The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-20
THE HISTORY OF A GREAT swsNDEE.

1t requires neither prophet nor pro-
phetic vision to discern the wretched con-
dition to which this State and the people
are tending. The political party that con-
trolls the State is itself false, hollow and
rotten to the very core. The election
which put the present administration into
power, was gross fraud, deliberately
planned and executed through the vilest
means known to political chicanery. White
men were deceived, colored men were
threatened and inundated while low,
mercenary scoundrels were bought like
butchers meat in the market.
The elevation of the present Executive
was the result of scheme first suggested
at the Spotswood Hotel in the city of Rich
mond, in the winter of 1868. The enter
prise, as then understood, embraced three
leading Objects: First, the possession of
all the offices of the State, including United
States Senator, which was to be accom-
plished by the organization of a new party,
or rather an old party under a new name.
Second, the immediate control, and finally,
the ownership of the principal railroads of
the State and third, a grand financial
operation, by which splendid fortunes were
to be made by the leaders and chief con-
spirators, through speculations in State
bonds.
Substantial contributions, in the form of
current bank notes, were furnished to car
ry the election and obtain control of the of
fees, VIM. M. Tweed, chief of the Tamma-
ny thieves, being the principal contributor
After the organization Of the new govern
ment, all that remained to be accomplished
of the first branch of the undertaking was
fully performed by the Enabling Act, and
the election of grossly partisan judiciary
ready to enforce it.
The railroad scheme did not result in all
respects as it was expected 10 do, owing
chiefly to the fact that Governor Walker
betrayed his consolidation, and made an al
lance of some sort, certainly not creditable
to the chief Executive officer Of any State,
with the Pennsylvania Central railroad
company.
In the fall of 1869 the Executive, under
pretense of attending the meeting of the
Grand Army at Philadelphia, visited
Washington, and instead of stopping as
was his custom at Wizards Hotel, where
his arrival would have been duly published,
he became the guest ola prominent banker
of that city, and on that occasion the de-
tails of the great financial enterprise were
agreed upon. He then returned to Rich
mond without visiting Philadelphia, and
from that visit and the interview referred
to, finally grew first his financial message,
in which the scheme for a funding bill was
so vigorously pressed, and later the accom-
plished villainy itself in the form of the
bill as it now is.
twas never a matter of politics, State
policies, nor craftsmanship, but a simple
plan to get money by means as hard, UNI
considerable and direct as a burglars at
tempt to blow open safe OF rob TILL
The men engaged in it were neither mex
perienced, ignorant or weak. They were,
on the other hand, adroit, INSCRIPTIONS
and determined.
We have now arrived only at the first
stage of the ills which that odious measure
will bring upon the people. We now only
know that the Democratic party of the
State has become the enemy of the people,
and the tool of sharpers. That taxation
has already been nearly doubled. That
there still will remain perpetually an annu-
al deficit of one million of dollars. That
the taxes are to be paid in coupons, and
that even the current expenses of the State
cannot be paid without higher rate of tax
alton and the creation Of new debt.
We know, too, that the operation of this
scheme has already been to reduce the
price and value in the market of the State
bonds, to less than they were when Gov
ernor Walker came into Office and the
same mercenary spirit which framed and
forced upon the people the present Funding
Bill, will, if the Democratic party remains
in power, originate and perpetrate worse
measure of GROWING villainy than the pre-
sent law; and it is therefore plain, that no
thing will save the State of Virginia from
..k+o- h. and haf. Y,oonla from, a