The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-01

have changed, ana VIC 15supfs rnls.n1inust
be the form of proclamation, or it will be
as idle as "Pope's bull against a comet"
When we look at the condition Of public
and private interest IN Virginia, bufdehed,
as State, with stupendous debt created
by the very men who controlled The Demo-
cratic convention; and her citizens OF
pressed by private obligations contracted
before the war; when every industrial in
terest is languishing in a struggle for exis-
tence, flying for,f relief beyond bur borders,
whenenough strength is left to migrate to.
a more hospitable cline, or finding, happy,
lin the courts of bankruptcy, and
consider who directed the proceedings of
the convention, we are tempted to use the
language Of Scripture Woe unto ycI
la,cyers for we bind men with burdens
grievous, and heavy to be borne, but We
yourselves willfnot touch them with one of
your fingers" -
10 In vain we look for any expression of
sympathy with the misfortunes of the peo-
pie, which are the result of their mad at
tempt to rule this country in their own I'M
tcrest, or ruin it if they could not rule.
Equally vain is our search for any even the
slightest suggestion of measures to build
up the places, made waste by the fires OF
war they So recklessly kindled, or that
others, who are Both able and willing to
engage in the work, may henceforth be
permitted to prosecute theirlabors in peace.
The only response which is vouchsafed to
the cries of q distressed people, is death to
Radcalism; but, as! we before remarked,
it is too deeply rooted in the congenial soil
of popular sentiment; and all the conven-
tons, of all Me Virginians, will not prevent
its growth, much less put a period to its
existence. Fss SEtT fRatE
But while we do not fear the oratorical
thunder, or lightning hate of ''he Virginians
in conference" we warn them that their
responsibilities in the present condition of
affairs must be met and discharged, or the
people, of whose rights and burdens they
would make playthings, will call them to
account, in louder tones than those to which
Assembly Hall yesterday reechoed.,
lis useless to attempt to shift RESPONSE
bility for debt and disaster upon military
satrapsn ers' Yankee Adventures. y The
record speaks for them, and it tells in lam
guage none can gainsay' that the most eco
nomical administration of State expenditure
was that of 1867, 1868 and 1869. The
funding crudities of 1856 emanated from
"tAe Virginians," and from them only and
the gigantic funding imposition Of 1870 EN-
anated from the same men, and s'madness
ended what folly had begun la d alal
Had these same men, when permitted by
a too generous, but justly offended govern
ment, appreciated, as I'm, those days. did
Hon. J. b. Baldwin, that they had forfeit.
ed all, by making bloody war against theil
lawful government, and had the decency tt
be content with the temporary suspension
of official emolument, the fourteenth
amendment, if passed blythe Virginians sit
ting in General Assembly, would have
made broad and open highway to partici.
patton in the national councils, and the re-
construction acts would not,haye been com.
PEELED to be enforced, so far as Virginia
was concerned. # any (and many well7in
tentioned persons do) think these acts had
had an injurious effect upon Virginia, lei
them blame the real culprits, and the
names of many of them will be found on
the roll of delegates to this Democratic con.
vention. il4.i .4. .easss u abss
Had these same men adopted the thir
tenth amendment in good faith. and MOI
as those-''who keep the. word of promise
to the ear, but break it in the hope''-
they recognised as fact in the social poll
ty of this Republican country, that Ia man
cannot be slave and free at the same time
| had they shown a decent sense of thai
mountainous debt Of gratitude which they
owed to the colored freedman y incurred
for the industrious tillage of their lands anc
the faithful guardianship of their families
| Whose natural protectors were fighting tc
make bondage the perpetual heritage o
these patient toilers and watchcrs) and erect
ed school houses, instead Of, whipping-posts
for his education, for the lack of which they
were directly, morally, and practically re-
sponsible); had they legislated SO as to pro.
tect his 'nascert rights as I, free laborer, moi
as a slave drudge, instead Of passing
vagrant laws, and laws regulating con
tracts, leaving him helpless against
the cupidity q Of his former masters ;
another and controlling reason why the
reconstruction acts should be made appli-
cable to Virginia, would have been re.
moved. TO have left the freedman to the
legislative and judicial rnercics of his for
mer master, would have sunk him into
deeper degradation, and more absolute mis-
cry than We're his lot as a slave; and III
this connection we cannot but animadvert
upon the. hypocricy. of "the Virginians in
conference "with only two or three dis
senting Voices" receiving with "most en-
thusiastic demonstrations of applause
Abram Hall and five other lcolored men as
delegates to their body. 1t is true .'the
round roof Of the rink showed no signs OIL
falling in" but if the day Of miracles had