Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-01-13


present Session is the Public Debt. Many
circumstances, chief among which has been
the unsettled political condition Of the State,
have heretofore prevented determinatc action
from being taken for its adjustment, and
tn us far but little else, perhaps, could have
been done, than has been done. But near
ly Six years have elapsed since the fall OF the
Confeaeracy, and unpaid interest has accu-
mulated to swell the volume OF the dsbt,
until il has reached such proportions, that
IS It he not at once dealt with, it threatens
to engulph the fair name Of our State, which
save the manhood Of her sons-was near
Nv all that remained to her after the lsts
disastrous struggle.
The Constitution Of Virginia, under which
we are living, recognizes the whole debt as
the debt Of Virginia, SO far, at least, as to
provide that, upon al adjustment with West
Virginia, ''the sum received from that State
shall be applied to the payment of the pub
lie debt of the State" Sin the first place
then, it behoovcs our Legislature to take all
necessary steps for settlement with West
Virginia, and we can think of 40 better plan
of settlement than that proposed by the
Senatc's Finance Committee, through their
able and faithful Chairman, MIR. Wsddell.
This plan submits she whole question Of the
proportion Of the indebtedness of the two
States to be determined by an intelligent
and impartial Board Of Arbitrators, who
shall be selected by each State from persons
who are not citizens of either State, and
who will, therefore, have no interest in the
solution likely to disturb their fair dealing
and it further provides that the award Of
such Board shall DO final between the par
ties. To refer the finding Of this Board
back again TO the Legislatures of the States,
respectively, for adoption or rejection, the
course which some seem to insist on, would
result, beyond doubt, in utterly defeating
any settlement, for the whole idea Of arbi-
trution is based upon the fact that the par
ties themselvesare ct variance, and they will
as certainly find it impossible to agree upon
the award of the Board as they now find it
impracticable to come to terms between
themselves.
We repeat that this question should he ia
ken hold of at once and put in the way of
speedy and final settlement. The debt was
fairly contracted and for full consideration,
and it does not consist with the character or
the interest of Virginia or Virginians to
evade or delay doing our whole duty in the
premises. The difficulties Of our situation
must be fairly and squarely met and reso-
lutely overcome. That the burden of the
debt will fall heavily upon us at this time
there can be no doubt, but it will not be as
Oppressive as would be the stigma that must,
for all time, rest upon the State and her cit
liens, should she disown any part Of her just
obligations, or fail to DO all that becomes
her in determining what their full measure
is
The honest discharge Of duty involves the
idea Of effort and self-sacrifce; but the
greater the effort and the larger the measure
of self sacrifice demanded the more heroic
becomes ito performance.
In acting now SO as to preserve untarnish-
cd the honor of our State,
''To whom thousand memories CALI
we must bear in mind the priceless heritage
we have derived from those who have gone
before US, and we must see to it that those
who shall come after us be enabled to trace
an uusullied descent from men, whose un-
selfish devotion to principle and whose ready
response to every call Of honor have given
to the name of Virginia lustre, which no
reverses of fortune have in the least dim
med.
There is nothing more singular than to
see Northern men Directing to Congression-
al Legislation which was intended for their
benefit Yet such is the case to-day, and
not only by Northern men simply, but by
Northern Republicans. One of the most
glazing instances of this, is the objection urg-
ed by Governor Geary, the Republican
Governor Of Pennsylvania Gin his Message
to the Legislature) to the employment of
the military at the polls on election days.
He speaks of it as ali infringement of the
Sovereignty of the States" and making
the Military superior to the Civil authority
1t was all very we'll when it was thought
that the Enforcement bill would secure Re-
publican majorities in majority Of States,
but when experience teaches that it produ-
ces Democratic victories, then it is found
to destroy Estate Sovereignty. According
10 mr.. nlucon, States were merely IKE |
Counties, but according to Governor Geary,
a later-day Republican and with late sad ex-
perience, they loom up to their old time posi-
tious of ''soyereignties'
It may take long time but water will
find its level. So with other things. We
take this, therefore, as simply an augury
that the time is coming when the old theo.
rics, under which the country prospered and
progressed, will be in full force and virtue,
God speed the day, say we.
The Prussians have commenced and kept
up the bombardment of Paris for some