The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-25
~ CAN WHIP ANY MAN WHO SAYS sO.''

We do not quote what was said by low
backguard of the prize fighting, fistculling
fraternity, who consort with prostitutes
and live by stealing at fires, but use the
language employed by Governor Walker in
his speech at Farmvlle last week. He de-
clarcd he could whip any man who said the
State was rctrograding, declining in pros
perity or in wealth.
IL was said at an alter-dinner's speech
but evidently not under after-dinncr miu,
cnce, for the grossness of the expression
occurred to its author and he at once
corrected himselfby saying that he would
be willing to try to whip such a person-or,
as the Wing has it, "thc Governor being
somewhat embarrassed resumed Il crave
pardon, gentlemen, in the excitement of the
moment said more than meant. de-
sire to say that | felt as if | could whip any
man," He is entitled to the explanation,
but he is not entitled to be pardoned for
the gross and outrageous abuse of his Off
cal station. The State cannot we'll sub
NIT to be often so disgraced by the impro-
prieties of its chief Executive
officer. 1t is high time that we
had correct understanding, and, if ne
cessary, some plain speaking, on the subject
Of these official improprctics, not to say
indeccncies. II should be known that ag
ricnltural fairs are proper places for cxhib-
iting horses, bulls, sheep, and other fine
cattle, but they are not the proper place
for vain man to ostentatiously exhibit
either the graces of his person or his crude
ileas on the subject Of politics or states
manship. The people generally have a
lively appreciation Of the necessity of pub
lie demonstrations, when laying corner
stones of public edifces, and fully concur
in the suitableness of its being done with
Masonic honors but they are utterly tired
of show Governors and of Governors
shows and they have an undoubted right
to demand that their executive, on such
occasions, should either keep his mouth
shut, or express himself in more appropri-
ate terms than the one quoted above.
1t is not simply grotesque, but actually
offensive and demoralizing, to hear such
language used, not to say by private cti-
zen, but by the highest executive officer of a
great State. The man who compares himself
to Caesar, should exhibit in public some Of
Caesars grace of language and department.
There is, however, behind this matter of
taste and propriety, a subject of infinitely
greater Importance and which, in the con-
sideration TO which it is entitled, as greatly
oyertops the Governor and his wretched
speech, as the real Caesar does his pre-
tended namesake. We refer, of course, to
the statement made that Virginia is to-day
prosperous and improving in prosperity
statement, which, unable to enforce by ar
gument, he attempts to enforce by vulgar
threat.
There probably was not one in a hundred
of the people, who listened to that state
ment, who did not know it was false and
unfounded. A little more than a year ago
the same modern Caesar grayely informed
the General Assembly, by a public mes
sage, that he "had reflected much and
a,riously" upon the subject Of relief for
the people. 1t was then true that our
debts were utterly disproportionate to our
resources, that the property. real and per-
sonal, owned by the debtors was not sulii-
Gent to pay their debts that the bailiif
was then knocking at the doors of nearly
all of the homesteads, offices and shops (;
and it was that fact which caused the Exc
cutive not only to reflect so much and
anxiously, but induced him then to re-
commend measure of relief, that was not
only manifest, notorious, reputation, but
absolutely unconstitutional and void, and
had been three times SO declared by the
Supreme court Of the United States. We
refer to his famous two-thirds appraisal
law.
What was then true, has been exaggera-
ted during the last year and more, for the
people owe more to-day than they did then,
and have less property. now than they had
then to pay with. The sheriff that was
then knocking, has since seized. More men
have since gone into bankruptcy, and there
are now more insolvents out of bankrupt !