The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-06
Tho County Convention.

The Convention Of the Conservative DEM
ocratioparty Of Augusta to nominate can
didate for the State Senate and two candidates
for the House of Delegates, met in Staunton
Monday last. It was representative body Of
the intelligence of che county, and composed
Of some of the most worthy and esteemed cit
izens of Augusta. 1t was very evident, how
ever, that most of them were unused to such
proceedings, and want Of familiarity with the
manifest. The result of the numerous and
exciting ballots, was the nomination of three
very clever gentemen-men of high personal,
character and some legislative experience.
Maj Koiner is safe, practical business man
a lawyer by education, but of late years en-
tirey engaged in farming. He at one time
represented the county in the House of Dele
gates, and four years ago was elected to the
Senate, for which position he has been re-
! nominated Maj. Hanger has represented
Augusta in the Legislature for the past twelve
| years, and by that body chosen speaker for
four successive years, where be made an en-
viable reputation as pariamentaran. He is
practicing lawyer at the Stanton bar Col.
Skinner is lawyer by profession, but has not
attempted to practice since the war by reason
of the loss of an eye in battle. He served
the county in the Legislature one term before
the war. He is gentleman of extensive
culture, a forcible and captivating speaker,
and we'll posted ON the political questions OF
the State and country
All three of them, however, may be proper
ly classed as Bourbons, and the candidates for
the Legislature especially. They are not
abreast of the times nor in sympathy with the
advanced ideas which are now shaping the
| policies of States and Nation. They.live rather
in. the past than in the present, and do not
believe in the policy of practically recogniz-
| ing the amendments to the National Consttu-
ton, and the pledges of the State as ncorpo-
rated in the State Constitution of 1862 Col
Skinner and Maj. Hanger are not in sympathy
with the temporizing policy of their party on
the debt question, judging from their past ut
terances. Could they have their way, we
have no doubt they would shape tax bill
which would provide revenues sufficient to
meet all demands upon the State, even should
an increase in the rate of taxation be re-
qnired. In this they differ from their party
and if elected to the Legislature would stand
almost solitary and alone in that body on that
ISSUE Maj. Koiner has conservative views on
all questions, and we think would oppose any
proposition to increase the taxes. He pre-
sented a rather novel plan Of treating the
debt question several years ago. That was to
''let it alone" and it would settle itself-tnat
is, the accumulation of defaulted interest
would become SO huge, that it would repudiate
itself by its very magnitude.
Personally these three gentlemen stand high
Politically they are better suited to past pc
Rod. They are not sufficiently reconstructed
to comprehend the forces which are shaping
political events, moulding public sentiment
and inviting the country to higher national
life
The nomination of Maj. Koiner was ex-
pected and he met no opposition. Both Col.
Skinner and Maj. Hanger had positively de-
clned the use of their names before the Con-
vention, and their nomination was surprise,
as we'll a disappointment to many. Several
very worthy gentlemen had consented to ap-
pear for the nomination, in the belief that new
men were to be chosen. Time and work
were expended to Elk" the primaries, but it
seems it was 'love's labor lost" Whether the
future has anything better in store for them
can only be determined hereafter. They have
nothing but the fragments OF broken states
now to encourage them.