The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-09-01

DOX. that the right to vote ShOulu never De
abridged except for crimes known to the
common law as felonies. The considerations
they were to receive were just as fully real
lied in all of the details and particulars, as
for the obligations they assumed with the
creditors of the State for the money they
borrowed, and fol which the present debt is
due. Political necessities may dwarf the
Importance of these obligations and the
rights of the citizen be esteemed OF less dig
nifty than the rights of the creditor. but at
the bar of conscience they are clothed with
as much sanctity and invested with as much
moral flavor as any obligation growing out OF
commercial transactions, affecting the ma
terial interests and financial integrity of the
Commonwealth.
But there is no necessity to measure the
comparative dignity of the contract obliga-
lions to which we have referred. Both
should be regarded as sacred, and neither
disregarded. Inquiry should be directed to
the methods to preserve both. if possible.
and failing in accomplishing all that may
be desired, to encompass as much as posi-
BILE. 1t cannot be denied that neither OF
the parties now repre- by State tick
cts propose to maintain the integrity OF the
obligations of the State with her creditors.
Upon this point the Republicans have made
their record in the resolutions of the Lynch
burg Convention. They have done all that
it was in their power to do. and all. indeed.
that it was necessary for them to do. SO
far as any practical reputation can be eff
fected, we do not believe it will be in the
power of any Legislature or Governor that
NAV be chosen to do so. The Courts will
defend both the rights of the creditors and
the honor of the State, for the bulk OF the
debt has passed beyond the reach OF polit-
ical mountebanks and ime-serving dema-
gogues.
| The other contract-that which affects
| the rights of the citizen-is live issue. 1t
properly and prominently comes into the
contest, and may be determined by the Leg
islature and Governor to be elected. One
of the candidates for Governor is pledged
to the policy of the Republicans in refer
ence to it the other is neither announced
for or against it, but is the representative of
a faction that demands the retention of
the restrictions upon the ballot complained
of. We have the promise of the one that
the Constitution shall be restored to its
original guarantees and conditions upon this
subject. Whether we have implicit conf
dence in this assurance or not, it Is more
than the other faction is willing to do. We
have possible chance of carrying into ef-
feet Republican policy in the one case. and
no possible chance of doing so in the event
of the election of the other. The principle
involved in this is just as cardinal With the
Republican party as that comprehended in
the financial obligations of the State or ma.
1 ton and If the canvass has been so shaped
that it is impossible to maintain State cred
it on the latter point, it does not follow
that we should abandon all endeavor to
maintain the integrity of the Common
wealth as to tile other, inasmuch as it is a
practical issue in the contest. We consci-
entiously believe it is as much the duty of
Virginia to remove the restrictions upon
the ballot as it is to pay her honest
debts They both have the high sane
ton of the Constitution as adopted by
the people in 1869, and they both should be
sacredly guarded and defended. The one
is so hedged about with legal defences, that
it will be impossible for any faction or par
ty to invade it successfully. The other has
been essentially repudiated in the interests
of political party, and the duty that con-
fronts us is to restore it TO its freedom and
give it the vitality and scope that the
| Constitution and laws of the country in
tel. ded it should have.
In this view of the case, it is certainly
not the policy of the Republicans of
the State to aid in placing in power a
faction that promises nothing as to either
of these important central Interests
The debt obligation is evaded. Its sane
tity is trded with. and the principle in
volved is totally ignored. The citizen
rights contract is openly defied and its guar
antees mutilated SO as to place price upon
the ballot, and create fountain of corrup-
ton and crime that may vitiate the whole
elective system. 1t, too, is an assault. and
so intended, let those who support the pol
icy it presents protest never so much, upon
| the manhood rights of the colored race, and
in violation ofthe spirit and intent, if not the
letter of the amendments to the National
Constitution. 1t is bad faith. and cannot
be defended before the conscience of the
country. And until this restriction upon
suffrage is removed until the Constitution
is restored to its original guarantees and pro-
visions and the people to pledged faith as
recorded in 1869, there meyer will be peace
and quiet in Virginia.
The Republicans, therefore, sh ould make
| the most out of the political complications
as they now exist. If they cannot be in
strumental in maintaining the credit of the
State In declaration at the ballot box on
the financial question, they can be poten-
tial in determining the other issue in the
contestant giving vitality to the 18th amend
ment to the National Constitution and the
pledge of the State in 1869. that the right
10 VOte SIlOulu never De dDTlugeu except IOf
crimes recognized by the common law as.
| feionies.
By the election Of the ticket which Gen..
Wickham announces it is his purpose to sup
purt, there is no assurance. and no grounds
of assurance, that the rights OF the credi-
| tors and She integrity of the State would be
\ preserved. The history of the past just-
| fes the conclusion that neeither wonld be
respected. While, therefore, upon this
point nothing could be gained that the Re-
publicans have declared for, there is GER
tainty that the restrictions upon the ballot
would be perpetuatcd, and g sssstiie inA',-
ence given power that might work other
embarrassments not now anticipated.
We cannot. therefore, follow Gen. Wick
ham in this new departure or advise the
Republicans of the State 20 do 80, He has
as much separated himself from the Repub-
lican party, in his impetuous declaration,
as did Mr.. Lewis when he accepted a posi-
tion on the Re-adjuster ticket They have
both DECLARED their identity in this canvass
with organizations that are hostile to that
IN which thew h va M yafo fore nrofoc OIL ola