Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-27
Il'nMNIISICATED


know IA State, whose sous have contributed
much TO magnify aud make ilIusrious the his
tony of this once great country The pages OF
American literature aud the annals of Auerl-
can wars are monuments tn their greatness IN
lnud aud genius ! knew this STATE during
the recent terrible cuutlicl The little mounds
dotted here and there on her :oll: the celucter-
les, which nation parialty has t'eaurtird
and adorned, and the evidences OF silent grlc1
around the heart h. Stones OF her people. are
mute memorials Of that de>olailng scour.c.
No people ever fought against greater odds,
nor was there ever conflict slguall2ed 10y
more unVaverng, selt-Sacrticing or consistent
patllotism They fought hike brave men,
long and wcll, aud in thc devastation Of prop
erty and wreck Of liberties, that followed, they
lost all but honor" | Witnessed this people
in The pangs of defeat, curtaiued with grief
and garmented with despair Their children
had been scattered by The results o war, aud
their territory, united in memorable history,
and in all the patriotic endearnents that at
tached it to their souls, had been severed 10
twain. Oppression came. They felt the sting
| of tyranny heaviest curse OF grooming
nations, and on every bree Re that swept across
their dcaolared land, were Lone cunlnlngled
! signs
| On Is there not
time righteous time reserved in tate,
| When these Opprcssurs of mankind shall te;l
| The miscries they give; and blndIy fight
| For their own trItcrs too.
lsaw the mighty ambition Of this people 10 be
great and honorable, and tiee, which had "tai-
| len in ruins was about TO arse III hire.
Their rccuperative power began 10 be seen.
The injuries to property. which the prosecution
of Il hcartlcss war against them had occasloued,
were to be repaired, and all the Industries OF
the country began to revive aud prosper. BY
coalition of all the better political clements on
her soil, and noble compromise of personal
differences of opinion, these people exhibited
Conservative evidence of the highest order,
and regained control of their domestic govern
mental affairs knew this people then; viewed
their beautiful territory, a priceless heritage;
saw it traverscd by railroads. canals, and other
giant works Of public improvement. The State
was great indeed In all the stages Of Amerl-
eau history she had contributed intellect, and
blood TO the grandeur and pcrmanency of this
once great government, and in her consclen
tious effort to dsmember it, she had preserved
her sacred honor The highway to wealth and
power. under the new system OF government
she had assumed, seemed open before her.
And while her course III the past had been
beSct with many dangers, .and she SO nobIy sur
vived them ALL it could be seen that her future
was equally devious and difficult The sting OF
poverty was upon the people. for1hese beautiful
railroads and other improvements she was
largely indebted, and she realized that while
her means to pay had been exhausted, her debt
| had been increased. Such was one of the re.
suits OF the war, and next TO its essential de-
mnraIization the most 10 be dreaded Her sol
! oi, f,,r ,iu
and beauty her soil. were outstanding and un-
honorcd. BY the Transactions Of business many
of these had been purchased by private ndl
viluaIS aud capitalists from other States and
countries whose faith in her integrity had not
been shaken by the war Her general poverty
and this debt Of several millions Increased the
general decentralization Of the people, and add
ed largely to the number OF pecunlary and
moral de;inqneuts among them. These err
c,lmsaLccs impeded her progress to prosperity.
| On her left and remotely ON her right was the
abyss Of ,rJ,uiiution. In the front were the
holders of her bonds backed by the officers OF
the laws and the collectors flakes demanding Il
square and equitable arrangement Of her public
debt. saw that State then, aud witnessed
the moving Of her noble people. To the left
they ,DnM mot 3D. To 90 strai ght forward
would .crt them to taxation grevuuS to tie
borne. would make them poorer in worldly
goods by payin. their creditors. but richer III
all the OF her elements Of s,miaI nr political great
ness Tue right had been chosen by persons
selected by her people 10 elide the State IL
prosperity and honor and these guides Were
then assembled They knew lha! the abyss Of
Reputation was Just behind them, and that Il
step in that direction by that State was us ter
rihr a blow to her integrity and honor as Il
step to the Left But oh the charm, no debt
To pay here: 40 creditors here: ~ tax garlrrrrs
here; 40 'lIoalrd boni-holdrrS here tn con
slime the substance Of the people. Pay MS
euough to cnicl, ourselves and support our
families, we will guard your interests closely,
and see hat none Of your other creditors are
paid Suppose ynnr credit in the money mar
kets OF the world does suffer? What of that
You will never want TO borrow again. B"r-
yucing is what has got you into your present
lamenrahle difficulty. But our honor is at
stake? What Of that? WASH your honor at
stike at Appomattox: aud dldnt you yield to
circumstances you could not control? DO II
here. But we can pay the debt aud do it easily
by retrrnchment and economy Oh! that will
make you all so pOor, unless the expenses OF
The State are reduced and om pay c7d darn. >
saw the people follow their guides aud the
gulf of reputation is yawning at their feet. Is
this Virginia? TYRONE
Manassas, Va, Feb "a, 1>112