The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-06-22
Mr.. Massey at Harrisonburg

County Court day is always an occasion
Tor the assembling OF a la' &c number OF the
citizens of Rock ihghaln and adjacent coun-
ties in Harrisonburg. When there is no po-
litical excitement prevailing and all il
quiet in public affairs, the old custom Of
meeting and exchanging salutations and
comparing notes of passing events. is OBJ.
served, and rslrely is it the case that each
recurring County Court does not witness a
living, moving mass Of human beings surg
ing through the streets. Last Monday
was no exception, and the announcement
that Hon. John. E. Massey would address
the people of Rocking CHAM, on that occa-
sion, added to the number. The neighbOr-
ing counties, and especially Augusta, con-
ent to hear him--not that anything partic-
ularly new was expe.1ed. but many went
to hear the views Of that gentleman, in
cons Iteration Of his allomalous position in
present party relaGiolas, since his detection
from the Readjusters, and the tendency of
Bourbon element Of what was once the
Conservative party.
Mr.. Massey arrived. in the town on Sat-
urday last, and on Sunday participated in
the Sunday School Uerc Uses Of the Baptist
Church addressing he children in few
well timed and appr ppriate remarks. Mon
day morning he circulated freely among
the people, shaking hands with old &C.
quaintances, and exchsng ing courtesies and
salntations with the crowd generally. At
lIo'clock, the court house bell signalled
the hour for the speaker to commence,
and some minutes before h is arrival the
benches were filed, with Number of Bour-
oons, conspicuous among VIII ON was Judge
o'Ferrall, on the stand. awaiting the ap-
pearance OF the sp eaker. He soon gratified
curiosity, and mar ching up the aisle, pro-
ceeded to the Judges bench, without any
unusual demOns1 alton, where in a few
moments, he commenced two hours and
half address. He had declined the for
mality OF an Introduction, he stated, to a
people he had known for ILirty-eight years,
and In town where he had first sat at his
own table, and owne the first house he
ever possessed. In the outset he expressed
desire that there shnrtld be noIapplause that
quiat be maintained, MS his purpose was to
appeal to the reason OF the people, and not
the lr passions and to lay before them facts
and arguments for thu liz calm, impartial and
judicial Judgment a. consider and pass
upon. de assumed tn at nearly all had been
Readj listers in a cert ain sense and to u de-
gree, very few linking men did not
1esI re to have the leg islati0n Of 1871 m0di-
1efl and an equitable settlement OF the debt
e Ached and the ques lion disposed Of. 1t
vas the conditions of the funding bill of
hat year which drew his attention partic-
liaJ ly to this debt % estion, and after Nv
ng it patient examiE ,ation, he had deter
nrned for himself TIN It justice demanded
vs. and reconstruction interest should be
. 'ated and the debt SC aled so as to present |
modification equal to the reduced or des.
Dyed values Of the sta tie, from what they
we're when the debt was contracted. He
mad laid his views befOre the people in a |
pamphlet published at his own expense
and from that time to this he had been q !
Democratic Readjus1er. He traced the |
several struggles through which the people |
have passed in the desire to reach a just |
basis OF settlement-referr ing to the di- |
vision OF parties on the debt question,
Democrats and Republicans commingling |
rs Readjusters and Democrats and Republic |
cans uniting as ''Debt-payers," without |
any understanding or purpose to change
their relations to national parties. This |
was illustrated, after the Readjuster party
had been formed at Mozart Hall, and stand
ing together in State matters in several
contests, by the several electoral tickets
placed in the field in 1884. The Readjus-
fers denied that they were less Democrats
than the Funders. and to emphasize this
1enial they nominated and voted for Ham
cock electors, and appealed to the people to
stand to the nominees Of the National Dem
'cratic Convention. The Republicans, who