Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-03-22

hold vacancies TO Gil the unexplred
terms was revolutionary. II was the
DEATH OF THE PARTY
that passed that act.
1t was a violent and revolulionry act
of the Legislature 10 assume the exclu'
sive province Of deciding VIII the Law
of this State is. That question Was one
to be solely decided by the Court o.
Appea OF This State,
Under the Constitution OF this State
the Cour! Of Appealsi is al independent
and coordinate branch of thus govern
ment. 1t never was intended that il
should be dominated by political legis
latlon. Whenever thai is declared to
be the law of this Commonwealth the
people have lost their liberty.
Why has there no. been an objection
made by our party against two vetocs
OF the Governor Of this State against
two bills passed by this Legislature
No complaint made against him fol
vetoing Illegal measures, and yet you
denouncc the Court of Appeals for deci.
dug questions exclusively within theil
jurisdiction.
had hoped that a new departure 10
poliucs might haye resulted from the
success of the Readjuster party in this
State; that the old Bourbon idea IN this
State might be destroyed A.; that the pas
might be forgotten, and that the new
race coming up might look to the future
aud forget the past, AMI forgetting all
the passions and The prejIdiccs of the
past bury them into utter oblivion; to
to teach our children not 10 think o
the past, but 10 look hopefully TO The
future and recognize one great political
fact, leat we are one nation united to-
gethcr, bound in one common interest,
and inseparable, and therefore ought L
live in peace together.
To my people whom l represent here
in this body | came to assist in settling
the publlc-debt question. l haye thi'
to cay l do not approve Of that settle
mcnt. but for the sake of peace voted
for it.
came here fox no other plrpose.
! declare that | am
OPPOSED TO EVERY ACT OF TIE READ
JUsTER PARTY
of this Legislature. l had honestly,
innocently thought that tie settlement
| of the public DEBT was the great ques
ton, and so when arrived in the city
of Richmond l soon found that was tht
least question TO be considered.
Tie great question was a desperate
ard di>erpulable scramble for Office.
When | !ound this 10 be true I tool
my own course as an independent man
asking taycls nor office from anybody
For forty days three other gentlemen
and myself fought TO protect the trues'
and the best man in the State, not be-
cause his name was John f. Massey,
but because lie was the recognized best
Auditor the State ever had, and be-
cause lie was a representative OF lib
eral, honest, and independent principle
He has been slaughtered in the house
of his former friends because OF hi;
honesty, his Independence, and his
manhood.
l here now utter my solemn protes
against the attack upon the liberties o
the people Of this State IN all its insidi
Gus forms now proposed in the Legis
lature.
| bad thought that the party now il
power would adopt liberal and gener
Gus system, forget tie pas, aud lool
alone 10 the future, subordlnating per
sonal ambitions and the scramble TO
office 10 the interest Of the people W
arc sent here to .esresent. | hope W
light yet be a great and prosperou
people.