Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-07-19
MIR. Massey's Position.
To the Voters of Virgiaia:

To the Voters of Virginia:
Fellow-CitizeHs. Virginia will be
entitled 10 ten representatives IN the
next Congress OF the United States.-
AS there are but nine congressional
districts 10 the State, one congressman
will be elected from The Estate a
large"
In response 10 numerous calls IRON
men in different positions of the State
for whose opinions and wishes l have
great respect, have announced myself
candidate for that position.
think you know me sufficiently vel
to believe me sincere when | assure
you that ifI were to be governed alone
by my own feeliags and preferences
hould never again be a candidate fer
any political office.
recognize the fact. however, that
no ordinary personal considerations can
justify any son of Virginia in declining
to render any legitimate service which
her welfare demands when called upon
to do so by his fellow. citizens aud his
own CONVICTIONS OF duty.
lam therefore before you for your
suffraoes. and shall fully and gratefully
appreciate your support.
While, however. I shall highly APP
preciate your UOteS, shall appreciate
your confidence and respect still more
highly.
| could not expect TO enjoy these if l
were 10 obtain your votes by either
issrepresentiug to or Withholding from
you my opinions upon the questions IN
yolyed in the approaching election
fjIt is Their, fore due to both you and
myself that state ciearly,yet as briefly
as can, my position.
For several years past the settle
ment of the State debt and other ques-
lions incidental TO it have absorbed so
much of the attention Of the people OF
Virginia that they have given compara-
lively little attention TO Federal affairs.
These were not political questions The
most stalwart democrats and the most
stalwart Republicans divided aud took
directly opposite positions upon them
The men of each side were, no doubt
equally honest-eaca acting In accor~
dance with their honest convictions OF
right. Neither democrats nor republi.
cans were less democrats or less re-
psblcans because Of their being either
readjusters or funders.
The leaders OF both the readJuster
party and the funder party were demo-
Gratis; aud each appealed to repnbll'
cans to cooperate with them in the
settlement OF the Stale debt and other
questions of State policy, assuring
them that by doing so they in nowise
sacrificed their political affiliations or
principles.
These questions upon which both po-
litical parties were divided are now
settled so far as legislation can settle
them.
The Richmond Whig, which was the
organ of the readjuster party, says:
1.-THE readjusters have passed every
measure to which they were formally
pledged, and more. They have FULFILL
ed every promise and more. They
have redeemed every pledge, aud
more"
The Woodstock Virginidn says:
"Certainly nothing failed that the
platform promised"
The questions which separated men
of the same political party from, and
arrayed them against, each other hav-
| ing been settled, no partition wall or
dividing line stands between them.
Neither the one nor the other should
indulge in examinations nor recrlma-
tons, but, forgetting all differences and
unpleasantnesses which may ever have
existed between them, should unite
their counsels and combine their Wis
dom to determine upon that course
which will most certainly save Virginia
from the dangers which threaten her.
We should aim to preserve tor her
that high and honorable position which
she has ever held among her sister
States, and, il possible, raise her still
higher aud crown her with still greater
honor and prosperity.
/ need scarcely inform you, my fell
lew-citizens, that first formulated and
enunciated the principles Of readi lst'
ment, and that have stood firmly aud
unswerviugly by those principles at all
times, in all places, and under all cir
cumstances, from an honest conviction
of right and duty. These facts are
well known 10 all.
was. however, a Virglnlan and a
democrat before the question OF read
iustmebt ever arose, aud my advocacy
Of readjustment never lessened my de-
votion to my State or changed my po-
litical principles.
have always conceded to those who
differed with me the same right to think
speak, aud act for themselves that l
haye claimed for myself, and have
treated both them and their opinions
courteously and respectfully. Yet my
,nl;t;oa1 vooit,on bos boan an wall nm