The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-11-30

The partizans of the Bourbon faction
have screamed themselves hoarse with the
reiteration of the fraud charge against the
Liberals. Mr.. Massey and Mr.. A. NJ. Kelley
have been prominent in their public asser-
lions, as have Col. O'Ferrall and some OF
his friends, and others Of lesser note, in
their allegations OF fraud. Upon the as
sumption that frauds had been mitted,
they publicly announced that they intended
to contest the seats the people had awarded
to John $. Wise and John Paul particular
ly. These false and malicious charges,i so
far as the EasternJ judicial D strict Of Vir-
ginia is concerned, coming TO the knowledge
of Jno. S. Wise, who is the United States
Attorney for that district, he has requested
Judge R. w. Hughes to order special
Grand Jury OF his Court for December 4th,
to meet in Richmond, to investigate the
charges of fraud which have been so freely
mouthed by the Bourbons, and compel
them to expose the facts upon which the
charges are made, or thei own reckless par
tlzanism in making them.
Mr.. Massey and Mr.. Kelley, and other
prominent Bourbons. will be summoned to
testify, under oath, what they know about
the fraud charges they have been circulat-
ing, and the Bourbon editors and reporters.
who have Hooded these charges over the
State, and correspondents, who have sent
them broadcast over the country, will have
an opportunity to verify their statements
under oath.
One of these fraud shriekers, who has
been active in publishing to the country
that huge frauds were comm tilted by the
Liberals, has somewhat toned down. as we
see by his communication to the Baltimore
San, dated at Richmond, Nov. 81, wherein
he says: ''Of course Kelley, Massey and
other Democratic leaders know nothing Of
their own knowledge about alleged frauds
committed at the last election. 1t is
not likely they will work up cases for the
grand jury. When they begin that it will
doubtless be to submit the result of their
researches to the next Democratic House,
before whom they are willing to rest their
cases.
Why not submit the facts they profess to
have knowledge of and upon which they
predicated their fraud charge. either truth
fully or falsely. to the scrutiny ola judicial
tribunal, in their own State, and for the
vindicat ion Of its good name and the en-
forcement of its laws? Mr.. Massey. in his
published card, says this is the moving
consideration with him. and not seat in
Congress. He now has the opportunity to
bring to punishment such persons as he
assumes have committed frauds. and to
show the sincerity OF his assertion that it
is for the honor of Virginia and the re-
buke of crime, and not for any personal
advantage, that he proposes to make con-
test.
1t is not to the Court they want to GO
not the frozen facts they want to face
but to partizan body, where political
sympathy, and not judicial fairness, would
probably determine the case, and where
the arts of the shyster and the tricks Of
the politician. would have more weight
and effect than before the calm lnvestiga
ton of tribunal Of justice.
!. We are gratifed that Capt. Wise has ia
ken steps to expose this fraud charge and
the men who are giving it circulation. We
hope the scrutiny will be searching an6
that similar policy will be adopted in the
Western Judicial District, to the end ftha
frauds may be punished, if they have beer
committed, or the charges branded as they
, deserveto be, if none are uuea rthed.