The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-09
The County Canvass.


There has not, as yet, been much excite
ment in this county as to the political can
vass now going on in the State. A few
speeches in Staunton, delivered by gentle
man from other sections, have been all that
has been said in public on the subject Of
the State debt. The candidates already
announced have not yet made their ap-
pearance on the stump, or done more than
briefly define their positions on the para
mount issue engaging public attention. From
these announcements there does not seem
to be very wide difference between them.
Messrs. Koiner, for the Senate, and Echols
and Hanger, for the House, were members
of the Legislature which passed the Nc
Culloch Bill, and voted forit. In the can
vass which preceded their election, Mr.. Koin-
er was opposed to any disturbance Of the
settlement Of 1871 and favored leaving the
matter alone for an adjustment to be eff
fected by the pressure of circumstances in
the future. Gen. Echols favored a read
justment substantially such as is embraced
in the McCulloch Bill, believing that a
truthful presentation of the condition of
the State and the sentiment of the people
would invite a proposition from the credi-
tors, but was opposed to what was termed
'forcible re-adjustment." Mr.. Hanger was
very pronounced in his views against any
disturbance ofthe Funding Bill of 1871, and
favored an increase Of taxation to meet its
demands. These gentleman, however, all
voted for the McCulloch Bill, and now
maintain that it should be regarded as a
final settlement of the debt controversy.
Mr.. Allen, who is candidate for the
Senate, was an active re-adjuster two years
ago, claims that the McCulloch Bill is the
result of the arguments and efforts Of the
Re-adjusters, but not such settlement as
he would like to have had. He, however,
gives in his adhesion to the Bill, and will
support it, provided it is demonstrated by
its operations that it will not require
greater amount of revenue than is now
raised to meet its demands. Should it do
so, he would vote for its repeal.
Mr.. VanLear, who is candidate for the
House of Delegates, was a member OF the
Legislature which enacted the McCulloch
Bill, and voted against it. He had been
very pronounced in his opposition to it, as
not bill that conformed to the sentiment
upon which he was elected, until the an
nouncement made in his card last week, that
he would acquiesce in it, provided it does
not require an increase of taxation.
Col. D. S. Young is announced as can
didate for the Senate in opposition to the
McCulloch Bill, and in favor of reform in
the Public Schools. He was at one time
decidedly hostile to the Public School sys-
TEN, but having been s'overruled'' in that
he now would have certain reforms in
jected into it, for the general good.
These are about the positions, past and
present, of the various candidates for the
General Assembly now asking the suffrages
of the people Of this county. They are all
gentlemen of high character and each has
his friends and following, who will adhere
to him.
If the sentiments expressed by the candi-
dates we have named, except Col. Young,
are indicative of the views entertained by
the people of the county, we may safely in
fer that Augusta is very decidedly for the
McCulloch Bill. While Messrs. Allen and
Van Lear concede their support with some
reservations or qualifications, yet this fact
does not modify the belief that the citizens
of the county wish to have an end to the
agitation, and a final disposition of the debt
question. Indeed, we think the original
Re-adjusters should have at once and earn
estly accepted the Bill, as the result of
their labors, and thus removed all cause for
division of sentiment on that point. Such
a course would have had healthy effect
upon the general interests of the State at
this particular time, when business enter
prise everywhere is receiving extraordinary
impetus, and inspired confidence in the
good faith of Virginia, which would have
operated benefits that could not well be es-
timated in dollars and cents. We are
therefore not in sympathy with the hesita-
ton which has characterized the course of
Messrs. Allen and VanLear, and while we
have every confidence in their integrity as
gentlemen and their sincerity in all they
have said or may say, we should have pre-
ferred that they should have addressed
themselves to the consummations embraced
in the McCulloch Bill as comprising the
substantial and practical ends at which the
Re-adjusters were aiming, and as only
falling in the non-essential and senti-
mental feature represented by the tax-re-
ceivable coupons. pf e.'i' N IT."
While this is our opinion, which in JUS
tice to the position We have taken in these
columns it is proper we should state, we at
the same time must express our gratifica-
ton that a substantial oneness of senti-
ment prevails with the several candidates in
Augusta on the question at issue in the
State, and, with the exception of Col.
Young, that all of them have declared for
the legislation which effects just and hon
orable adjustment of the debt contro-
versy.
sin the matter of fidelity to public credit
Democracy and Republicanism are united"
writes our cotemporary of the Richmond