The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-10-28
Mr.. Stuart's Letter.

opinions on the questions now before the |
public which enter into the canvass for the |
election of member of the 50th Con- |
gress.'' In his answer Mr.. Stuart does
not discuss the questions now before the |
people," He directly touches upon Meth
er the tariff, the Blair Bill, nor the In
ternal Revenue system. But he makes
some remarks of general application, and
in this seems to have disregarded the line
of thought suggested by Judge Hudson,
and this, no doubt, Judge Hudson does
not regret, as the policy is to straddle the
several questions above named, and eaten
the votes of protectionists and free ira
ders, Blair bill men and anti-Blair bill and
internal revenue repeal men and antl-re-
peal internal revenue men. We quote the
pith of Mr.. Stuart's letter:
1t has often been matter of surprise TO me 10
observe how much less interest the people take
in Congressional elections than in PRESIDENTIAL
contests. Yet, in my Judgement 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 legislative department, while the latter
determines merely the' control of the Execu-
tive.
Congress is invested with the whole legisla-
tive powerof the government. 1t, supect TO
the limited supervisory power OF the EAecu
tive, makes all the laws-it lays all taxes anu
directs all appropriations of the pubic Treas
ure-it regulates the currency which is the me-
blood of business, and within the scope of its
80 ~. eho oil a
determine the policy of the government. Its
powers are not merely far-reaching but they
are positive and active. The powers ofthe EHecu-
tive, on the other hand, are much more limited
in their sphere, and in large measure negative.
The Legislature frames and enacts all the laws.
The Executive is charged with the duty OF see
ing that they are properly administered
This brief reference to the nature OF Inc
functions confided to the two departments, re-
spectively, must show to any thoughtful nina
how much more important it is to have wise
and benefcent legislation, than even the most
faithful administration of bad laws. II the
laws be partial and oppressive, the executive is
powerIess to change them, and q vigorous ad-
1ninistration 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
terests. There is wisdom in the old adage fan
ounce of prevention is wort h pound of cure
We fully concur with Mr.. Stuart In
what he says in the extract quoted. We
believe it is the primary duty of the peo-
pie to see to it that representatives to
Congress are elected who will fairly repre-
sent their wishes or interests and that
-, <ha all o1o sa,,
ounce of prevention is worth pound of
cure."' For this reason. we believe it is
the duty of every voter in the district,
who is interested in the material welfare
of the State, to vote against the Dem
ic candidate. The party he represents is
| opposed to the policy of protection it is
opposed to the Blair Educational Bill and
the repeal of the Internal Revenue laws,
and the people are opposed, in sentiment
and conviction, to the Democratic party
because Of this. and if they vote for the
nominee of that party for Congress, they
will not vote to have 'fairly represented
their wishes or their interests. -
Mr.. Stuart seems to have been careful not
to have mentioned the tariff question at
all. 1t could not have been well expected
of him to do otherwise. In the prime OF
his manhood, probably no one in the
United States was more earnest and eff
fective defender of the American System
of Henry Clay. His reputation as an elo-
quent and able advocate of the protective
policy was national, and now to endorse
the position of the Democratic party and
Democratic candidate for Congress in this
district upon that question would be tan
tamount to condemnation of the opln,
ions he entertained when the great Harry
of the West" led the Wing party in a
| fierce assault upon Democratic free trade.
Nor could he have discussed the Blair Ed
vocational bill to the satisfaction of the
Deocratic candidate. It was one of his
| reports as a member of the Board of
Trustees of the Peabody fund
which attracted the attention and
approval of the country for its able
presentation of the constitutional pow
or of Congress to aid in public educa-
ton. Not only was his opinion then ex-
pressed, but that of Hon e. G. Win
throp and other distinguished gentlemen
of the Nation were referred to, as sustain
ing that view. Hence, he could not
have endorsed Capt. Bumgardner's posi-
| tion that there Is no warrant in the Con-
stitution for the Blair Bill. Not only as
to the constitutionality of national aid to
popular education. was the report pro-
nounced, Tut as question of equity and
justice, especially as to Virginia, was it
called for. Mr.. Stuart elaborated the his
tory of the Northwestern territory donated
by Virginia to the national governments
gift the munifcence of which, to use a
figure of the late Gov. Joseph Johnson,
was unequalled since Jehovah commanded
| the Israelites to go into the Promised
Land to possess it as an Inheritance for
themselves and their children-out of
which great Commonwealths had been
formed and great public free school sys-
TENS established. and ffoM which Virginia
has received no benefit.
The paragraphs below are not gern1ane
to this contest, but as Mr.. Stuart has
seen proper to introduce the subject and
it has been published as a compaign docu-
ment, it is not out of place point out an
| important error of fact in what he says 4:
1t must be remembered. too, that the next
congress will be charged with the duty of
counting the votes of the electoral college in
the next Presidential election and in one con-
tigency, of electing q President of the United