Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-07-14
Calm Reasoning.
MANASSAS. Va, July 12> Is

| 10 the editor ofthe Alexandria Gazette:
The political complications which now so un-
happily exisH 10 the State. and my great desire
for the election of Gen. Hatc ok, is my
| apology for this communication, which l ask
that you will do me the kindness to honor with
| place 10 the columns of the old Gszatte.
sm exceedingly sorry to differ in opinion
| with s,me Of my readjustmeot friends as to the
| wisdom of The policy Of their appointing Presi.
Dental rlcc o,s This is not qu slion OF re-
adjustment of che State debt, party interest, tr
dignity, but of rcasoa and sound political policy.
By failing to exercise that forethought and
prudence which are necessary to success in
business matters. We often "niss possible good"
| aud iLour great loss, and bring on. ourselves
serious evils That the policy of the readius'ers
in appointing Presidential electors, if carried
out, is likely to result iu giving the electoral
vote OF Virginia to Mr. Garfield, there can
be no reasonable doubt. And if this app. ehel-
sion should unfortunately prove true, no re.
| pentence of those who may contribute
to it 10 any manner can EVER atone for such
terrible misfortune. A wise political policy
does not consist in obeying our passions which
are always dangerous guides, rather than reas 10
aud fac;s; uor 10 preferriog party success or
self iatervet to the public good. My reasons for
opposing tho app ointment of presidential eIec-
| tors by the resCiusters are these: That the
great mass of the republican party 10 the State
| will vote for MIR. Garfield there can be but
| little doubt, il suy; aud that all the conserva-
| tves. and macy OF the dem cratic acjusters,
| will support General HsDc jck by voting tor the
Conservative electors, there can be just as Iittle
Hence it naturally follows that the votes of
those democrats who may support the read
| justcrs' ticket can have no. other tendency
| than to h.znd the election of General HsucCck,
aud may defeat it. This opiriIn. of course, is
based 90 the belief that the eadiuaters cannot
carry the State. which, an very sure, is we'll
| founded. This is an occasion when party 10.
tercsts aud i'll feelings should yield to the na-
tional welfare. Should the rcsdjusers, in this
great crises, magnanimously withdraw their cleo
tors from the canvass and vote for thoss of the
conservatives, it would be positive proof Of the
wisdom and patriotism, aud give them addi.
llona strength 10 the confidence and love of the
people, and trust they will not refuse 81 great
glory. 1t should also be remembered that
wheo an opportunity to do coed is lost, it never
| returns agalo. Besides. such wise aud gener.
Gus acts as suggested. would be 20 loss to the
rcatjuser5, but permanent political gain for
them and the State. The political fate of those
democrats. who may 10 any way or degree, con.
tribute to the election of MIR. Garfield, will be
pitatla indeed. unless they are 80 unfortunately
constituted that they can derive pleasure fr m
their weakness and folly, and view with ind f.
terense the misfortune aud misery of Virginia.
Is it possible that any Virguiau, be he demo.
| crat or republican, csu be go lost to reason and
his manhood, as to be guilty of the unnatural
ottenca of favorlog, 10 any manDer, the election
i Infa IL
who advocated az Mr.. Garfield did in 1866, the
disraBGhsiDg Of US forever from the sacred
right to vote, and to deprive us OF the privilege
of holding any Office in our native land. thus dc.
| string to reduce Us n condition Infinitely
worse than galley slaves2 Aud why did MIR.
| Garfield. this modern CatiIinsrian conspirator
against our rights, honor and happiness, wish
to coDsIgn Us forever to such misery and politi.
cal degradation? Why, simply tor our humble
efforts. efforts prompted by the sacred and ten
der ties OF nature to defend our liberty, prop.
erty. inuccent families. and lives And wero
our ilIustrious fOrefathets not aclusted by simi
lar natural and noble motives 10 severug their
connection from the British empire2 1t is truo
that the failure of Just cause may be sad
misfortune, but lis failure cannot be a crime.
any more than the success of bad one can
transform il toto right. Virtue and vice are
immutabe principles. which no power or rea-
soning Gao change or alter. The resstarc, Of
our revolutionary fathers to the oppressive
England was, 10 law, not cons ruc,ve but posi-
tive treason. yet it was justified by necessity,
which knows 10 law, and Was, therefore, their
Ijustlhcation. But va are condemned and pup.
ished as traitors by false aud forced coustruc-
tion of the constitution and despo.lc power, not
that We deserved punishment. or that any ma
tional interest required il, but only TO promote
the interests OF political party and crafty tho
hatred OF Individuals. | grant that the
resort 10 secession as means OF defence
was exceedingly i'm olui lent, but it was rendered
| virtuous, because acted in self-defsnce and
believed we were doing right and wnat our ,es-
/ seLtial Interest and honor dem anded Yet Mr.
Garfield can find no excuse for our conduct ss
finite and imparfect beings. Mol he heeds not
the divine Injunction Of charity, upon which
hangs all the law and the prophets and he {: ue-
ly demands ssc!ltce rather than mercy. But
according to natural law, from who there s
no escape all Ststea, families, snd evsu indivId. !.
usls, u u,t have their period of glory and shame,
missry and happiness. and take no pleasure IN
The fact thst Mr.. Garfield is no exception to such
conditions. and as he judges US, 80 he will be
carry this State By the political hatred; am tion,
and folly CT Virginia politicians, it will be the
completion cf our political infAmy, and We shall
deserve and receive the contempt of mankind.
ne plea anQ excuse OF some or the rssdl listers
for sppoLt ting presidential electors that it ls ia
keep the party united, is n unjust ref ascliou
upon their intelligence sd devotion TO their
principles If, howevsr, the resdjusters are
really so weak in their faith and purpose to re-.
adjust the State debt IS to permit presidentis Al
election to so chsuge-their opinions or abste
heir 1rts for the, readjustment of the public
debt they Are simply contemplate. Nearly
every man in the Stale is q readjuster in some
: measure and it is quite certain that the nex,
7 LIZ gis stu-e will be composed of gentlemen who
I will re. dust the debt so as to give the people
!. that relief they 30 much need, and thus elimi
nate this veAed question forever from our State