The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-12-25
~ 4
Cause and Effect.

addressed themselves to the approval OF the
really Conservative minds of the State, and
have been tolerated because of an indispo-
sition to assail the organization which had
existed since 1868. The vehemence with
which the machinery of party was sup
ported by the few who directed its opera
tions, and the fierce denunciation leveled at
all who questioned the wisdom of its policy
or the agencies employed to accomplish its
ends, had the effect to silence opposition in
the ranks, and to subdue the manifested
disquietude and dissatisfaction, which have
from time to time been shown. The ar
bitral y and despotic means which have been
successfully employed in the past, necessa-
rily had to work out sooner or later, re-
volt. We have before us the result in a
political confusion without parallel, and
from which it is difficult to even conjecture
the future of parties.
The leaders of the Conservative party
had felt so securely entrenched in power,
that they were Indifferent as to the meth
DDS by which they had retained their as
cendancy. Their appeals to prejudice and
passion had been so inv riably successful that
they recklessly disregarded all protests of
reason, andall appeals to justice and right.
based upon the laws and constitution and
the pledges of the people. They seemed to
act as though there was no hereafter-no
conscience to be revolted, no power to pun
ish Wrong-doing and no appeal that could
awaken sense of right with the constit-
dent element. Advanced to power under
the nominalism of True Republicans in 1869,
and a solemn assurance that every right
stipulated for in the Amendments to the
Constitution and the laws enacted for their
enforcement. should be respected and en-
joyed. they no sooner felt fortified in the
position they had won. than bya systemat-
ic design. they proceeded to discard the
name under which they had fought and
won. and to devise methods to circumvent
the very laws they had pledged themselves
to stand by and enforce. Not only was the
most elentless political prescription visited
upon eveyr one who would not range I'M
der their lead. and submissively bow to the
mandate of the caucus, but every office in
the State from the highest to the lowest
fir M Governor down to flour inspector
including the Boards of our various charit-
able institutions. the Supreme. Circuit,
County and Corporation Courts. was Fl led
by the partizan sympathizers of the man
ayers who had secured power by false pr ;
lenses, and broken pledges voluntarily a nu
solemnly assumed. So relentlessly did a
spirit of proscriptive partizanism dominate,
that in the whole catalogue of offices, with
in the power OF the Governor OF Legisla-
ture to appoint there was not single Re-
publican who held official position. The
Executive. Judicial and Legislative branches
of the Government were the enginery for
the enforcement of party behests, and SO
far as any participation in the Government
of the State was concerned, those who did
not subscribe to the vindictive and proscrip.
tive methods Of the managers, might as
well have been in the Feiee Islands.
Sointense was this feeling and SO jeal-
GUS of the despotic partizan power exer-
cised. that six years ago, fearful OF re-
yulsion of public sentiment, the Legislature
changed the law for its meeting to the first
OF January, so as to furni-h an excuse for
the usurpation of the rights and duties OF
the Legislature to be elected that Ncvem'
Der, in the selection Of County Judges
The terms of these officers expired on the
LIST of January. The Legislature elected
in the November previous would have met
in December and proceeded to the election
of the judges. But apprehensive of the
verdict of the people, the law was changed
fixing the time of the assembling of the
Legislature in January instead OF Deem
Der, so as to give pretext for the expiring
legislative body to usurp the prerogative'
of the incoming Legislature, and thereby
enable them to choose a partizan judicia
nv. That this was the object is fully sus
tanned by the fact that at the next session
of that body. it rescinded the law fixins
January. and substituted December as thu
time of assembling thereafter.
After the adoption of the un-constitution
! al amendments to the State Constitution
restricting the right Of suffrage. and thu
election of Legislature under them. tht
provision requiring biennial sessions of tina
body was disregarded, although the Legis
lature had been chosen under the amende'
Constitution, enforcing the restrictive claus
as to suffrage. The amendments W re
| simultaneous adoption and should have beef
| of simultaneous enforcement. The claus
restricting suffrage was enforced in tn
election of the Legislature, and the Legsla
lure itself, thus elected, assembled under tn
Constitut on as it existed before the amend
ments were adopted.
We men ion these instances to show n
reckless spirit that has prevailed with tn
Conservative party even as to the laws an
the Constitution, and that party interest
have been regarded as paramount to a.
other considerations.
The. people were never consulted. Tn
direction of the caucus; the NOV ment Q
the machinery, could not be questioned
| 1t was law, and the anethemas OF the maj
ayers were ready to fall upon any on
who dared to interpose protest, or int
mate doubt.
| While these things were going on, the PEE
pie were groaning under taxes the publ
debt was increasing by reason OF detauite
interest credit lost !; property deprecated
and all the great interests of the State nel
lected. Could it be expected that such es
dences of bad faith with the people, an
reckless disregard of right. and supren
indifference to the welfare of the Stat
!, would not sooner or later cause revu
I sion9 We now realize the result of Il
cause, and those who have brought it abo
by their blind partizan bigotry and intole
ance and unconcern for the genuine interes
of the Commonwealth, are the first to thro
up their hands. with the exclamation {
: ..Ruin!v 1t is the legitimate and newt
n n ;;ssaas effect of the causes they had put
sazntios.s and they alone are responsible.
sflsss people have reyoiteds and let the pol
ii :sslk Be warned.
GsANe WLLIxa.- telegram fro