The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-09-21

would the revenues necessary to meet the
current expenses Of government, pay pen
sons. pay interest on the national debt, come
fromg With free-tradc prevailing, and under
Democratic policy, import duties virtually abol-
ished, and internal revenue tax dispensed with
what resources would the national treasury
have for its necessary and Indispensable sup
plies except dirrct taxation ? And even Mai.
Daniel would hardly advocate that
Maj Daniels treatment of this entire sub
ject was superficial, insncerep and falacous.
And in like manner was his reference to the
River and Harbor Bill and the application he
made ofthat matter. His reference TO these meas
ures followed a TRADE Of abuse launched upon
the Republican party because, as he alleged Of
of its hatred of the South He claimed that the
RIVER and Harbor bill embraeedlarge appropri-
tons for Southern waterways and the larger
part of it for the Mississippi River, the great
Southern artery OF commercial life, and arraien-
ed President Arthur for yetoing it, because OF
his hostile feeling towards the South, when the
fact is that the item for the improvement of
the Mississippi vas inserted as the results of
q special message from him recommending if
The veto was in compliance with his oath of
office and directed against the demonstrations
al appropriations injected into the River and
Harbor Bill, al the instance of demagogues
and place-hunters, who could not depend
upon their own merits and claims for public
confdenceand support. Aud while he was
compelled, by the sanction of his oath, to re-
fuse his signature to the bill as presented to
him, he expressed in his veto message his re.
greet that be could not approve the Misss-
slssippi appropriation and others OF national
import and application, without embracing
others, which TO have approved would have
violated his obligations to the onsti'ution
and stultified himself. Maj. Daniel knew the
history ofthis bill, and the reasons why it was
vetoed, and if his purpose had not been parti-
IAN, he would have exalted himself, as he is
capable of doing above the cross-road poll
tician and done justice to the President and
the reason and motive of his action in the
pr misses ~ ,4l
His reference to the votes OF Capt. Paul in
the election cases, and especially in that of
Smals against Tilman, from South Carolina
was as unjust as it was disingenuous Mr.
Paul voted to seat Smalls, a colored man, be-
cause the evidence showed plainly and inds-
putably that he had been elected and that his
competitor received his certificate by fraud
Mr.. Paul was sworn to do his duty under the
laws and constitution, and in doing so fear
lessly and honestly, a negro was seated and
white man unseated. In the vote on the re-
peal of the internal revenue laws, a reyolu-
lutionary and utterly impracticable PROPOSE
ton, which was never designed to have OPP
Grafton, but for the very use that Maj.
Daniel applied it, to kood-wink and mslead
the people105 Democrats voted for the repeal,
and 106 Republicans against it, including
Smalls, who was seated from South Carolina.
The failure of that demagoguical measure
was attributed to the seatingo of Smalls for had
with the Democrats, making 400 for and 100
against. Where were the other 80 Democrat
ic members of Congress? Some of them were
in the cloak rooms,and some in their seats but
refusing to vote, for fear of their constituents.
Had there been any expectation or desire
that the repeating bill should pass they would
have voted with their party for 1t. But there
was no sincerity in it; the vote that was cast.
was to fashion an appeal to the people--to
deceive them into the belief that there was an
honest purpose to wipe out the internal reye-
nue. tax-that its perpetuation was not a ne
cessity, and that the Democrats were for their
relief and the Republicans against it. All
know that the condition of the government
would not allow this-that the integrity of
the nation and the faith of the people would
not allow it--for it would have meant nation
al reputation and public dishonor Yet.
with such reasons and facts before Maj Dan
iel's mind as plain as they ar before every
thoughtful citizen, he sought to prejudice
Capt. Paul in the minds Of his constituents,
when that gentleman was not there to defend
himself, but was two hundred miles distant
at that very time. addressing the people Of
Carroll county. Was this fair? We leave it
know what reply the people of the Seventh
District viii give to it.
Mai Daniel discuss ed or rather referred to
the several bills which were defeated by the
detection of the "Big Four and the efforts
of Mr.. Massey and these covered multitude
ofsins. 1t was the atonement Mr. Massey made
for the past, and entitled him to the support
and confidence of the speaker, not withstand
ing he had said many hard things about
Mr.. NJ, all of which he believed aud none of
which did he desire to modify or retract
In this connection be alluded to several bills,
OF which he was the author, designed for the !
reliet OF the people-the law to tax railroads,
being conspicuous-which the Democratic
party had enacted into law With this eX-
ception there was nothing adduced to rescue,
Boulbonism from the deep condemnation un-
der Which the people have placed it,an1 from
which it will never escape within this gener-
ton. His apostrophe to Democracy was very
handsome, but coming from Maj. Daniel,
speaking for the Bourbon faction, there was
no approprit teness IN it, for that organiza-
ton contains nothing of Democracy. In
the old times when Democracy meant some
,hing-when it had q defined policy and de-
clared it TO the world--when it challenged
and courted contest upon prnci-
pies, Maj. Daniels tribute would have touched
the popular heart. But for him to appear
before Virginia audience, representing a
faction that does not dare to formulate a plat
form for the State, or any one district, it
looked like sporting with the intelligence ofhis
hearers. /
We cannot follow Maj. Daniel through his
two hours and quarter speech. That what
he said was impressiyely delivered no one
who knows his gifts in oratory will question.
That it was frank and candid statement of
the issues and facts lie discussed, no one who
is at all versed in current political history
;an help but dispute. We did not expect
such partizan address from him. We had
guagcd him higher and looked for states
nanlike calculation Of questions properlyup
or examination But we were disappointed,
md really regr cited that we had heard him
it all, for 1t destroy ed our pleasant ideal of
lie gifted Virginian rs an impassionate ola-
or and ingenious debater and declaimer.
Aftel an elaborate preparation for the feast,
a careful trimming down, and dainty. dress |