Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-10-27

this County and District, would be glad to
have you express yourself, /, as Chairman
of the County Committee for the County
of Augusta, respectfully ask you to give
your views in writing so that the people
may have your reflections.
| am most truly,
W. A. HUDSON,
Chairman County Democratic Committee
for the County of Augusta.
STAUNToN, OcT. Goth 1886.
Judge W. a. Hudson, Chairman of Demo-
cratic Committee of augusta County:
SIR:-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter this morning in
which you ask me to express my views in
regard to the Importance of the pending
election of member of the 50th Congress,
for this, the 10th District of Va. Although,
under the pressure of old age and the in
firmities incident to it, / have for the last
ten years abstained from any active partic-
ipation in public affairs, cannot forbear
from presenting in reply, such views as the
limited time will allow. Precarious as my
tenure of life may be, l have not yet ceased,
and I hope never will cease, to feel deep
interest in the welfare of my country.
1t has often been a matter of surprise to
me to observe how much less interest the
people take in Congressional elections than
in Presidential contests. Yet, in my judg-
ment, it is far more important to the public
welfare that the former should be wisely
decided than the latter. One involves the
control of the popular branch Of the legis-
lative department, while the latter determ-
ines merely the control of the Executive.
&c no vuh 10 lar
islative power of the government. 1t, sub
ject to the limited supervisory power of the
Executive, makes all the laws-it lays all
taxes and directs all appropriations of the
public treasure-it regulates the currency
which is the life blood of business, and with
in the scope of it's delegated powers, it
shapes all the laws which determine the
policy OF the government. It's powers are
not merely far-reaching but they are posi-
tive and active. The powers Of the Exc
cutive, on the other hand, are much more
limited in their sphere, and in large meas
ure negative. The Legislature frames and
enacts all the laws. The Executive is
charged with the duty of seeing that they are
properly administered.
This brief reference to the nature of the
functions confided to the two departments,
respectively, must show to any thoughtful
MUD how much more important it is to
have wise and benefieent legislation. than
even the most faithful administration of
bad laws. If the laws be partial and Op-
pressive, the executive is powerless to
change them, and vigorous administration
of them will tend only to give practical
effect to their baneful provisions.
1t is the primary duty of the people to see
to it that representatives to Congress are
elected who will fairly represent their
wishes or interests. There is wisdom in
the old adage, can ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure"
We now, fortunately, have Presiden
who deserves and enjoys public confidence
in high degree. He is universally recog-
nized as a true patriot and man of wisdom
and integrity. He has already accomplish
ed many reforms in administration in the
first two years of his term, and there is
good reason to expect that he will, if sus-
tanned by the people, accomplish many
more, before its close. The question now
presents itself to the people, shall we
strengthen his hands by electing a congress
in accord with his policy, or handicap him
by choosing representatives who will re-
joice in defeating the measures of his ad-
ministration? Let others do as they may,
feel assured that there is too much COM
mon sense among the voters of this Dis
trict to allow them to virtually undo what
they did in eleeting President Cleveland, by
now electing an adverse congressman to
Illustrate his measures of reform!
1t muat be remembered, too, that the
next congress will be charged with the duty
of counting the votes of the electoral col
lege in the next Presidential election and in
Of oil n
the United States. Would it be wise in the
people of this District to lose sight of these
important facts at this crisis?
Have our people forgotten the scenes OF
1876? Has the lapse of ten years effaced
from their memories one of the most prom
inent, and most melancholy incidents in
our history; that although in 1876 Samuel
j. Tilden was fairly elected President OF
the United States by the suffrage of the
people. he was rudely thrust aside by a
fraudulent congress, and Rutherford b.
Hayes substituted in his stead? This Was
the severest strain that our institutions
were ever subjected to. Nothing but the
most unparalleled forbearance on the part
Of our people could have averted an inter-
necine war, to which even the terrible
| struggle between the North aud the South
would have been mere bagatelle!
Are our people DESTROYS of again precipi
tating on this country issues like these:
Are they disposed to invite harm and
hazard the safety Of the Government? II
80, let them remove their hands from the
rudder and stand by as idle spectators
while the ship of State drifts upon The
rocks
The questions on which the next congress
will have to act, are OF paramount impor
tance-they come home to every mans
interests, and reach into every mans
household. Among the most important @
these is whether the burthensome take:
imposed to pay the cost Of an exhausBina
war are to be continued in time of psace
for the benefit of few monopolists. -
Time will not allow me TO refer to others
but this of itself ought to be, and I think
will be, sufficient to bring to the polls every
man, who has in his breast spark of the
old fire which kindled in the breasts of oul
Revolutionary fore fathers, and impellet
them to resist even unto death iniquitou.
and tyrannical taxation.
| There is yet another question which i.
| likely to force itself on congress. l alludt
to the labor question. This will require
calm and wise consideration. Rashness in
treating it may lead to disastrous results
believe it has mainly arisen from the dis
location of the relations Of Capital ano
Labor caused by the results of the late war
Prior to the war the labor of the South
which was unskilled, was dedicated tt
agriculture and the production of the raw
material for the labor Of the North to con
vert, by the various processes of manufac
ture, into shapes useful to mankind There
| was consequently no competition between
the labor of the sections and therefore NJ
cause of discord
| All that has now been changed. Tht
| Chinese wall between the North and the
S0nth has haen hrnken DOWN. Northern