The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-09-18
The Record.


the counties composing Interests above
any mere party prejudice or the machinery
of party-above individuals or their as
| sumed claims upon the voters. There is
! no section of the State more richly en-
dowed with mineral wealth, or whose pas
tural advantages are greater. There is no
| portion of Virginia which presents more
attractions for capital and enterprise, or
Is more deeply interested in cultivating
reciprocal feeling of friendship with the
people of other sections. We have now a
number of iron furnaces already in opera
ton, and the ores and limestone, with
the coke close by to run ten times as many
more, if only the capital we're present to do
its part. 1t is this that is essential. 1t is
| the one thing needful, and it must come,
if at all, from without the limits of the
State. We look to the North for this. 1t
| is there where money is abundant. 1t is
there where an intelligent understanding
of the material resources of this section
exists. The various enterprises which are
now giving the assurance of industrial ac-
tivity and material development all along
the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way, represent the money and enterprise of
Northern men. They have come amongst
us to help build up the State. They see
the promise of future returns for their
| investments, and we know that already
have our people and State realized the adj
vantage of their presence and labors. But
what we have is but the beginning, if
those who would come are not repelled.-
When Mr.. Tucker. in his Staunton speech
said What interest have Longdale and
the Firmstones in building up Virginia?
They are no Virginians they come down
here and make their money and 60 up to
New York and spend it. he threw an in
suit into the face of every Northern man
whether he has investments in Virginia or
not. The Firmstones have already scat
tered nearly two million dollars in Vir-
ginia, and others similarly situated and
related, have scattered millions more
They have given employment to labor. a
market to the farmer and truckman added
wealth to community, and advanced all the
interests of the localities where they oper-
ate. Not only this, but they are demon
strating an important fact, in which Vir-
ginia, and especially the Valley and South
western counties are deeply interested,
that iron can be here made cheaper than
it can be made elsewhere, and in the de-
| gree that this is established, inviting other
men of means and sagacity to come
amongst us. Can our people afford to en-
dorse this declaration in the vote they will
cast in November?
Not only has Mr., Tucker done positive
harm to this section in the sentiment he
has expressed, as presumed represen-
tative man, but almost every vote he has
cast in Congress has been hurtful to the
interests of this people.
His vote for Carlisle, a known free
trader, over Randall, a protectionist, for
Speaker, was in opposition to the wishes of
the people Of this district.
His vote, substantially for the Morrison
tariff bill, was direct affront to the inter
ests of this section.
His pointed and effective objection to
the Willis Educational bill, differing from
the Blair bill only in the amount it appro-
priated, was direct affront to the inter-
ests of this district and the State, and
lasting harm to the educational hopes of the
| Commonwealth.
His vote against the bill to suppress po-
lygamy in the Territories was an offense
to the moral sentiment of the people.
His vote against a meagre appropriation
for the relief of the sufferers by the floods
in the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys was
an offense to the christian, philanthropic
character of the American people.
His vote against the bill to establish a
bureau of animal industry, to prevent the
deportation OF diseased cattle, and to pro-
vide means for the suppression and extir-
patton of pleuro-pneumonia and other con-
tagious diseases among domestic animals,
was in conflict with the interests and
wishes of the people of Virginia and es-
pecially the 10th district
His opposition to an increase of the tar
iff rates on foreign ores. was in direct con-
fict with the interests OF the people of
this section. and every other ore -produc-
| ing region Of the State.
His vote against the restoration of the
tariff tax of 1867 On foreign wool was hos
tile to the interest of the wool-growers of
Virginia.
In no sense do the votes of Mr.. Tucker
as enumerated, represent the people Of this
district And it is in his representative
capacity only that we refer to him. The
evidence is here furnished that he misap-
prehends his duty as a member of Con-
gress. 1t is presumed that the people of
the old 9th district sent him to Washing
ton to represent their interests, and not
has peculiar distractions about constitu-
tiOnal limitations. Honest he may be and
no doubt is in every vote he cast and every
view advanced, but the policy as indicated
in each and every vote is in direct conflict
either with the sentiment or interest of
this people.
With this record Mr.. Tucker comes be-
fore the people of the 10th district and
asks them to endorse-to empower him,
not to represent their interest, but to reit-
crate his own views and vote his own SEN
timents in the Congress of the United
States. We concede his ability in some
things and his weakness in others, but his
capacities are not employed in useful
channel, and it is because of his record and
his misapplied talents that we do not be-
lieve he is the proper person to represent
Virginia in the Congress of the United
States.
And what claim is put up to counterfeit
This record? There is but one that we can
conceive of that deserves consideration.
That is, that he is the nominee of Con-
vention, three-fourths of the delegates of
viii do not endorse his votes or his pos
litical record. If the delegates SO far for-a
got the people who stood behind them as
to place in nomination for their support a
gentleman who maintains views and sup
ports doctrines and policies in conflict
with their interests, there is no obligation
resting upon them to vote for him. The