The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-10-24
Communicated
In Egotistic and Presumptuous Card.

!
The last VALLEY VIRGINIAN contained
the following "card :"
To the People of augusta
My competitor, Gen. EchOls, informed me
he would attend the Courts of Greene and
Goochland this week and canvass in the
county Of Fluvanna. am here on my way
to meet him. and will do 50, the fates being
propitious, at every point. Whilst l am
thus carried to the eastern part Of the Dis
trict, T see from the Staunton.. press that
there viii be public speaking all over the
county to continue until near the election
This means that q delegation Of Stanton
lawyers is to canvass the county while am
combating the claims of Gen. Echols else
where. True, the notice does not clearly
disclose the OBJECT, but it is obvious to any
observer, and the result will prove the ac-
curacy of my prediction, that as the meet
ings are to be political" the tenor of the
speeches will be direct endorsement of
the platf ,rm on Which Gen. Echols stands
and therefore Immediately iE his interests.
Why does not this notice develop clearly
to the people OF this district that the friends
of Gen. Echols will speak at these points
appeal to you to say if there is any sort
of fairness in this arrangement. Is it possible
for me to meet Gen. Echois whenever he
speaks in the East, and al the same time
meet combination OF canvassers arrayed
in his behalf all over the county. can en-
counter any ordinary opposition when can
combat its representatives face to face. but
it is impossible for me to be at more places
than one at time. / congratulate myself,
fellow citizens, that the issues of this can
vass are in your hands alone, and with an
oh anu fl Iapan in nf it1Stion
and fair play, commit the result to you.
JOHN 7. HARRIS.
The circumstance which seems to have
called forth this s'card" is that some fifty Or
sixty OF the leading citizens of Augusta
had politely invited Messrs. A. Fl. II. Stuart,
Hugh w. Sheffey, Marshall Hanger, James
LII. Skinner. and David Fultz, to address the
people Of the county and city at such times
on the complicated questions of finance and
currency, which now occupy so large share
of public attention. This, Mr.. Harris most
presumptuously and illogically CONSTITUTES
into an act of hostility to him Verify, we
have come to pretty pass. when the free
and enlightened people OF this county are
not to be at liberty to ask the opinions Of
their Oldest and most trusted citizens, in
matters Of great public moment, without
first obtaining the consent of Mr.. Harris
On what meat hath our Caesar fed, that
he hath grown so great? Does he think
that the people belong to him, and
that he alone has the right to shape their
opinions 1t is time that such assumption
on the part of our would-be representative,
should meet an appropriate rebuke His
head seems to be turned by his giddy cleva-
ton to the height OF q seat in Congress.
This card is gratuitcus insult to every
man who signed the invitation to Messrs.
Stuart, Sheffey, sc.
We doubt if one Of these signers had a
thought Of Mr.. Harris or his Congressional
aspirations, when they signed that invita-
ton. They were looking to higher objects
and were influenced by higher motives than
the desire to elevate this or that man to Of
flee. They desired information on questions
Of vital interest to the public, and they
knew who they could trust and 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 blindly the die
tates of these wuuld-be party leaders !?
We had thought that freedom OF thought,
and the right to seek counsel of those in
whom they confide, was the birth-right OF
every citizen of the Republic. 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
traticn of government. Their province IS to
register the behests OF Mr.. Harris.
And pray who is this Mr.. Harris, who so
rebuked the people OF Au-
gusta County and Staunton, for looking to
their Oldest and most trusted fellow citizens
for instruction and advice, in matters which
so deeply affect their interests.
What has he ever done to inspire such un-
bounded confidence in his wisdom and pa
triokism? He hasi been in Congress some
OR fifteen year. He has had the best
OF showing his ability to serve
the public, and yet what has he done? What
measure Of public policy has he originated?
What great speech has he ever made? What
luminous report on important or vita! ..ques-
tons has he prepared?
We have had Congressman before, such as
Stuart, Mcdowell and Letchcr, all of whom
in much shorter time of public service than
Harris has enjoyed, established reputation,
which, in the opinion of the public, justified
their promotion. But after more than
decade of service in Congress, who ever
thought Of Harris for Senator, or Governor,
or a position in the Cabinet? That Mr..
Harris has been a diligent distributor or gar
den seeds at the public cost, we presume no
one can deny, but beyond this and some
very questionable service on the Committee
on Elections, in keeping out Republicans,
and keeping Democrats in seats in Congress.
we are not aware that he has done much to
establish his character as a statesman or
truthful adviser and enlightener Of the peo-
pie.
Mr.. Harris must come down a peg or
two. The people are net prepared to toler-
ate the arrogant presumption, the gorgeous
vanity displayed in his card. The people will
consult whom they please or questions af-
fecting their interests. They will let him
understand that be is their servant and not
their master, and if he fails to recognize
his fact, they will make him roost little
over. 4.
A DESCRIBED LIvER.-That dreadful dis
case, from which so many persons suffer, is
frequently the cause Of Headache, Indiges
ion, and Dyspepsia, isspeedily relieved, and
ire often permantly cured by Swayne's Tar
md Sarsaparilla Pills.