The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-11-16
Tho Protest.


was the fight bitter and unrelenting. Each
side put forth its best effort, each political
force mustered every man it could enlist.
HARD blows were struck, and hard blows re-
ceived, but no cry for quarter was heard so
long as the contest waged. 1t was earnestly
hoped that with the going down OF the sun on
the 18th of November, there would be an end
of the strife; that the people would have re-
spite from the agitation incident to heated
campaign that business would settle down
to its normal channels, and that those whom
circumstances forced to the front of the fray
would have an opportunity to gather up the
raveled ends of their private affairs, and de-
vote their attention to individual concerns so
long neglected. Whatever the result of the
election might be, the business men wanted it
determined. They were willing o abide a fair
decision of the voters at the polls. The nom
ular voice was with them potential, aud to-day
the sober, sensible men OF both parties con-
denim any measures looking to the sitting of
that voice by legal bubble or technical obiec-
ton. Unfortunately, however, there were
some who, conscious that the cause they es-
poused was destined to defeat at the polls.
were willing to resort to any means to carry
their point and install their candidate. They
cared neither for the popular will nor the
peace of the people, but were bent on the ac-
complishment oftheir purpose, and made every
consideration subordinate to that end.
The result of the election in Ohio rendered
it more than probable that the next House of
of Representatives would have Democratic
majority. This, as matter of course, would
throw the casting vote in the Committee on
Privileges and Elections with the Democrats.
The small politicians of this district, judging
others by themselves, thought all that would
be necessary to unseat an opponent and give
his place to Democrat, would be for the I'M
successful candidate to make a contest So
low was their estimate of Democratic states
manship they imagined that reason and JUS
tice, every consideration of fairness and every
rule OF right would yield to the mandate OF
party subserviency. No matter what the will
OF the people might be, If a miserable bubble
could be interposed, Congress would, in their
opinion, override every barrier that held back
the Democratic contestant. With this view
they had their note books at each poll, absurd
objections We're raised to almost every vote
opposed to them, and their whole conduct in
dicated to the dullest discernment purpose
to contest" Even before the election was
over, they sent forth kilograms announcing the
exposure of gross Frauds" and before the re-
suit was known they were offering bets, not
that OFerrall was elected, but that Paul
would not be seated Indeed some of them
went SO tar as to express desire that the certii-
cate of election should be awarded Paul. py a
small majority, 80 that the opportunity would
be presented of making the contest and "oust-
| ing him. This buster served to show the
animus which actuated them They were
paving the way for more significant action
They were attempting to divert attention from
their own moral delinquency by the cry Of
.'stop thief" Repudated by the people
whipped at the polls, they were seeking to
gain by foul means what they failed to accom-
plsh fairly, legally and constitutionally The
day after election the air was thick with re-
ports OF Paul precincts being thrown out in
Rockingham, in Albemarle, in Goochland, and
other counties. Yelling themselves hoarse
with the cry Of" fraud" they were using every
effort to nerpetrate an outrage on the people
OF this district. It was not commended that
the books of the precincts which they wished
to throw out, had been tempered with. In
some instances their own judges of elections
testified that the vote, as recorded, was thd
vote actually cast, and that no injustice ha,.
been done by the failure to seal the returns
But the mere fault of commissioner to coml
ply with the strict letter of the law was seized
upon as the pretext for wiping out Paul's MA
jority and reversing the popular decisioA
When this spirit became so plainly manifesl
that it could no longer be disregarded, the CD
alitionists of Augusta called halt. They WERE
perfectly willing to let the people decide who
their representative should be; but when that
decision had been recorded they were unwill-
ing that it should be set aside at partizan die
tation. 1fyou had elected your candidate
| fairly and honestly, they said, as we elected
| ours we would never have raised technical
| objections to his being awarded the certificate.
1t is the popular will and only the popular
will whose declslon we abide and when you
undertake to defeat that will by mere quib-
| BILE, we cannot longer afford to sleep on the
rights which the law gives us. You yourselves
have invited the contest; it is not of our seec-
ton, and now if the result shall prove disas-
trous TO you, blame none but yourselves. From
the miserable technicalities you raise, we APP
peal to "the plain letter and intent of the
law" and demand that that law shall be re-
spected. You have failed to haye legal reg
lstration OF the voters of Augusta, and you
must abide the consequences.
The protest prepared and presented by Mr.
Craig, published elsewhere. fully sets forth
the law bearing on the question, and clearly
establishes the position he assumes But that
protest, valid as are the grounds upon which it
is based, would never have been submitted,
had the Democrats not manifested a determi-
nation to reverse the popular decision, and
give seat in Congress to one whom the peo-
pie had declared should not be their repre-
sentative. We repeat, the Democrats them
selves forced the contest. We were COM
PEELED to fight the Devil with fire, and if his
Satanic Majesty has been worsted in the en-
counter, let the blame rest where it belongs.
Bourbon Desperation.
Mr. A M Kelley nronoses IN contest the