The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-12
The Next Legisfature-WhO Ought Go
Compose Yt-What They ought 10
lErom the Charlottesville Tntell'genccr.J
PLAIN TALK.

i A PLAIN TALK.
We hive heard great deal Of talk abou-
who shall go to the Legislature. LIS f1gft
that our citizens should talk over this ms.t
ter. The time has come when our peoJ,lt
should lay aside all personal and seHist
feelings, aud seek to lind the proper per
sons to represent them. The question
naturally arises, who are the proper per
sopsp TO answer this question We must
look at things as they are, and not as TIN ey
have been in the past. The mum who can
not see that our affairs are In terrible CON
fiition, is either wiifully blind or he Is an
ass.
covering from the effects OF the Ws'r: Oul
state has not recovered from the ellects o
the war, as we see every day IN the un'
cteady condition Of our securities, the feel.
ING Of uncertainty in all speculations, the
high rate of discount, the suspicion attend.
inc all business transactions, the tImidity
in making local improvements, the rage for
holding Office by our young men, The neg
lect of Legitimate business, the high state
of taxation and inability to meet it., the
failure to pay interest on the publie debt,
and above all, the fear to meet the issues
of. the day face to face by those whom we
have been taught to consider our leaders
and guardians. We say it is nonsense to
dodge the issues before us.
Our statesmen, on eagle wings, soar alo(t
and scream 8. Virginia.. honor pay the last
cent Washington Jefferson Madison
ZIG blood-sacre1 soil"; and While thus
screaming many of them are paying debts
with bankrupt notices.
While they are making their spread-eagle
Fourth of july speeches, we listen in vain
for some plan whereby our evils can be
remedied. We hear any quantity OF things
about the greatness Of our ancestors and
fhe glory Of our State, but never word
about how we are to arrive at present great
ness and glory. We would modeStly suS-
gcst dropping this daddyism..
We give it as our honest opinion that the
next Legislature will have to originate some
plan to relieve our State finances and bring
West Virginia to terms, or else the public
debt will be repudiated.
IF these views are correct, then VIC must
have a Legislature composed of men who
can see over their shirtcollars, who are
not constantly gazing in looklnS-Slasses,
who can see something besides the lnstltu-
tions in which they are personally inter-
ested, who have been in the habit OF
studying Government finances, who have
had experience as financiers and states
men, who will not place themselves
under the leadership OF some pismy,
the descendant, perhaps. of giant
of other days; who will not spend
their time eating peanuts and half moon
pies; who will take the trouble to examine
into the actual condition Of things, and not
take glazed report for facts !; who will see
that the State should not he made to pay
enough salary to the members to supply
champagne and oysters at their little tea
parties and to sum up, we must have
honest, intelligent, industrious. pains
taking men. who can and will grasp the
condition of affairs, and who will bring
order out of chaos.
We hope the conventions which make
the nominations will carefully consider he
qualifications of all the gentlemen who
have been mentioned at different times,
Iand select those who arc most competent
to perform vees duties to which they are
called. ---- ----------.---..--.-.. --..-.-
Then we can look forward with hope,
believing that the blundcrS Of the past VII
not he repeated, that our toiling people
| will he rewarded with prosperity and hap.
piness, and that Virginia, our Virginia, the
land OF our love, will leap to the leader.
| ship of States, and stand where: She once