Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-10-22
President Cleveland and Cabinet spent
the day at Richmond yesterday and visit
ed the Fair of the State Agricultural
Society. whose guests they were.
Letter From Hon. A. H. H. Stuart.

LION, Il. IL. H. oCUUTG
MY DEAR S1R Realizing the value Of your
mature opinions on the questions now before
the public which enter into the canvass for the
election of member to the 50th Congress
from this, the 10th district of Virginia, and
knowing that the citizens of this County and
District, would be glad to have you express
yourself. I, as Chairman of the County Com
mittee 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.
STAuNroN, Ocr. Goth, 1886.
Judgo ". A. Hudson, Chairman of Democrat
&c Comsmittec Of Linguistic County:
S1R:-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 5oth Congress, for this, the
10th District of Va. Although, under the
pressure of old age and the lnfrmities moi
dent to it, have for the last ten years alb
stained from any active participation in pub
lie affairs, cannot forbear from presenting in
reply, such views as the limited time will al
low. Precarious as my tenure of life may be,
have not yet ceased, and hope never will
cease to feel deep interest in the welfare of
my country.
1t has often been matter of surprise to me
to observe how much less interest the people
take in Congressional elections than in Presi-
dental contests. Yet, in my judgment, 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 popu-
lar branch of the legislative department, while
the latter determines merely the control of the
Executive.
Congress is invested with the whole legisla-
| tive power of the government. It, subject to
the limited supervisory power of the Execu-
| tive, makes all the laws-it lays all taxes and
, directs all appropriations of the public treas
ure-it regulates the currency which ,is the
| life-blood of business, and within the scope of
its delegated powers, it shapes all the laws
which determine the policy of the governm emit.
Its powers are not merely far-reaching but
| they are positive and active. The powers of
| the Executive, on the other hand. are much
more limited in their sphere, and in large
measure negative. The Legislature frames and
snacts 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 confded to the two departments, re-
spectively, must show to any thoughtful mind
how much more important it is to have wise
and benefcent legislation, than even the most
faithful administration of bad laws. If the
laws be partial and oppressive, the executive
| is powerless to change them, and a vigorous
| administration Of them will tend only to give
| practical effect to their baneful provisions.
| It 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 pound of
| cure"
| We now, fortunately. have President who
| deserves and enjoys public confidence in a
| high degree. He is universally recognized as
| true patriot and man of wisdom and inte-
| gritty. He has already accomplished many re-
| forms in administration in the first two years
| of his term, and there is good reason to expect
that he will, if sustained by the people, &C.
| complish 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 handi-
cap him by choosing representatives who will
! rejoice in defeating the measures of his adj
ministration Let others do as they may, I
| feel assured that there is too much common
sense among the voters of this District, to
| allow them to virtually undo what they did in
slecting President Cleveland, by now electing
| an adverse congressman to Illustrate his meas.
\ ures of reform!
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-
tigeney, of ELEor1Na a President of the United
States Would it be wise in the people of thii
District to lose sight of these important facts
| at this crisis?
| Have our people forgotten the scenes Of
| 1875 Has the lapse of ten years effaced from
| their memories one of the most prominent
and most melancholy incidents in our hist ory
/, that although in 1876 Samuel ]. Tilden wai
| 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 hi.
stead ? This was the severest strain that ou1
institutions we're ever subjected to. Nothing
but the most9unparalleled forbearance on the
part of our people could have averted an inter-
necine war, to which even the terrible struggle
between the North and the South would have
been mere bagatelle
| Are our people DESTROYS of again precipi-
tating on this country issues like these? Are
| thew disposed to invite harm and hazard the
safety of the Government ? If SO, let them re-
move 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 Importance
they come home to every mans interests,
and reach into every mans household. Among
the most important of these is whether the
| burthensome taxes imposed to pay the cost of
| an exhausting war are to be continued in time
of peace, for the benefit of few monopolists.
| Time will not allow me to refer to others, but
this of itself ought to be, and 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 our Revolutionary
: fore fathers and impelled them to resist even