The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-02
Politics in Harrisonburg.
EX-GOVERNOR SMITH AND MEsSRS MASSEY
AND CURRY ON THE STUMP.

when it occurs in Harrisonburg on any other
than county court day. 1t seems bereft OF
life and vim, and those who are accustom-
ed to see the yeomanry of old Rockingham
crowding into the court room and hear their
loud accaims as this or that speaker sets fire
to the magazine of enthusiasm they always
hold in stock, can scarcely recognize In
the audience that gathers on ordinary occa-
sions, the same elements even in dlution.
Last Mo nday the crowd that assembled in
the Court House was neither few in number
nor wanting in interest, but the lack OF
real genuine Rockingbam-Court-d -politi'
cal discusslonism was painfully apparent ia
the lovers OF fun. The room was filled and
at times the alsles were crowded, but whilst
the applause was frequent and generous, il
was not the old-time ringing, uncontrolled,
long-swelling shouts that had so often been
heard beneath that roof.
The meeting was called to order,and MIR.
Sibert took the chair. The arrangement was
that Governor Smith was TO lead off in an
hours speech Mr.. Massey was to follow in
one hour and forty minutes, DR.. Curry with
one hour and ten minutes, Mr.. Massey fifty
minutes for rejoi ,her and DR.. Curry twenty
minutes to close.
EX. GOVERNOR SMITH.
When Mr.. Sibert rose to introduce Gov
ernor Smith, the court room resounded with
applause, and when the white haired veteran
came to the front, hearty and generous, in
deed, was the welcome he received. Men,
long past the meridian of life, sat there and
remembered how their fathers had told them
OF this redoubtable knight OF Democracy ;
how their grandfathers had seen him meas
ure lance in the great political Journeys OF
other days with the bravest and best of the
land; how he had Haunted the flag OF his
cause, and held himself able to maintain it,
in the teeth Of such opponents as Briscoe G.
Baldwin and giants of like statue 10 polemic
debate; how. with his name on their lips, the
Democracy of the old Tenth Legion had
marched forward to victory DER many hard
fought field; aud now as he stood before
them, hoary- headed, and with cheeks fur
rowed, his long, bony finger pointed toward
them and his yet manly frame quivsring with
the emotion the associations of the place and
the cause he was there to advocate had sum-
moned, it seemed as if some ghost OF the
pilots of the long ago had come back to warn
them against the breakers that now threaten
ed the ship they loved SO well, and plead
with them to yet bear its pennons aloft and
guide it into the haven OF security. Three
score years have passed since Governor
Smiths voice was first heard on the hus-
tings of Virginia, but his eye IS as undim.
med, his mind as vigorous, his language as
forcible and his manner as earnest as when
he stood forth the recognized leader of the
Democracy of the old Dominion. He loves
to dwell upon those by-gone scenes, and
much of his speech of Monday was devoted
to recounting the struggles that had won to
him the people Of Rockingham. But he by
no means confined himself to the past. His
advocacy OF the McCulloch bill was able and
earnest, and the ease with which he handled
official figures and assaulted the well known
arguments OF the opponents OF the measure,
proved that he had studied the subject in
all its details, and had thoroughly mastered
is. He maintained that under the McCul-
loch bill the obligations of the State could
be met, the schools operated and an annual
surplus be left in the Treasury, and sustain
ed his position by carefully prepared data
and official references. During the delivery
of his speech he was frequently applauded,
and at its close the audience cheefed Justify.
HON. JNO. E. MASSEY
followed Governor Smith. Mr.. Massey, we
believe, has the minute of the State debt
question more completely at his tongues
end than any man in Virginia. The most
trivial detail of the subject is thoroughly ia
miliar to him, and he uses this knowledge to
great advantage IN constructing the adroit
arguments with which he seeks to maintain
his position. He is one Of the shrewdest
men we have ever heard on the stump. and
can make the most plausible OF presentations
of weak cause. When one listens to him,
it is not hard to understand that he may cas-
lily deceive an intelligent audience, unless
there is some one to follow and rebuff; to lay
bare his sophisms, and expose the fallacy Of hi:
arguments. AS special pleader he has few
equals, and the cioseness with which he con.
meets his points gives to the whole symme.
try so nearly. resembling logic that, forget
ting the premise, one may readily be lee
estray in contemplating the conclusion.
ready debater, quick to take advantage Of
any flaw in his opponents armor, with hi
forces always well in hand, and thorough!
reckless as to how he uses them, he is tt
our mind the most dangerous enemy the
welfare of Virginia now has.
In his speech on Monday, alter some few
| preliminary remarks and good-natured hit
at Gov. Smith, he settled down sauarely II
the work before him. Assaulting first TIN
old Funding Bill, he next look up the Bar
bour Bill and lauded it for the reason that
fixed no particular amount to be paid as 10
| terest. When that measure failed, he state
that he had advocated calling conference
of the creditors, and claimed that no suc
conference was ever held, but that instead
horde of brokers had come to Richmond t
fix the terms of the peoples bondage. The
| (the people, were not permitted to give thei
opinion of the measure, but plan was con
coeted against them which even Bradley I
johnson denounced as Infamous. Tn
speaker then assailed the McCulloch Bill il
general, and particularly inveighed agains
that provision which required the bond
holder to fund through the syndicate. A
most all Of the remainder OF his speed
was devoted to maintaining that Stat
could not make an irrepealable contract
and that no power was vested in one legi;
lature to bind its successors. In support {
this position he quoted from Alexande
Hamilton, and cited numerous authorities, in
Guiding Judge Robertson and Judge Hughe!
Even if the coarts should hold that Sta
could make an irrepealable contract, sal
the speaker, how could they enforce the
decisions. They could not sell the lands
the Commonwealth to satisfy the cllims {
the creditors, neither could they levy take
to meet the demand. The power and rigf
abide with every legislature to levy its ow
taxes and appropriate its own revenues, an