The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-03
Adjournment of the Senate.


adjourned. without confirming the nomina-
ton of Clifford Statham, to be postmaster at
Lynchburg 1t was found that the Democrats,
availing themselves of the rules of the Senate
had determined to prolong the fight over the
continuation to an indefinite period, and to
avoid an unseemly and undignifed struggle
over so small matter, the Republicans con-
sented to an adjournment So far as the essen
tial object in the nomination was concerned,
it was effected as completely in the action
that was taken as if it had been fully consum,
mated. 1t, in the first place, exposed the an
linus of the Democrats. 1t laid bare their
hollow pretenses, as heretofore necessarily
mouthed, that their objection to the Republi-
cans was that they do not place in office ma
tive Southerners and gentlemen their So
cial relations 1t exploded their oft repeated
assurances, ifsuch persons were recognized in
official position, a better feeling would spring
up and be encouraged between the sections
and the fierce passions of parties alayed How
sincere all these professions were, has been
fully tested in the case of Statham. He filled
the Democratic idea of Federal official, in
all things except his sympathy with Bourbon
ism. He is of excellent social standing-his
father wealthy business man, and the ap-
pointee well qualified for the duties to which
he had been designated. But the one thing
was needful. He was not Bourbon, and for
this reason even more determined opposition
was arrayed against him than if he had been
Republican carpet Dagger or scallawag
After this determination of the Republicans
was reached to put stop to the belittling
squabble, the next thing was to communicate
with the President and ascertain his desires in
the matter. Senator Ferry, Chairman of the
Committee on Post offices and Post Roads, was
directed by the caucus to visit the President
with Senator Malone. The interview lasted
some time. The Senator from Virginia told
the President that he had no desire by any act
of his to keep the Senate in session longer on
the nomination of Mr.. Statham. All that he
had wished was to show the people that the
Executive and majority of the Senate were
in sympathy and accord with the Re-adiuster
| movement. He desired the Republicans of the
State to understand that the administration
was with them in their efforts to overthrow
| the Bourbon party. Mr.. Malone believed
that the object sought to be accomplished was
now fully comprehended. The nomination
could now be withdrawn or laid aside to ena-
! BILE the Senate to complete other executive bu
siness and adjourn. Mr. Ferry also said to the
President that the sentiment of the caucus
appeared to be in favor of dropping the case
for the present and adjourning. Gen. Arthur
replied that he was perfectly willing to ABIDE
by the judgment of the Senate. He reiterated
his expression of sympathy with the coalition
in Virginia and said that Statham would be
appointed Postmaster and his name sent to the
Senate when Congress reconvened.
If the Republicans had designedly devised
to entrap the Democrats into Il blunder, they
could not have arranged more complete pit
fall than that which they dug for themselves
There could not have been conceived plot to
more effectually expose their inslncerity or one
that more expressively illustrates their parti-
zanism. 1t was not, by any means, an exhi-
bition COMFORTING with the high character of
| the United States Senate, and will not, in the
end, bring with it anything but regrets and
discomforts for the party which was so precip-
itately betrayed into it through partizan zeal.
The Lynchburg N,ysnSan is impetuous. We
referred to the Supreme Court of the United
States, and not the Supreme Court of Virgin
ia, as the last resort to which the question of
| the constitutiOnality OF the Riddleberger bill
would be taken should it become law. The
Trainer and patrons of that bill maintain that
| the Supreme Court OF the U. s. has by unan-
| imous opinion, sustained the principle involv-
ed in it, in the case of Tennessee vs. Snead.
We were neither affirming nor denying this
| view OF the case, content to leave it to time to
reach conclusion. The point we were max
ing was that the adoption of the measure would
settle the question for the reasons that if were
pronounced constitutional it contains the
provisions to execute itself, and the creditors
would be compelled in self defence to accept
it's terms. If pronounced unconstitutional,
then all the agitation of REIMBURSEMENT would
necessarily cease, and the debt controversy be
settled upon its present basis-compelling an
increase in the rate of taxation to meet its de-
mands.
The success of the Re-adjusters would force
one or the other of these conclusions and give
finalty to agitation on the subject Not so
if the Democrats should succeed, for they pro-
pose no definite plan and their success would
leave the whole question open for future agi..
tation. Our contemporary should never men
ton in an offensive way, so long as he sup
ports the platform of his party on this
subject-repudiation There never was
greater delusion than the proposition
it sustains 1t is simply deliberate eff
effort to deceive the people into the lbelief
that the creditors will surrender we'll secur-
ed six per cent bond for three per cent bond.
to suit the necessities of a Democratic faction.
The Vaayanaaaa knows there is nothing sincere
in this, and that the success of its party will
leave the debt question just where it is now,
in labarynth of complications and uncertain
ties. Forcible readjustment is the only meth
cd by which the debt can be reduced, and it
is all nonsense to talk about any other. 1t is
either forcible readjustment or forced higher
taxes the creditors property or the peoples
property has to be readjusted. The Vi1Qan
ian's platform proposes to wipe out one half
of the interest charge due the creditors, and
at the same time it acknowledges the justice
of the claim. 1t is less aggressive and less
honest than the readjusters, for they say they
don't owe mere than they propose to pay and
that the interest must be adjusted to more
nearly correspond with the rate now observed
among governments. We are not arguing
for nor against these propositions in the alb
stract and upon their intrinsic inertia In
comparative sense, the Readjusters are more
to be commended for frankness and directness
Their proposition looks to settlement t, and if
their conclusions are correct, will effect one.
The other is mere shallow transparent de-
ception which will not deceive, for the people
are too well informed to be bamboozled into
the belief that the creditors are going to vol
untarilly give up what the Bourbons say is
just, and what the courts say is secure.
If there is ten year old boy in Rockingham
county. who can read and write, and is not