The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-13
The State Campaign.

SIR-1 see by the news papers that the re
adjusters had conference In Richmond, al
which they very modestly parcelled ont the
peoples offices among themselves. This may
not seem SO strange when it is remembered
that the thirst for office is the cohesive force
that animates and gives life to all their move
ments But the strangest part of the state
ment is, that there were also several republi
cans" in the conclave This can hardly be
true; for if we apply the old maxim than nc
man can serve two masters, there were none
there but readjusters whatever may have been
their antecedents. If they were republicans
they should be informed that they have for
feited their claim to that name, by associating
in active measures in support of the interest OF
a hostile party. Isay hostile, because it seeks
to remove the very cornerstone of our repub-
lican edifce, and as far as developed, it is a
sprout from the stump of secession, the flesh
culver in the dead carcass of State sovereignty
You may ask how Iarrive at this My reply is,
that the largest part of the public debt which
! they propose to repudiate, is the amount of
interest which accrued during the war, and
during reconstruction. And in support of this
proposition they claim the intervention of
international law-the law of nations, or rules
of action, for sovereign nation to observe in
its intercourse with other sovereign nations
Now by referring to the constitution, the
supreme law, we find that all the attributes all
the characteristics and all the function of SOW
! ptv Wi ba Of Int
States, acting through their representatives at
Washington, which is the seat of their power;
having there established. by and for themselves,
legislative, judiciary and executive depart
ments through which they speak and make
known their sovereign will. They can declare
war, make peace, make treaties and regulate
commerce between the several States, and for
eign nations. To this sovereign, the army,
the navy, and the militia of the several States
belong, and the President of the United States
is COMMANDMENT chief of all. The emblem of
this sovereignty the b Pg,u1bus Unatna floats
over land and sea- and is the only sign of SOW
ereignty known and recognized by the natives
ofthe earth, as covering the territory, known
as the United States of America. Put this to-
gether and more that might be added, and the
idea of State sovereignty is precluded.
| Virginia never was, nor is she natfon, a
sovereign State, therefore she can claim no
rights under International law. It would not
be any more absurd for the county of Rock
| iagham to ask relief from her debts under in
ternational law. 1t may do very well to advo-
cate this readjuster doctrine before the multi
tude. in order TO build up party, because the
multitude is swift to find out way, how not
to pay debts. But doubt very much whether
any of the leading readjusters would dare to
make such plea in bar of the payment of
debts in any court here or elsewhere think
the readjusters will find out, if they have not
already made the discovery, that the questions
they have raised are questions of law and not
of numbers. All the votes in Virginia cannot
remove the seal from the bonds. Neverthe-
less, it seems we can have no peace or rest
from this eternal jibber about the State debt
until this question of law is decided by the
Supreme Court of the United States, and the
sooner it is taken there the better This is
absolutely necessary, for many of those croak-
ers, should they see the figures on board.
couldn't tell you whether they stood for
hundred or for a hundred million.
If understood it, land l think do) the re-
publican party does not seek to evade any
responsibility it has incurred. Among other
things, it is responsible for the public school
system in this State 1t is responsible for
impartial suffrage without regard to color or
previous condition. 1t is responsible for max
ing the franchise free without the payment of
captation taxes. These measures were en-
grated in the Virginia constitution by the re-
publicans, against the protests of the demo-
cratic party, and this same party when it came
into power began to cast about for means to
repeal those measures 1t found however, that
many of the white people had become enam-
ored with the school system, and that their
Of the school system hopeless. They then fell
upon the captation tax as qualification for
the voter, as an entering wedge to split the
constitution as far as these measures We're con-
cerned, into flinders.
The main argument in support of the CAPT
cut out the negro vote east of the ridge, and
thus give us peace everybody knows what
that means).
Many of the men who are rcadjusters now
were democrats then; indeed, all / know,
either advocated or voted for the capitation
tax, or at least made no effort against it. Now
assuredly, an earthquake or some other power
full influence has brought about this modern
penticost, for they all with one accord pro-
claim the exceeding excellency Of public
schools and with the same breath portray the
odious features ofcapiation taxes. Now those
they really advocate those measures from con-
viction, and are really in earnest, then their
proper place is in the republican party. Ifthey
are not in earnest and only using those meas
ures as a sham, seeming to be something they
are not in order to obtain office, then their
proper place is in the democratic party, the
party that lives in, and is inspired by the CEN
turtles past, and the natural ally of every force
that tends to clog the wheels of progress
There can be no question but that the lead
ing readjusters are trying to bulldoze the re-
publcans SO that they will refrain from MAX
ing any nominations for State offices, and by
consequence, offer themselves to the tail of
the readjuster kite.
Is this not huniliating' Can any true re-
publican listen to such proposition without
a blush? Shall we of Virginia dissolve our con-
nection with the great republican party of the
| TTnion and associate ourselves with nartx of
doubtful fame? No-and again no. The great
republican party pleads by hallowed memory.
No. There it stands Respondent in tie glory
and grandeur of its achievements. With steady
tread over rostrum and field it has marched on
to victory. 1t has burst the bands that bound
four million of slaves and out of chattels made
men. 1t overthrow million of rebels in arms