Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-07-18
nAssEY,s MANIFESTO.
"a vIRGINIAN AND A DEMOCRAT BE-
FORE THE QUESTION OF READJUST-
MENT EVER AROSE"

/ f-
3 "a ,vIRaINIAN AND A DEMOCRAT BE
FORE THE QUESTION OF READJUsT
. MENT EVER AROSE"
] To the Voters of Virginia..
tt Fellow-Citizens,-V will be en-
titled to ten representatives in the next
Congress of the United States. At
there are but nine congressional dis
: tricts In the State, one congressman will
I be elected from the Estate at large"
In response to numerous calls from
!, men in different portions of the State,
II for whose opinions and wish I have
great respect, have announced myself
, q candidate for that position.
/ think you know me sufficiently well
to believe me sincere when l assure you
, that If were to be governed alone by
my own feelings and preferences
should never again be q candidate for
any political Office.
i recognize the fact, however, that no
ordinary personal considerations can
Justify any son of Virginia in declining
to render any legitimate service which
her welfare demands when called upon
to do SO by his fellow-citizens and his
own convictions of duty.
i I am therefore before you for your
suffrages. and shall duly and gratefully
appreciate your support. !.
Whiie, however, I shall highly ap.
preciate your votes, shall appreciate
your confidence and respect still more
highly.
/ could not expect to enjoy these if 1
were to obtain your votes by either mis-
resenting to or Withholding from you
my opinions upon the questions in
voIved in the approaching election.
! 1t is therefore due to both you and
myself that state clearly, yet as briefly
as can,
| MY POSITION.
For several years past the settlement
of the State debt and other questions
incidental to it have absorbed SO much
of the attention of the people of Vir-
ginia that they have given compare
| lively little attention to Federal affairs.
most stalwart Democrats and the most
stalwart Republicans divided and took
directly opposite positions upon them.
| The mei of each side were, no
doubt, equally honest each acting in
accordance with their honest cOnvic
tions of right. Neither Democrats nor
Republicans were less Democrats or
lees Republicans because of their being
either Readjusters or Funders.
The leaders of both the Readjuster
party and the Funder party were DEM
ocrats; and each appealed to Republis
cans to Cooperate with them in the
settlement of the State debt and other
questions of State policy, assuring them
that by doing SO they in nowise sacri-
feed their political affiliations or prin-
ciples.
These questions upon which both po-
litic2l nartias VVnra Divided are
NOW SETTLED
SO far as legia lation can settle them.-
The Richm ond Wing, which was the
organ of the Readjuster party, says:
1.-THE Readjusters have passed every
pledged, and more. They have fulfilled
every promise, and more. They have
redeemed every pledge. and more"
The Woodstock Varginid'a says:
Certainly nothing failed that the
platform promised"
The questions which separated men
OF the same political party from, and
arrayed them against, each other hav-
ing been settled, no partition wall or
dividing line stands between them.
Neither the one nor the other should
indulge in ordinations nor recrimina-
~ofo41ss, 1as, fGEse1tiaas ali i4fsToa-sea and
uH HplCdSdAtACSSCo w Hull CSSA Law
existed between them, should unite
heir counsels and combine their wis.,
| elom to determine upon that course
which will most certainly save Virginia
| from the dangers which threaten her.
| We shOnld aim to preserve for her
that high and honorable position which
she has ever held among her sister
| States, and, if possible, raise her still
higher and crown her with still greater
honor and prosperity.
| / need scarcely inform you, my fell
low citizens, that first formulated and
enunciated the principles of readjust-
ment, and that I have stood firmly and
unswervingly by those principles at all
times, in all places, and under all cir
cumstances, from an honest conviction
of right and duty. These facts are well
known to all.
was. however,
A vIRGIN1AN AND A DEMOCRAT
before the question of readjustment ever
arose. and my advocacy of readjustment
never lessened my devotion to my State
or changed my political principles.
1 have always conceded to those who
differed with me the same right to
think. speak, and act for themselves
that I have claimed for myself, and
have treated both them and their Opin-
ions courteously and respectfully. Yet
my political position has been SO well
understood in my county and my dis
trict that have never been candidate
for either the House of Delegates or the
Senate without having regular Repub-
lican ticket against me.
I regret the necessity of thus speaking
of myself, but should deem it unmanly
to ask your support without giving you
- o1~ ,faf <NfvD "
/ political position.
The questions involved in the ap-
/ /, rOaching contest are vital to your in
| t, ,rests, rights, and liberties.
It must be apparent to all observers OF
pu Slic matters that men who cared
not, hing for the principles of the Read
jnste V party, and never joined 1t until
| they saw in it the surest road to their
own elevation to place and power, are
now eeking to make merchandise OF
the Sta ,te which elevated them to their
present positions that they may still
| further enhance their power and in
crease Il 1eir wealth.
When Senator Hill and others criti.
cised SO severely what they supposed
would be- the course of
GENER AL MAHoNE IN THE SENATE
of the UI tilted States before he had given
vote, I disapproved their course and
censured them for it.
And when General Malone repelled
these attacks, declared he was q "better
Democrat than his assailants, and as
serted his independence OF caucus dicta-
ton, I applauded him for it.
I did not suppose it possible that he,
who had always boasted of his Democ-
racy, and who had but short time be
fore sworn that the vote of Virginia
should never be cast for Garfield, !" had
even then formed an alliance with the
Republican party, and would soon after
be devising plan for handing the
whole State over to Arthur in exchange
for the Federal patronage in Virginia.
| I could not believe that any son of
Virginia would thus degrade his grand
old mother if he had not forced that
belief upon me by the most indubitable
evidence.
Think of it, my fellow citizens Vir.
ginia. with eli her past glory and re.
with all her future hopes and
. prospects s!-Virginia, the Mother OF
States and statesmen !"-yOu and L and
all our children ALI to be bartered for