlucky selection that might
be made, and return him to the shades OF
private life with a rebuke from which he
would never recover. No man with his
wits about him would covet nomination
under such circumstances, nor would any one
who is careful for his future, and cherishes
an ambition for popular approval, accept an
endorsement on this occasion from the gen.
tlemen claiming to he delegates. The great
Power which controls the ballot, and which
shapes the destiny of men and governments.
has been aroused to the indignities that have
been placed upon it through caucus ma
chinery. IG stands in the background, its
pride stimulated. its robust manhood stirred.
ready to vindicate its majesty and assert its
authority against the plots and schemes OF
the ring managers and machine manipula-
tions; nor will it be any respecter of per-
sons in a challenge such as would be flung
into its face by the attempt to fix upon it a
candidate by methods which it has repu-
dated. That power is the People, who be-
gin to realize in the expressions and wrongs
they are suffering, the tyranny of the eau
Gus, and Its peryersion of all the functions
of State government to the selfish ends of
designing demagogues. They confront the
machine with their inherent authority, UNI
trammeled by primaries and unawed by
the lash, ready to proclaim their own dignity
and vindicate their rights through the meth
cd provided by law in the exercise of the
elective franchise-the highest privilege of
citizenship and the most powerful for good,
when intelligently, honestly and indepen-
IDENTIFY used.
We, therefore, assume it as a foregone
conclusion that the gentlemen who will
meet in Convention to-day will not dare to
force upon the people a candidate for Con-
gress, nor to do anything more than to imi-
tate the example of that renowned French
army which marched up the hill and then
marched down again''- pass salu-
tatfons, adjourn and go home, and let the
people themselves say at the polls who they
will haye to represent them in the Forty
Sixth Congress.
Accepting this as the result of the meet
ing to-day. what will be the r,ext step? We
do not profess to have prophetic knowledge,
nor does it require prophecy to Indicate the
probable shape the canvass will assume. 1t
Is sufficiently understood by the people, that
lar sentiment upon the State debt question,
and that issue has to be presented in the man
they will support for Congress. Whoever
he may be, his views must be fully known,
without room to question where he stands.
Already Col. Skinner, voicing the senti-
ment of the funders, we presume, declares
that the lines will be drawn, and the canvass
made upon this question, if a full-fledged
rc-adjuster is presented for popular suffrage.
That such candidate will be in the field
there is little reason to doubt, and that he
will be required to come out square upon q
platform Of that element of the people. there
is no room to question. There must be no half
and half position, but clear, distinct iden-
LITIGATION with the readjusters' party. so that
an expression OF popular sentiment may be
obtained upon this vital and all-absorbing
question, that its moral force may be felt
not only in Richmond, in the Executive
mansion, but elsewhere, with those whose
interests are involved in The matter in con-
troversy. A non-committai or doubtful can
didate will insure two opposing aspirants, for
neither the funders nor the readiusters would
be satisfied with him. There should be q
bold, courageous marshalling of forces, and
a square contest, that the purpose of the
people may be known, and their verdict re.
corded.