The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-23
NO. 80
johnson, 1eee--Mahone. 1880.

when when John W. johnson was elected a Unite,
states senator from Virginia in 1850 he addressed
letaer 10 COY Walker in acknow Judgement OF hi
tleueiitlds dated Abingdon Nov. II, 1863 In which
ne look occasion to express certain views that
may NOT De Improbable to recur to at this time
When the Richmond Disputch is preaching renew
al OF the war. He said In the outset;
,, bteenevlng fully, not only that In Virginia
f hoi prosper but that our continued exclusion
lro tne Union fnterferred with the business OF the
whoie country, have been anxious for an earl,
compliance with the reconstruction laws, and tina
we state should Itself inaugurate some moyemen
similar to that which resulted in your election fol
NE purpose and moi walt, like Mtcawber, for some
tnlng to turn up 7"
Or course Mr. Johnson's high character forbids n
| 10 suspect that he meant only an apparent com
pnance, or mere temporary compliance, with the
RECONSTRUCTION laws, but an honest compliance, once
Ior all, as the laws themselves demanded and as
their authors intended and expected
said Mr.. Johnson
''rhe questions at issue between the North and
ooutn We're settled, and settled forever by the war
slavery was extinct and nobody wanted it revived
Oh any terms. lie claim to the right of secession
was abandoned, and 1t Is only not probable but
not possible, that 1t can be again asserted for the
Stale OF virginia, by vote almost unanimous, has
adopted Constitution which declares 80 THAT this
state shall ever remain member of the United
States OF america and that the people thereof are
part OF the American Nation, and that all attempts
from whatever source or upon whatever pretext to
dissolve said Union or to said Nation, are
whole power of the State -
Yet, nevertheless, we hear the Bourbons declaring
roo that nothing was settled by the war; that the
South throughout the transactions resulting from
The war acted under duress, and is not bound ana
that a Supreme Court may vet determine that al
the constitutional Amendments, theReconstruction
Acts &c, are null and void Senator johnson should
come TO the front again, and affirm what, accord
1869. --'' "''' '' D'i''i ''AAo'ns III sisinia III
We quote further from Mr.. Johnston's letter t.,
Gov. Walker.
1.-THE Fifteenth Amendment which l trust will
soon be adopted by States enough to make it parl
OF the Constitution of United States, will ques
ton which has agtated the country for half cen
fury. entirely approve of the principles of that
Amendment, and as we have invested the freedman
with the right to vote, let give him fair oppor-
tunity to vote understandngiy He has civil rights
and it is to our interest thai he should know their
value
What? Was that said by Senator Johnston Are
those has views, really? II So how is it that Is
80 high favor with the bourbon Democrats of vir
g1n1a, who now urge very different policy and de-
nounce Senator Malone for the very opinions So
emphatically proclaimed by Senator Johnston?
iy say that he acqutesced in the Fifteenth Amend
ment as necessity of the situation but he trusted
1t would soon be adopted by States enough to make
IL part OF the Constitution, and that he S'entirely
approved of the principles of that amendment
Could one go further? Does Gen. Mahone-do the
ReAdtusters- beyond Senator Johnston?
But Senator Johnston also volunteered to tender
support to President Grant and his Administration
Said he:
''That we are approaching apparently 40 near to
the contamination of reconstruction we are greatly
Indebted to the kind offices of President Grant. The
state was In dilemma; 1t wanted Constitution,
but the one made for 1t had at least two very object
ionable features. We felt that were sufferingin
our Interests py staying out OF
ion, and yet to go In under the Constitution,
with all its provisions, would have been worse.
This Gordian knot was happily cut by the Presi-
dents first message to Congress and the prompt
Spouse OF that body Up to this time the conduct
the administration has been LIBERAL and Ii the
same policy is pursued hereafter 1t ought to have
the hearty support of this state.
IF we cast dead issues behind us, and look to that
line OF conduct which shall restore quiet and conf
dence, and encourage enterprise and industry, we
shall soon the country richer and more prosper
Gus than II has ever been. Yours respectfully,
(Signed) <sJoHN W JOHNSTON
In publishing this letter originally in the Wing
on the 22d Of November, 1852 we said:
"The sentiments we'll and SO frankly expressed
by Judge Johnston are in harmony with those that
animated the people Of Virginia in their late me-
morable canvass, and with those that animate them
to-day, He shows himself to be true representa-
tive OF what is known as the Walker policy Reagrd
ing old and disturbing issues removed out of the
way, putting the past behind him and looking
steadily to the future. he takes cheerful view Of
our political and material interests.
We are of the same mind to-day, and the
still animate the people of Virginia.
II Senator Johnston is unchanged If the opinions
pressed IN 1859 still his where the Bour
bons and what do they mean by decrying in Sena-
tor Malone what they once applauded in senator
= Richmond Whig.