The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-23
Epeming State SuilrmaI.
COMMUNICATED,

THE GOOD FAITH OF THE STATE.
TO he Republican Members Of the Leg.
islatwe
GENTLEMEN-The funding act was ar
objectionable measure. In it the Common
wealth was too harl upon her people, and
too liberal to her creditors; severely ex.
acting on one side, and exuberantly liberal
on the other. The policy Of the bill was
bad, but its moral was good. The Repub-
licans of the Legislature voted against
every section of it in detail, and when il
came up as whole, on its passage, voted
for it under a sense of constitutional obli-
cation.
1t is too late to criticise this act. Its
eonstitutionality and validity have been
assailed by the Conservatives only its
policy has been questioned by the Repub-
licans. The objections that have been
made to it on the first grounds are specious
and contemptible. They are beneath criti-
cism. The act will stand the test of the
courts. 1t makes a solemn contract with
the States creditors; and the national con-
stitution forbids State from passing laws
in violation of contracts. 1t plights the
faith Of Virginia; and who dare make a
triile of that?
The Funding Act stands hedged around
by the constitution, and sanctified by the
iplighted faith of the State. On neither
score will the Virginia people ever soberly
tolerate its reputation.
Grant that it was hard bill on these
noble people. Grant that its policy was
bad. Nevertheless, how grand was its
moral In lS66-'7, by the voice of the
first Legislature convened after the war. VIr-
ginia had recognized her obligation for the
whole debt and had taken steps for its liqui-
dation. During the military regime She
had no voice in affairs and could do nothing
but wait to be honest. But when read
mitted as sovereign State into the Union,
she was again prompt, by means of the
first Legislature convened in virtue of her
regained autonomy, to declare herself en-
phatically on this question OF hazr
est dealing with her creditors. She
had lost her right arm by the looping off oc
West Virginia. She had lost her labor
system by emancipation to the value Of
three hundred millions of dollars. Her real
estate had deprecated by the disorganiza-
ton of labor ut least one-third--to the value
of another hundred millions. She was ex-
hausted by the ravages of a four-years'
war. She was covered all over with its
scars |; and her youth and manhood, her
enterprise and vigor, lay buried under an
hundred battle-fields. Yet, rising proudly
to the height of her ancient character,
manned, impoverished, exhausted and in
rags, our good Commonwealth, declaring
to the world that she would pay every dol
lar, passed an act making good her words,
and binding herself to the engagement by
an irrepealable contract. $500, = 5a
love and reverence my State for this
sterling act of practical honesty and
throwing away my political prejudices, l
will take of my hat in the street to the
legislator, who, fearless Of popular clamor,
maintains her integrity, and votes to pre-
serve her good faith. Who is the arith-
metician that will undertake to calculate
the value of this action to Virginia in after
times, if the men now entrusted with her
veal and fame do but obey the inspirations
Of honesty 4s
And most certain it is, that Virginia has
future to take care of. General Wick
HAMS great line is fast bursting its way
through the mountains, to the kanawha,
the Ohio, and the West. General Mahone's
road is extending its way along the trail Of
Daniel Boone, through the Blue Grass
country of Kentucky, to Louisville and st:
Louis. Foreign capitalists stand ready and
anxious, il the national government should
forego the Office, to complete our
water line to the Ohio. In a
few years every interest in the state
will be stimulated into buoyant
prosperity which will reinstate Virginia in
her ancient rank among the States of the
Union. Shall she assume that rank with
her name blackened by reputation
Shall she take her place first among the
States of this Union, with saeindler burnt
upon her brow? If she must be dis
honored, if the prosperous future which
has opened before her is to be blackened
with ineffaceable shame, / pray you, let
it not be by the vote Of single Republi-
can.
1t is now clear that there will have been
taxes enough collected to pay the January
interest, and also the July. The fact is
disputed but those only dispute 1t who
work in the interest of reputation. 1t is
so; and nothing is easier than to meet
these two payments. Let it be known
that reputation is defeated, and that Vir-
ginia has really shaken herself loose from
the malign spell of reputation, and her
restored credit will carry her over all such
periods Of payment, as easily as boat
rides over ripple in the stream.
With this ability to pay, now demonstra'
ted, and the money ready in hand to be
paid to the public creditors, pay it, pay it
and stop the clamor Of the Jack Cades
who would install saturnalia of dishonesty
and call it craftsmanship.
f' A VIRGINIA MAN.