The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-18

founded prevailed about this time, half doz-
en- wild men in different parts of the house
wanting to be heard and specially seen, as
they jumped upon the benches and gesticu-
lated eXtravagantly. During this stormy
season Mr.. j. d. Price got in question for
Harris as to his position on reimbursement, to
which Harris replied that he was full
fledged readjuster Gin the COOL and want
ed to know if that was sufficiently satisfac-
tory for the questioner to vote for him.
In the conclusion of Judge Harris remarks
he alluded to the views OF Capt. Paul OF the
s'great and glorious conservative party
condemning the policy of disintegration pro-
posed in the remarks of Captain Paul.
and repeating the stereotyped stuff
about Virginia having been saved
from the fate of South Carolina. About this
time it looked like Harris had the meeting,
and he evidently thought so himself, Tor
peering into the up turned faces, and stretch
ing over the railing as if to more accurately
read the thoughts beneath them, he said he
thought he could abide the decision of that
audience upon the question at issne-that is,
recognizing the call for the Staunton con-
vention. He always preferred to deal di-
recty with the people, but as the authority of
the party had determined upon aconvention
he thought it best to conform to party usage,
to preserve the organization. He, however,
could trust his fellow-citizcns standing be-
fore him, and believed he would submit to
Their decision. 1t was not in precise terms
an unequivocal surrender to whatever DETER
mination the meeting might reach, but it
created that impression. He counseled that
the conservatives of Rockingham stand by
the glorious Conservative party, which had
done so much for Virginia and the country,
and warned his hearers that the Radicals were
now anNiously watching for the first symp-
toms of dissolution, so as to take advantage
OF it.
When Judge Harris closed, vociferous calls
went up for Paul, and that gentleman came
smiling and fresh to the front, After some
preliminaries, he stated that it was not for
Judge Harris to lecture him about his duty
to the Conservative party. He stood by at
| its baptism, had battled for its defence in
| the lead and in the ranks, and upheld its
banner whenever called upon and upon all
occasions. In the dark days of 1869, he adj
vanced to the front in its support and stood
by it in sunshine and gloom. Where was
the gentleman (Judge Harris) then? He was
travelling through the Valley, Wells man
in Wells county, and Walker man in a
Walker county, and in a Wells and Walker
county he was for Wells and Walker. 1t
does not therefore become the gentleman to
lecture him about the Conservative party,
for if that party had depended upon Judge
Harris for its existence, it would have been
in sorry plight. He reminded Harris that
he was too fresh in the Readjuster's cause to
be admitted to its lcadership-that he must
take back seat, and work with the rank
and file, and when he had given sufficient
evidence Of his hearty cooperation he could
come up higher, Recruits would not be OBJ
jected to, but they must know their places
and not push themselves to the front until
|
Paul. and pandemoniac uproar, Harris re-
sponded to the attack by saying that had he
said nothing to provoke it-had not assault
ed Paul, and that in dragging up his (Har-
ris0 past record, the speaker had misstated
it and done him great injustice.
The committee asked to be heard with
their report, and the preamble and rcsolu-
tions were read by Capt. NJ. NJ. Sibert, which
will be found elsewhere in this issue Of the
VIRGINIAN. When the uproar had in some
degree subsidized, Mr.. Barbee, an original re-
adjuster, as he claimed, addressed the meet
ing in opposition to them. Paul supported
them. Confusion followed, and then vote,
which appeared to be about tic. The char,
a gentleman OF great fairness and impartial
ity, found it difficult to determine whether
they had carried or not by the sound OF the
voices, but was disposed to give the ben eft
of the doubt to the affirmative side. Harris
asked that test be made by holding up Of
hands, which was agreed to, and the result
showed that about three-fourths OF the large
audience were in favor of the report of the
committee, which caused dcafening yell
and scene of confusion never before wit
messed in Harrisonburg, or probably any
where else.
So after the turmoil and sweat and assault
and repartee, the meeting determined not to
participate in the Staunton Convention or
the primaries to appoint delegates to it but
as stated in the resolution, will hold under
advisement the propriety of calling con-
gressonal convention OF Simon-pure Read
justers to nominate 4 candidate for Congress,
if the necessity for such action is presented.
Judge O'Ferrall coming into the court
room about o'clock, and the final test OF
the sense of the meeting having been had on
the resolutions, quietly walked to the judges
seat, which was the signal for motion to
adjourn, and the packed mass bnlged for the
door and the courtyard, to hear 4 few re-
marks from Capt. Riddleberger, who had
declined to address the meeting until the
business for which it was called had been
disposed Of. He spoke for about twenty
minutes, and rivited the attention of his
hearers to one of the boldest and most fore
ible speeches we ever heard. He is one Of
the first young men Of the State; speaker
of magnetic power, remarkable requirements
and great promise. We regret that our
space, and the pressure Of other important
business prevents us from giving an outline
OF his impressive and effective. remarks. One
statement it is proper to repeat, and that is
that he dsclaimcd any congressional aspira-
tions-had no thought Of becoming candi-
date now or hereafter. He believed in the
| justice Of REIMBURSEMENT. the right Of it, and
because OF this conviction he meant to press it
on all proper occasions, and especially when
invited to do so as upon this occasion. 1t is
due to the people and to the dignity OF the
State, and he believed it to be the duty OF
every one who so felt, to place himself in
the line of work.
In the great confusion and uproar which
marked the proceedings, we failed to catch
the connection Of many OF the sentences ut