The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-08-28
NO. 90.

tered members and states of the North, il
controls the political power OF the country
and through the action of the caucas. can
elect President aud control the Senate and
the House. And such is the aim of the Dem
ocratic party. If this succeeds our political
| system, founded upon free and fair elections,
will be oyerthrown.
| THE GREAT ISSUE.
| Compared with this issue all other issues
| are secondary. Though you NAV not pass
upon it this fall, yet your election this fall
will affect the issue to be made in 1880, when
| the Republican party will present formida-
BILE and stern resistance to this rebellion
against constitutional rights the same in
principle and in fact that we resisted in 1861 I
and which we had foolishly hoped was SET.
tied by the constitutional amendments,
Ii the white men OF the South can win by
Kindness the votes OF their former slaves no
one would object, but if they continue what
is called the mississippi plan'' of terror and
violence, they will not only disgrace our
civilization, but will utterly ruin themelyes.
The labor of these black men is the founda-
ton OF all their property and all their
hopes. While the race-conflict is, kept
up by oppression and wrong, the South
ern states annot improve, and must con-
tinue to be in decaying cndition, and
their relative power will be greatly dimin-
ished in the next census. Their credit is i'm
paired, and several of them are debating
schemes OF reputation. They have turned
back the tide of industrious immigration
that flowed upon them after the war closed.
and now there is no disposition in the
North to either migrate to or invest in prop
erty in the South, and will not be until the
right OF self-government is restored to the
majority of the people.
What, then, is the remedy if this policy is
continued? There is none other except an
appeal to the loyal people of the Northern
states, to all who were on the Union side in
the war, in action or in symathy, land to the in
dependent manhood of the Democratic party.
to stand by our political Organization until the
rights OF all men are secured, enforced and
respected in every state and territory in the
Union; and this appeal should be made now
and next year, and as sure as God rules in
the Heavens it will not be made in vain.
The Republican party asks nothing OF the
South but the observance of the Constitution
and the laws, and, especially, the amend
ments which they agreed to after the war.
MULTIPLICATION OF ELECTION LAWS.
There is another question intimately con-
nected With the Southern question, and that
is, the freedom and purity OF elections. The
Republican party is determined to have not
only free but fair elections, cost what it will,
The law has been appealed to 10 the South
ern states as remedy for frand and violence
at the Congressional elections there. It has
been appealed to by both parties. Its con-
stitutionality has not been disputed in any
court, though several times enforced in MANY
states. This law, General Ewing saws, the
Democratic party attempted to repeal and
failed. 1t remains the law of the land, but
the House OF Representatives of the last Con-
gress then refused to pass bills for the sup
port OF the army unless the Senate would
consent to repeal this law. They adjourned
Congress without passing the great appro-
prlation bills. The present Congress again
refused to pass either the Army or the Leg
lslatiYe bill unless the President would ap-
prove the repeal of the law. The vetoes OF
the President are approved by every Repub-
llcan nm, IN the United States, and are models
OF clear and conclusive statement. The
Democratic members then tried to nullify
the law. Members Of Congress are sworn
to obey the law. They are bound by honor
and duty to obey it until lawfully repealed;
but they disregarded their duty and defied
the law. Ii they are justified in this, a ma
jority OF either House may nullify any law,
however important. This is the position Of
the democratic party, more dangerous
position than the attempted nullifica-
ton of the tariff laws by South CARROLL
ma, put down by General jackson, or
even the attempted secession of several
states, put down by civil war. By this
doctrine notification and secession is
made easy by the refusal of majority of
either House to obey the law There is no.
function OF the government but what can
be nullified and paralized. under this doc
trine; for If it be true that a majority of
either House can refuse appropriations for
one purpose, it may for any other, and in
this way party strong enough to hold a
majority of either House may, while its SUI
premacy lasts, cripple and paralize the gov
eminent. If the rebels had acted upon it at
the beginning OF the war, they would have
parallzed our arms and successfully over
thrown the government. To this doctrine
Gen. Ewing and Gen. Rice are distinctly
committed. Our great party struggled for
six years to prevent the extension OF slavery.
1t fought during four years OF bloody con-
lict to preserve the Union and abolish slave
ry. 1t has since preserved the national hon.
or untarnished, and has successfully admin
lstered the national government. It now
demands free elections, honest Rmoney, and
the supremacy of national law in national
matters. 1t has placed in nomination candi-
dates OF the highest character, true Republic
cans, deserving your confidence and support
Let us give them an old-fashioned Ohio Re-
publian majority this fall, and clearthe way
for the great struggle next year, which, like
1860, will become landmark in our politic-
al history, 'lIf g ss'f