The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-28
GpsnIag State yoltrnal.
TUESDAY EVENING, FEB. %, 1871.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.

more deeply with the hrencn III tnelr nj
initiation than is either polite or politi
AS it seems to think that money contro
everything, we shall expect to hear that
was King Williams guilders, and not b
guns, that gained for him the triumphs
march to Paris. Our neighbor shows
little weakness in this thing, and, by it
bad temper, exposes itself to just suspi
cion, when it intimates that all men hav
their marketable, dolars-and-c price
Thinking people will say it is judginG
others by itself and already the ques
ton is being asked whether more money
was not used by the rich and powerful
corporations opposed to it to defeat the
Pennsylvania Central railroad improve
ment In Virginia, than was used by that
company to secure the right to build a
road from Alexandria to Richmond and
if any money was used to build the latter,
which we very much doubt, was it not
forced to use it in self-defence against the
lavish expenditures made by the other
side =?
1t is serious matter to charge that any
of the representatives of the people have
been influenced by gold to vote against the
interests Of their constituents, and one
that ought not to be recklessly made, or
without the support of sufficient evidence.
The confidence of the people in the homes
ty and iucorruptibility of their represent
tatves ought not to be shaken on mere ru-
NOR, nor should the innocent be made to
suffer for the sins of the guilty, if any
have been culpable.
The purity Of the legislative character
ought to be guarded as jealousy as we
guard the judicial ermine, for the latter in
this State is but the creature of the former.
and people will naturally conclude that if
the mistress is purchasable the maids vir-
tue is not above suspicion. But we do not
believe that money has been used with our
General Assembly by either side to carry
or defeat this great enterprise. 1t may
have been, and doubtless was, freely ex-
pended in creating or influencing public
opinion for or against it, but that either of
the leaders entered the Senate Chamber, or
the Hall Of the House Of Delegates, with
their ducats in their hands and proceeded
deliberately to bid against one another
for votes we do not believe.
If money was used it was Indirectly.
as it ever is and ever has been when
private or personal ends are to be attained, |
and the manner in which it is used, |
none knows better than our neighbor of |
the Wig. The people will only laugh at
this cry of "FRoAD" from the Whig--
at this Locust alley battle, in which
one old drab comes to her front window
and as she jealously sees rich customer
enter the door of her opposite neighbor
begins to pour forth her fish market slang
against the vile hussy, and to extol in high
terms her own faded charms. and boast the
of her own virtue. 1t is a
case of sour grapes.
That money was used by both parties,
no sane man doubts. The public believe
t,-and why should any one attempt to
conceal it? Nay, it was done openly.
But it was not used to buy members of the
Legislature. II was used certainly to
arouse public opinion. 1t is used now
for that purpose on all occasions and
everywhere, and we all know how fruit
less it is to attempt anything without
money. The only question for the Legs
lature and the people was, GLOW shall we
be benefited in this fight between the cor
porations To US it matters not how much
money they may use in carrying or defeating
measures, outside of the halls of legislation,
that may further their private aims, pro-
Vided, that we the people, are to be cores
pondingly benefited and enriched thereby
And what matters it Mr.. Wing if, in this
war between the ''Bobtails" and "Buck-
tail, which Of them wasted most of the
golden ammunition, so the people of the
State have secured the lions share--and
that we contend they have done?
In her present PROSTATE condition any
stimulant that will revive Virginia, and
from any source, is acceptable, and that
this railroad enterprise will be the open
sesame of untold wealth to US, who for
doubts ? Take your defeat more
philosophically, neighbor. Conceal your
chagrin, and do as you advise the French,
prepare to avenge it. Last year you
had your Jena, now the Bucktails have
their Paris; in few months more with
such Napoleon as Malone at your head,
who can doubt but your recovery from the
effects OF this disastrous campaign will be
grand and complete Let this war
against the interests of impoverished Vir-
ginia cease; this battle of private corpo-
rations and monopoles against the general
good be brought to peaceful con-
clusion, that our public improvements and
State development may go on without i'm
pediment
Last year, when consolidation was car
ried by the aid Of the votes of carpet
baggers, negroes, scalawags, and all that
sort in the Legislature, and was SO boast
fully claimed by the Wing to be its own
spoil of its sword and spear
it did not say one word about money hav-
ing been used for the purpose It did not
denouuce those voting for that great pro-
ject, which was for the interest of one Sec
lion of Virginia, and against the inter-
ests of Richmond and the north side of
the James, although they were the same
men who have now, in spirit of equity,
voted for this bill to do equal justice to all
parts OF the State.
No; then they voted as the Wing
wanted, and were goring somebody else's
OK, and were gentlemen; but now it is
different They refuse to subserve the
private interests of the Wing and its
owners, and what do we find I? Why that
they are mere radicals, ,calawags, negroes
and carpet-baggers Circumstances do