The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-10
The inaugural Address.

its inspirations. Through every sentence
threads the evidence of the careful student,
the broad-minded statesmen, and that COM
prehension of the spirit of our institutions
which rises far above the mere politician
and reaches into the atmosphere of pure pa
triotism. The studied purpose to impress
upon the American people the dignity and
sanctity of the Constitution and the laws
made in pursuance thereof, leaves no doubt
as to the character of Gen Garfield admins
tration, and gives assurance of firmness tenn
pered with charity in the enforcement OF the
laws and the protection Of the rights the
laws guarantee.
1t is opportune at a time when the general
judgment Of the reading and thinking pub
lie has been so favorably impressed by the
perspicuous declarations of the President,
that some reflections should be INDUCED
for the consideration Of our circle OF read
ers. Gen. Garfield is no political novice, nor
are his utterances the fitful emanations OF
the mere politician. He has been stu
dent of American history and the forces
which are directing American destiny. He
is capable of grasping the problems which
confront the country, and has shown his
complete mastery of the questions which
agitate the public mind, not only in his leg
islative career, but in the inaugural address
which marks his entrance upon a new field
of duty and endeavor. SIS it," he says,
mot possible for us now to make a truce
with time by anticipating and accepting the
inevitable verdict? Enterprises of the
highest Importance to our moral and mate
rial well being invite us and offer ample
scope for the employment Of our best pow
ers. Let all our people, leaving behind
them the battle-felds of dead issues, move
forward, and in the strength of liberty and
the restored Union win the grandest victo-
ries of peace" 1t is an invitation to look
and live forward and not backward. 1t is
an appeal to the common-sense, the mate
rial welfare and the patriotism Of the South
to accept and encourage the progressive
forces which have been asserted in the
amended constitution, and reconcile State
policies and legislation to the great truths
which have been irrevocably emphasized In
the results of the war. We may retard,
for awhile, the progress of these truths, and
arrest, for the time, their full fruition, but
| it will only be for the time. They cannot
be suppressed, and will eventually assert
their authority and be fully recognized in
the legislation and administration of all the
States affected by them. But every hostile
enactment and every restrictive devisement
will only operate to dwarf material growth,
incite distrust and estrange sympathy,
without affecting the end designed, or de-
feating the great purpose, born of the ma
toms travail, which looks to the equality OF
all men before the law. ''The free enjoy
ment Of equal suffrage is still in question,
and frank statement of the issue may aid
its solution. 1t is alleged in many commu-
mites negro citizens are practically denied
the freedom of the ballot. In so far as the
truth of this allegation is admitted, it is an
swered that in many places honest local
government is impossible if the mass OF
These are grave allegations. So far as the
latter is true, it is the only palliation that
can be offered for opposing the freedom OF
the ballot. Bad local government is GER
tainly great evil which ought to be pre-
vented; but to violate the freedom and
sanctity Of the suffrage is more than an
evil-it is crime which if persisted in will
destroy the government itself. Suicide is
not remedy. If in other lands it be high
treason to compass the death of the King,
it should be counted no less crime here to
strangle our sovereign power and stifie its
voice. 1t has been said that unsettled ques-
tions have no pity for the repose OF nations
1t should be said with the utmost emphasis
that this question Of the suffrage will never
give repose or safety to the States or to the
Nation, until each within its own jurisdic-
ton makes and keeps the ballot free and
pure by the strong sanctions of the law"
This is forceful statement of the ques-
ton to which it refers and only gives en-
phasis to the thought that we have so fire.
quently presented through these columns
The peace, progress and prosperity of Vir-
ginia and the entire South are intimately
associated with the full and unreserved ac-
ceptance of the letter and spirit Of the Con-
stitution, and the conformation OF our laws
to the enactments Of Congress, giving force
to the Constitution. No more solemn, i'm
pressive and instructive statement is to be
found in the address of the President,
bristling all over, as it does, with automatic
truths, than this: SIT should be said with
the utmost emphasis that the question OF the
suffrage will never give repose or safety to
the States or to the Nation, until each with
in its own Jurisdiction makes and keeps the
ballot free and pure by the strong sanctions
of the law The sentiment here announced
was central in the minds of the North in
the recent Presidential canvass. 1t was
emphasized in the choice of Gen. Garfield
as the chief executive officer of the Nation,
and until it is fully recognized in the stat
| utes and at the ballot-box, in the Southern
States, we need not expect repose and es-
cape from strife and turmoil-so injurious to
all of our interests.
We are well convinced that the calm, i'm
partial judgment of the better class of
Southern citizens is in accord with the SEN
timent of the utterances we have quoted,
and it is only when the flerceness of party
contests arouses prejudices and passions,
that the obstructive methods too frequently
rasortad tn are iustfed
At the threshold Of Gen. Garield's adj
ministration, which we are well satisfied
will be directed to the achievement Of the
greatest good to the greatest number Of the
people, N orth and South, would it not be wise
for the South, and especially Virginia to fash
ion her laws and guage her legislation SO as to
recognize the rights the Constitution guar
antees, and liberalize organic and statute
provisions so as to remove all cause for the
contention and bitter feeling growing out
of the restrictive and discriminating legis-
lation which has been inspired by party
rancor and necessities?
great future will be before the South
when such spirit shall be infused into the
legislation Of the respective States. Anew dis
pensation will dawn upon her; dis