The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-30
Mr.. Stuart's Letter.

Mr. Stuart's Letter.
On our first page will be found letter re-
Gently addressed by the Hon. A. II. II. Stuart
of this place, to the editor of the New York
Herald 1t is published as courtesy to our
distinguished townsman, and to furn sh our
readers an opportunity of perusing a paper
coming from his pen upon the political situa-
ton of the South. We, however, cannot al
low it to pass without noticing several
points presented, as we do not think they are
an accurate recital of facts or full statement
of events and circumstances. Indeed the let
ter is open to criticism in many respects, but
neither space nor time is at our command to
attempt general discussion Of the propositions
of the letter.
The object of the paper seems to be a gen
eral arraignment of the Republican party and
the National Government, and an assumption
of innocence patriotism and devotion to con-
stitutional rights by the South. The first fact
stated to sustain this view, is that of the cleo
ton by the people of Virginia,i in 1865, ofeight
old-line Henry Clay Wings and one Douglas
Union Democrat to Congress under a procla-
nation of President johnson. This is as
sumed to be demonstrative evidence that the
Democratic party had become obnoxious to
the people-''more odious than the old Fed
eral party was after the election of Jefferson"
But we think this is mere assumption, for the
old-line Wings and the old Douglas Democrats
were as active and determined in the struggle
for the separate independence of the Southern
States and the dissolution of the Union as
were the Democrats 1t only illustrates that
they were more solcitous for official recogni-
ton from the national government than were
Democrats and were willing to expose them
selves more readily to rejection from the Halls
of Congress than Democrats WERE For it
should not be forgotten that the proclamation
ordering the election, was not by authority
of Congress- where was vested the power to
legislate concerning the seeded States but
the unauthorized act of President johnson,
who at that time was in direct antagonsm
with Congress, and supported line of policy
which did not receive the approval of the ma
jority Of that body, nor of the Northern peo-
ple and which was denounced as usurpation.
And even in Mr.. Stuart's case, he was chosen
because he was less in sympathy with Union
sentiment than his competitor, Hon. John F.
Lewis, who refused SO sign the ordinance of
secession, while Mr. Stuart did sign it.
| Whatever may have been Mr.. Stuart's view
of his constitutional qualifications to seat in
Congress, it is very evident that he deduces
his conclusions from the condition of things
and the operation of the Constitution before
the act of secession and the bloody struggle
which followed. His indignant denunclation
of the act which expelled" him from a seat
in Congress, would probably have been modi
fed, had he taken time to consider the circum-
stances which surrounded at the time, and
the anomalous relations Virginia and the other
Southern States bore to the National Govern
ment. They had just emerged from an I'M
successful effort to destroy the Union-300 10000
new made Northern graves and $4,000 900
of national debt, as the result Of that conflict,
were pressing upon the sympathies and atten-
ton OF Congress and the Northern people 1.-THE
authority by which this election was held
was disputed by a body competent to do
so, and appearing, to speak tiguratiyely, fresh
from the carnage of a war upon the life Of the
nation, with nothing to recommend him but
the verdict of the people at the polls, who had
but recently been arrayed in armed conflict
against the government, it was not surprising
that he was not permitted to take his seat as
though nothing had happened. 1t may sound
strange to some ears at this late date, when
much Of the feeling and passion of that hour
has passed away, that Mr.. Stuart and his col
leagues should not have been allowed to take
the seats to which the people of their respec-
tive districts elected them, but when the Cir
cumstances and events which surrounded are
considered, it is not extraordinary that it was
regarded as then inopportune to recognize as
equals in the Union the States they essayed to
represent.
Whatever Indignation may have been felt at
that time by the od-line Wings because of the
rejection of the gentlemen who applied for
seats in Congress, it was not openly mani
tested, nor is there any record of an exhibition
of that feeling either in public or private. 1t
was an experiment which failed, because the
authority which was competent to determine
the matter did not think it proper to allow its
practical operation. From that time until
this, we do not know of an instance where
the Union Wings, because of being such, have
been urged to offer for public positions, nor
are we acquainted with single instance where
Confederate soldier or secession Democrat
would not have been preferred to represent
Southern constituency to an old-line Wing.
Mr.. Stuart's reference to the period of 1869,
and the Constitution proposed at that time
was not carefully considered, we apprehend 1t
is true that there were two obnoxious clauses
embraced in that instrument by the Convention
which framed it, and it is also true that they
were never made operative because of the &C
ton OF a Republican President and a Re
publican Congress. With the exception of
these sections, we venture the assertion that
there was never better Constitution, taking
it as whole, than that instrument Three
features of it will stand out as testimony to
the wisdom of its creation, which neither par
tizan malice nor sectional jealousy will ever
impair First, it pledged the Commonwealth
to the payment Of the public debt; second,
it established the freeschool system in Viz
ginia, and third, it inhibited the credit of the
State to anNworks of internal improvement.
The first has been ruthlessly violated by
the Democratic party of Virginia the sec
ond has been mutilated and impaired, so as
to lessen its usefulness year after year, and
the third has stood intact, although numer-
bo,r
healthful provisions for the protection of the
people against the raids of spectators and
contractors, in various shapes and forms.
Mr.. Stuart was Chairman of Committee
as he says, which interceded with President
Grant in respect to the two clauses which were
finally voted down by the suggestion of the
President and the formal authority given by
Congress. With this elimination, the Consti-
tuition was adopted, accepted by Congress and