Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-11-26
LETTER

LIE l lbN OM DIN ALUM JOnNS ION
ABINGDON, NovENDER IL, 1860
His Eecellency Coz. Walker: VOL
have the horner to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of my credentials as United States
Senator from Virginia.
When the war ended II was not only.a
matter Of necessity, but of practical wi.
dom, that the Southern States should reg / >
their PLACES In the Union at the earliest
possible day. That they sholld prosper In
the anomalous condition in which they
we're placed was impossible. The uncer
taiuty of the future depressed enterprise
and desdenei Industry. A settled State
constitution and defined relations to. the
G neral Government essential to the. COM
plete progress and quiet and well-being
Of these States. Believing fully not only
that we in Virginia couli not prosper, but
that our continued exclusion from the
Union interfered with the business Of the
whole country, have been anxious for an
early compliance with the construction
laws, and that the State should itself inau-
irate some movement similar to that which
resulted 10 your election for the pu, pose,
aud not wait, like Micawber, for "somethii g
to iurn up"
The questions at Issue between theiNorth
and South were settled, and settled forever
by the war. Slavery was extinct, and
nobody wanted 1t revived on any terms
The claim to the right Of secession WIS
abandoned, and 1t Is not only not probable,
but no. n )ssible, that 1t can be asain as or /.
Q fi th State of vi g ! by q. vot almoi t
unanimous, has adopted Constitution
which declares:
"That this State shall ever remain a
member of the United States of America,
and that tbe people thereof are a.par, OF
the American nat on. and that all attempts
from whatever source or upon whatever
pretext to dissolve said Union, or to sever
| said nation, are unauthofiZ ID, and ought
to be tsisted with the whole power Of tie
| State"
The fifteenth amendment, which trust
will soon be adopted by States enough te
make 1t apart of the Constitution Of the
| United States, will end question which
has sggitsted the country for half a &C injury.
entirely approve Of the principles Of that
aunt ndment, and as We have invested the
freedman with the right TO vote, let us
give him fair opportunity TO vote under
standiDgly. lie has civil tights and II 1.
TO our interest that he should Know their
valur. III
No questions are now so important tc
the whole country as those connected will
the national debt and NATIONAL finances.
fbe repudiation Of the national debt
would be the destruction of the Gov, rn
ment. Exact aud complete good faitt
should be observed with the public cred
kt,r. All the obligations Of the Govern
ment should be strictly fulfilled. Nor Il
this 80 hard to do. The pulic debt, which
to the impoverished South, looked a LITTLE
while back so slupendons, is already as
Stunning comparatively r @ n; dimensions
II is seen that it can he 81 y paid. I'll,
spectacle Is now exhibited Of immiaranii
conn., to this country, both from the con
iinents Of Europe al Asia, a. q rate no
much less than half q million a yees.-
Most of these bril- G capital or labor, anC
some Of them both. Our pcrulat' or
besides, is increasing with great rapidty
very mile Of railroad that is built, ever,
acre Of forest that Is cleared, or Of swami
land reclaimed, every mine that Is openel
J or mandatory erected, apy TO our re
sources AID increases oui capacity 10 pa
the putlic debt, whether State OF National
The present q, ancial policy of the Gen
eral Gov, rDment is diminished our CT
> penses aud the only thirgs to be CONSIDERS
q nJw are how to pay the debt soonest, an
9 in the manner least burdensome 10 the pee
pie.
] That we are approaching apparently 9
: near to the contamination OF reconstrut
T; on we are greatly indebted to the kin
, Offices of President Grant. The State W.
= in dilemma 1t wanted a constitution, bu
: the one made for II had at least two yer
: objecti' nable featMes. We felt that "
D were suffering in all our material intere
4 by staying out Of the Union, and yet TO 9
: 10 under the new constitution, with all 1
q provisions, would have been worse.
: This Gordian knot was happily cut b
o the Presidents 6rst message TO Congrel
aud the prompt Response. of that body U
J. 10 this time the conduct Of the Administr
e tion has been liberal, and IL the same polio
Is pursued hereafter it ought 10 have Il
|, nearly support Of this State.
II we cast dead issues behind us, ar
Il lock 20 that line Of conduct which shs
e restore quiet and confidence, and encoural
Il enterprise aud industry, We shall soon 5,
!. the country richer and more prosperol
than IL has ever been.
y Yours, respectfully,