Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-10-04
CARDS FROM CANDIDATES.
Gard From Gen. Echols.


I have been solicited by voters from va
rious portions of this district to announce
myself as Candidate for Congress, and l
have been induced to consent so to do.
The gentlemen, who have for some time
past been canvassing tie district as can
didates for your suffrages, have introduced
as the principal issues in the canvass:
1st. The question of the settlement Of
the State debt of Virginia, and
End. The financial policy of the Federal
Government, announcing themselves, as to
the first, in favor of a FoRCIBLE READ
JUsrMENT of the State debt; and as to the
second, GREENBACKERS, or advocates OF
an excessive issue of lrredeemable paper
currency by the General Government.
Whilst l do not perceive how the State
debt question can be properly involved IN
congressional canvass, as Congress can
not by any possibility be called toact upon
the same, yet az thu Sc gentlemen have
made 1t prominent, and demand the YER
dict of the people thereon, claiming virtue
to themselves on account of their views
thereupon, Ijoin issue with them upon the
question, and appeal to the people of the
district to decide between us.
l do not believe that there can be what
is understood as forcible read justnsent with
out disg race and ruin 10 the State. be-
lieve that the State debt can be compro-
missed honorably by friendly negotiations
with the creditors of the State, so that the
payment can be brought within the pow
er of the State under the present rate of
taxation, but failing in this, think that
it will be our duty to meet the debt. which
l am satisfied can be done, so as not to be
as oppressive upon us as the advocates of
f0rcible REIMBURSEMENT are in the habit of
representing. If for the last six years the
public men of Virginia had devoted as
much time and energy to devising means
for the payment of the State debt as have
been expended in the endeavor to avoid it's
payment, our condition would now have
been better than it is.
The question, however, which, in this
canvass, most Immediately affects your in
terestS, as well as the interests of the whole
country, is, whether the country shall be
flooded with an irredet mable paper curren-
cy, or whether we shall establish our Ma
tional credit firmly upon a sound currency,
which shall have the basis of value
equality and convertibility into coin. The
latter in my opinion, is the only course
consistent with our fut ure safety and pros
perity. In this every citizen, from the
uIRECSt GO Gue lOWtSL, Is Hut GSUeu LII NJ
of vital Importance to all men, whether
capitalists, farmers, mechanics. or laborers,
that they shall lave good money, of certain
and fixed value. During the existence Of
the Southern Confederacy, we, in this re-
gion of the country. learned, by sad ex-
perience, enough Of an irredeemable pa
per currency. forever hereafter to fear and
avoid it. [ am in fav r, as far as possible,
of returning to the principles of finance
which were understood and practlced by
the Fathers of the Republic.
1 thus briefly give yo an outline of my
views upon the two subjects mentioned.
but shall, between this time and the day
of election, endeavor TO meet as many of
you as possible. and give you more fully
my opinions on these and kindred subjects,
[ am aware that la oor under great dis
advantages from the l.teness of the time
of my announcement, as the other candi-
dates have, for so long time, been ae-
lively engaged in the canvass, but L APP
peal to those throughout the District who
agree with me upon the great financial
questions under discussion, to see that
their convictions are registered at the
polls.
Very Respectful
JOHN EGHOTS