The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-30
The County Canvass.

p0llticdf ctDpdtSu So quictt oAuSi'1s INV
from personalities, and In a great measure
devoid Of popular interest, as that in which
the various candidates for seats in the next
general assembly are just now completing.
1t has been an uphill business, in the main,
for the candidates, for we take it that moth
ing is more calculated to cast gloom over
political aspirations and lead men to medi-
tate profoundly upon the ingratitude of Re-
publics, than to make public announcer
meat that the people Of such and such
neighborhoods will be enlightened on the
prominent issues involved in the campaign,
at such and such time and place, and to find
that when the announcement has matured,
and the enlightenment is on hand ready for
uncorking, that those who are to be the direct
beneficiares thereof are so Indifferent to
their interests and careless Of their salvation
that but comparatively few OF them respond
to the call. With the exception of Gen'l
Echols, who has been necessarily away from
home, and Mr.. VanLear who has not as yet
publicly engaged in the canvass, the candi-
dates for the next House and Senate have
been very active within the past month, and
there is scarcely single section Of the
county that has not been visited. For the
most part th. attendance at the meetings
has been exceedingly slim, though in two
or three places q ute a good crowd has as
sembled. This apparent apathy we believe,
does not arise from indifference on the part
of the voters of the county, but is attributa-
BILE to the fact that they are heartily sick OF
the agitation, and having made up their
minds upon the subject, are unwilling to
neglect their business in order to listen to
discussion. II we are not very much mis-
taken, the verdict that will be rendered in
this county or Tuesday next will be decided
ly adverse to every species OF agitation. IL
we may Judge from an extended and varied
inquiry among the voters, the opposition to
the McCulloch bill settlement will not be
formidable. The general impression is that
the vote will be small, for the reason that
the people regard the debt question as virtu-
ally settled, but sufficiently large to render
the voice of Augusta by no means uncertain.
Indeed, whoever OF the five candidates now
in the field shall be returned as representa-
tive, is pledged by his open utterances to do
everything in his power to consummate a
settlement under the provisions of the Nc
Culloch bill. The only difference between
Messrs. Kointr, Echols and Hanger. and
Messrs. Allen and VanLear is that the first
honestly and firmly believe that peace and
prosperity will come to the state under the
legislation now in force, and the last two
entertain doubt as to the ability of that leg
islation to afford the desired relief. All five
of them are honest and honorable men and
will do, we believe. what ever their better
judgment may dictate. The antecedent
record of each is familiar to the people OF
the county, and we need refer to it only to
express the regret, that Messrs. VanLear
and Allen, as old and tried readjusters, when
REIMBURSEMENT meant nothing more and no.
thing less than the McCulloch bill has for
mulated, should nov deem it best to sive to
that measure, the legitimate fruit Of their
former efforts, but a negative support. Had
they boldly esroused it as the measure which
they had sought TO bring about, as Gen'l
Echols now does, they would have be n
elected, and thai election would have been
their due.
The CANVASS in the county has been so
quietly conducted that but few persons in
town have NJ up with the appointments.
AS it near ;lose the interest seems some
what increae Ga Saturday last repre-
sentative o. 49,. VIRGINIAN accompanied
the candidates to Mt. Solon, the home OF Mr..
VanLear, where all of them met. There is
no section of the county bearing greater
evidence of prosperity than that in which
Mt. Scion is situated. On every side fertile
fields, beautiful streams and substantial
buildings surround it, and the people appear
contented, prosperous and energetic. When
the candidates arrived, the prospect for a
meeting seemed rather gloomy, but after a
little drumming around, the Temperance Hall
was secured, and pretty soon goodly num-
Der of voters put in appearance. Some
twenty-five or thirty were on hand when
the speaking commenced, and ere the end
came the number had doubled and included
some ten or twelve colored men. 1t was an
exceedingly intelligent looking audience,
respectful, attentive and seemingly deeply
interested in all that was said. 30 far as
any demonstration was involved, 1t was a
matter of impossibility to discover who was
the favored candidate Of the majority. E ach
speaker was accorded undivided attention,
and not one Of them was interrupted. Almost
the only signs Of animation exhibited were
feeble smiles and subdued laughter in re-
spouse to the anecdotes, and these were be-
slowed with exact impartiality.
The arrangement was that each candidate
should have fifty minutes, and Maj. Koiner
led off. He madea plain, Straightforward
speech in advocacy of the McCulloch settle
ment. and after tracing the history of the
legislative proceedings which brought it
about, and detailing the part, which as rep.
resentative be had performed, he showed
concisely and conclusively the advantage to
be derived from it,and the obligation resting
upon the people of Virginia to throw the
weight of their influence and action with
those who favored cessation of the aglta'
tion with which the old state has been SO
long disturbed. His illusions to this COM
petitor were at all times respectful, and
whilst his criticisms were caustic there was
nothing approaching personality. During
the course Of his remarks, he denied point
blank that he had ever favored an increase
of the capitation tax, as had been attributed
to him. When Maj. Koiner took his seat
the crowd applauded, not boisterously, but
energetically, considering the conservative
silence that had prevailed.
Mr.. S. Brown Allen followed Maj. Koiner,
and made the best speech we have ever heard
from him. He had the subject we'll In hand
and his manner and style were progresses
ing. After referring to the fact that he had
been one of the original readjusters, and as
such believed that he had contributed towards
bringing about the present settlement, he
stated that should it be the pleasure Of the
people to elect him, he would strive by every