Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-27
Organization Of the Readjusters Of Augusta
County,
SPEECH BY H. H. RIDDLEBERGER, OF sHENA
DoAH-PERMANENT ORGANIZATION &C., &C

sPEECH BY H. n. R1DDLEBEhGEhs Ok SAENAN-
DoAH-PERMANENT ORGANIZATION &C., &c.
In accordance with the announcement, here
sofore made public, the readjusters of this
County on the adjournment of the County
Court at IL O'Clock on yesterday met in the
Court House for the purpose Of perfecting their |
County Organization. The meeting was called
TO order by Mr.. S. Brown Allen Chairman OF
The County Committee, who explained that II
was necessary 10 have a County Organization,
for the Readjusters might at any time be call
ed upon to express their will as to State az
fairs.
On motion of Col. Rudolph Turk, a commit
tee consisting Of one from each ward OF the
city and one from each magisterial District OF
the County was appointed Committee on
permanent organization as follows:- hi
r, Turk, E. F. Vincent, 81. ]. Williams. J. e.
Hamilton, H. P. Dickerson, VIM. B. Crawford,
w. II. Peyton, and S. ]. Bondurant.
Mr.. Allen, in most complimentary manner
Hon. H. H. Riddleberger, as one of
the original and ablest readjusters of the State
to whom great credit was due for the ability
with which he had conducted the growth and
full and fruitful fruition of the party
Mr.. Riddleberger, of Shenandoah, claimed in
the beginning of his speech that he had done
nothing in the cause of readjustment which his
convictions of right (adla co7apicta) did not ap-
prove.
The readjusters of Augusta had in the last
election made noble fight, and the object OF
the meeting on this occasion was to make
their party successful in the future, and to SO
organize as to siren sthen their party that 1t
might hereafter be strong enough to prevail
over the Governors veto. Hecondemned Gov.
%Nf~ said
that the next Legislature would have three re-
adjusters for one that is there now.
We have not the space to give even synopsis
of his speech. which was one Of the most
scattering demagogical and weakest speeches.
that we have ever heard from the lips OF this
orator of theShenandoah.' He claimed in the
irst place that the debt of the State was only
so O0O, 900, whilst his major general and the
chief in command of his party, admitted at the
Mozart convention that the State sindebtedness
was 49,, OOO, 0oO He afterwards in the course of
dis speech argued that Virginia owed the Yam
zee bondholder nothing, that she owed the
English bondhoder nothing, and really and In
truth owed the Virginia bondhoder NOTHING.
We must confess that we were unable to fol-
low his reasons to their conclusion on this last
lowe nothing" point
He declared that the McCulloch bill was a
humbug, for Bismarck, or the London Ifnts or
almo st any other great man or great paper
could compel, at it's mere whim. the payment
Of int rest on the debt in gold. eve, however,
cannot see what difference it could make as a
dollar in greenbacks will buy dollar in gold)
One happy instance Of the hardships inspired
by the funders is worth reciting. He said:
Norfolk City has gone down and doion and
DOWN, until now 1t is represented in the Legis-
ature by three readjusters." Alas! poor Nor
folk, are there none SO poor as to do you rev.
erence? We fear not; even readjuster chuck
les over your downfall.
In answer to the stumbling block, What are
you going to do with the State debit" he said:
I'VE are going to get away from it by forcible
readiustment. and If any gentleman in our party
IS not forcble readJu ulster he had better retire.
We are for forcible readjustment, and intend to
nave it," Thus VIC see the "cloven foot" which
was SO studiously concealed in the late cam
paign, showing itself in all its hideousness and
deEOrmity.
From this point he wandered Off to the piss
tory of the Confederacy. complained that the
tenth of the products of the land were taken
by the government. seeming to forget that this
was done for the support OF the brave soldiers
who were starving in the field, many Of whom
W
of the application he tried to make OF 1t ia ref
erence to the debt of the State.
He denied the binding effect of the decisions
of the Supreme Court, GQd in this connection
referred to Judge Marshall, in the Dartmouth
College case, and was interrupted by Mr.. H. st.
Geo. Tucker. who wanted him to quote what
Judge Marshall had said, bpt he did not DO 80.
but continuing his remarks, intimated that
the grandfather of Mr.. Tucker had been put up
on the bench to reverse an opinion written by
Judge Pendleton just before his death. but
which was never delivered. This, Mr.. Harry
Tucker most Indignantly denied. and asked for
an opportunity to reply, which Mr.. Riddleber-
ger said he should have. THE excitement at
this time rose to quite fever heat, but quiet
was soon restored. and Mr.. Eiddieberger pro-
ceeded to speak OF the position Of his party on
the approaching Presidential canvass, saying
that they would cross that river when they
came to it.
The read! usters have the position and intend
to hold it. bat he did not say whether they
would vote with the Democratic party or the
Republican, but insisted ttist there must be
more liberal policy in Virginia towards the
colored people, The constitution gHass2atses
The coiored man his place on the juries and the
readjusters Asye not meddled with that ques-
In attempted justificasasts Of the course pur-
sued by the readjusters in the Legislature in
securing the negro vote. he asserted THAI tt,hie
Conservative party had tried the same thing
5y offering to elect Williams e. Wickham to
the United Seuate. This is utterly untrue,
and should have been known to DO SO BY the
speaker.l ,r .a9 .ls14
He again attempted to mislead the people
when he told them that the first proposition to
put negroes on the jury came from funder.
but he failed to tell them that it was republic
can, Mr.. EARLY of Albemarle, who offered the
resolution and not a Conservative.
In conclusion. he begged that the people
would not contrast such men as Paul and Rid
dleber with Withers and Kemper, but look to
| the principles O. involyed, and wound up with
his Miltonic curl, heretofore gotten off at
Woodstock.
At this time the County Court resu n 90 lis
session and the meeting adjourned to the
Courthouse steps to complete their business.
MIR. Rudolph Turk, chairman of the commit
Lee on permanent organizati on reported the
following appointments
Ssaunton. Ward 20. I.zWm. H. Peyton. DR.. T.
W. shelton. andJ. Y Davis.
pa Ma.a au MN s. 4 !. Bond Jul 81 A - "
Beverly Mn,lor.-E. A. Fulcher, r. F, Dicker-
son, and VIM. H. Bailey,
South River-John i. Hamilton, a. 4. Az
mold and VIM. Caldwell.
Middle Riuer-Courtney A.. Roller, David
Beard, and Robert s. Harnsberger.
North RiUer.-Rudoph Turk, William New
man, and DIR. George T. Robson.
Past,n es.-Wash NJ. Dudley, John s. Lambert,
and Andrew Beck. 3ae
| Rirerhepds.-Frank Larew, Samuel Carson,
and Lewis Dull.
S. Brown Allen. called Mr.. Thos. Burke to
preside and after full history of the origin Of
| the party in Augusta and its subsequent pro-
gress and purposes end its spread over the
State, offered the following resolutions which
were adopted:
| Resolved, LIST, That We the Readjusters Of AZ
gusta. do most heartily endorse and approve
| the unwavering fidelity of our friends in The
| General Assembly, as evidenced by their acts
since the ;Zation of that body on the third
| of December. We believe that the policy
mapped out and being SO far steadily adhered
/ to is in direct accord with the popular verdict
4 rendered at the polls by the people of Virginia
on the 4th day of November.
| Resolued 2yad That election of General VIM.
| Malone to the United states Senate is but a
1 lust recognition of past services, a reward to
1 merit, and perpetuates undimmed the historic
brilliapcy and lustre that belongs to Virginia
1 in the highest halls of American legislation;
we recognize in the person of Gen. Malone a
4 patriot, soldier, AID statesman, OF whom even
| the Mother of States and Of statesmen is justly