The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-08-26


thing that appears in its columns upon the
responsibility of its managers. 1t is the
Corypheus of political liars, and never was
known to publish the truth about politi-
cal opponent, where falsehOod could be
manufactured as substitute. 1t lives upon
sensational garbage, and poisons the minds OF
every family into which it is unthOughtedly
admitted. 1t has the sympathy OF no intelli-
gent class of citizens, and those who take
it do so from other considerations than
confidence in its political integrity or the
veracity of the intelligence it furnishes.
There are those who do not deny that
Gov. Hampton used the language ascribed
to him, but endeavor to justify it by say
ing that it was not susceptible of the mean
ing assigned it, in the connection in which
it was spoken. He was not speaking OF
local self-government. as has been stated
He was making ali appeal for harmony in
the Democratic party of Virginia, and to
give it Importance and touch the feelings OF
his audience nearly every one OF whom
sympathized with the Southern cause dur
| ing the war-he declared that the princi-
piles for which Lee and Jackson fought
and the Southern soldiers died, were the
This was in harmony with the general line
of thought of the entire speech, and in
strict accord with the Estate Sovereignty
doctrine of his party, as now maintained
by the great mass of its supporters. They
assert now as they did before the war that
the State is sovereign This is nonsense.
If the State is sovereign it has the right to
determine its own relations and to form a
separate autonomy or unite in league or
confederation with other States or not. 1t
was this theory upon which the war was
fought and determined. To assert that the
State is sovereign, is to assert the prlncl-
pies for which Lee and Jackson fought and
the Southern Soldiers died, land that the war
settled nothing. 1t is the same idea and
spirit which controlled in 1860. II the
Democratic party had succeeded in elect
ing Breckenridge and the South been placed
in the control of the government and
have been regarded as a blessing
But being defeated in that contest they
were not willing to submit to the le-
gal and constitutional result. State SOW
eregnty asserted itself in secession, and
what followed all know. Admit the doc
trine now. and the same result may follow
in the future. 1t is the theory which must
be surrendered. 1t is the recognition OF
National sovereignty to which the popular
mind must be educated, or the future has
no security against repetition of the dis
asters of the past. Very few of those who
supported the Breckenridge wing of the
Democratic party in 1860 believed that Sc
cession would follow. They contended for
the right of secession under the theory of
State sovereignty, but did not believe in
practically enforcing it. South Carolina
precipitated the theory into practice, as she
had attempted to do in 1882. and it is a pos
sble thing to do it again, lift be the accepted
Interpretation of our Republican form of
government. The whole dangerous and
pernicious doctrine of State sovereignty has
| to be surrendered and National sovereignty
recognized, to perpetuate the Union, and
| this cannot be done except through the de-
feat of the Democratic party. While it may
not and doubtless is not, in the mind OF any
sane man to assert practically the right of
secession, yet there is no security against
its assertion in the future, except through
the abandonment of the State sovereignty
doctrine and the acceptance of the theory
that this is a Nation, and not a COnfeder-
alton.
| Gen. Hampton's declaration in Staunton
is substantially the same ia sentiment as is
announced almost every day by supporters
of the Democratic party. They contend
for State sovereignty, and in doing so they
contend for the very same theory that the
Southern States attempted to enforce in 1861.
They may not intend it in that way, nor do we
believe they do: but so sure as the Demo-
cratic party gets into power again, the SEN
timent will grow, and what it may lead to-,
no one can foretell. 1t is the doctrine that
is dangerous. more than the superficial agi-
tators of the Bourbon stripe. who never
learn anything and never forget any,
thing.
The great central, controlling, living
truth to be impressed upon the popular
mind and implanted there is that this is a
Nation-that it is sovereign, and not the
State, and that National authority every
where must be respected as supreme. in
conformity to the Constitution and the laws
enacted in pursuance thereof. 1t must be
practically admitted that the rights and
privileges guaranteed by the national laws
and Constitution cannot be changed. de-
MED or circumverted, by the laws and Con-
stitution of the States, in their separate au-
tonomy, for until this is the faith of the
people of both sections, there is danger in
the future.
1t is this consciousness that has aroused
the apprehension and excited the solicitude
of the Northern people over the declaration
Of Gen. HamptOn-a representative man of
Southern Democratic sentiment. 1t is the
fear that the doctrine of State sovereignty
is still cherished by the Democracy of the
South, and that the election of a Demo-
cratic President, be he Hancock or any
other accepted representative would place
the government under the control of those
who believe in State sovereignty, as contra
distinguished from National sovereignty.
with the fearful possibilities that might
follow.
It was not without truth that Gen Hamp-
ton warned his audience as to the effect of
Republican success in this contest, He
rightfully apprehended that such a result
would be followed by such legislation as
will protect the rights of the poor colored
people in his own &nd other Southern
States, where constitutional guarantees are
a mere mockery. His boast in Cincinnati
of solid Democratic South for Hancock,
| was defiance Thrown in the face of the
/ laws and Constitution of the Nation, for
he well knew then and knows now, that
| ouoh q yacuat could NOT DOssihlv be es5ccte q