The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-21
evening state au,,rnal,
7g 5f COMMUNICATED.
THE GOOD FAITH OF THE STATE.
TO the Republican Members ofMe Leg
isldtiere /.

THE GOOD FAITH OF THE STATE
TO tie Republican Members ofhe Leg
isldt,re
GENTLEMEN-We have now the natu
raj result of Conservative principles C) il
this State. The party began its career il
1869 as "Republican." They sent a com.
mittee to Washington two years ago to as.
sure the nation that they were Republicans
and their committee boasted on the way
going and returning, that their mission was
a fraud. They voted for the State consti-
tuition granting suffrage to the colored man,
by a vote Of 10000 to 5000; and their
whole study since then, in their legislation
and in conducting the elections, has been,
to cheat the colorcd man out Of his vote.
Cheating at the elections among the Con-
servatives Of Virginia, like stealing among
the Spartans. is held an honorable feat.
They voted 100000 to 5000 for those
homestead provisions of the constitution
which aimed to save to the wife and chill
dren against the pater .fln,ilias) the family
roof-tree and curtilage. They turned upon
those clauses, at the first session of the Le-
gislatuTe, and destroyed them, by authori-
zing the head Of family to waive the home
stead and leave his family rooAess after his
death. aat
In passing the Funding Bill they acted in
the interest of brokers who were specula-
ting for rise in the price of State bonds.
In now attacking that Act they are working
in the interest Of the, same brokers who arc
selling short at so days option, and specu-
lating for fall of State bonds. ll
Having by the Funding Act and accom-
panying tax bill wrenched large revenues
from the sore needs of the people. and put
them in bank TO be loaned at ten nercept. far
the benefit of bankers. thew now nrob'h;t
the payment of that money to the creditors
of the State. koepine il as a sLo,1ioo- FIND
for the banks. and 70 be solandered and
dissjnated by imnroyident ,legislation, ~
/ can conceive Of no erosser. halder or
mora unblnsbino rnri1;at;o, tban tbot
which with money in hand % act,,aiiv s'i%,
wrenched from the neonle denies if 10 flo
public creditor. in tbc interest Of oamblers
for a fall n the nrice of State bonds for
the emolument Of tle hanks Of Richmond
The funding act allows anv speculatino
creditor in State bonds to nav c6unons to
the sheriffs for toyes. and allows these
sneci,latino sherifs to nav connons 10 tbe
State Treasurer for taxes annronr;ating
money in thot wov in the ;ntaraat of sracn7
lation. But. loI tbe States 4ttnrnev
comes and saws that m bonest and resnaci.
able creditor of the State cannot brinr his
ooupon to the Treasurer Of tbe State and
eet money for It. Every nettv snec,,lator IN
con mons NAV nav sberiffs and conntv
couoons for money. bnt tbe
widow who holds commons. or tie fore;on
canitalisf who ,ent the State ,noneu
twenty wears ago and stillholds her deben,
lures cannot. according to the Attorney-
General. pay Ills coupons to the State trea-
surer for money! How preposterous, how
monstrous has the loap become. when con.I
strued in the interest of reputation!
The Conservative party in Virginia hav-
ing repudiated every pledge it made in the |
canvas Of 1850, it IS natural that it should
repudiate the State debt. i
The Funding Bill was q wrong measure
the Republicans of the Legislature voted
for it under protest, and, the Republf-
cans of the State denounced the party
pun ~ ujOAf ISOplCs III tllC Ccii-