The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-18

olCrum which is to cast over her whole do
main radiance whose broad, bright ef'ul-
gence shall exhibit her the proud posses.
scr of brilliant commerce, Of thriyinr
manufactures, and of all the industries that
minister to the eminence and renown of
a nation, and the prosperity and happiness
Of people.
How shall we arrive at The grand con-
| summation?
My impression is that we must work
under new auspices altogether. From the
foundation of the government to the pres
ent hour, nothing whatever has been
done for Virginia by any OF
the old political organizations.
Hundreds of millions of acres of the pub
lie lands Of which Virginia contributed an
empire have been given to railroads in
other states, but not one acre TO Virginia
for the like object, nor a dollar for improy-
| ing harbor or river, until she had Re-
| publican representatives in congress. The
old Democratic party, the strongest of the
| ancient organizations, and that is struggling
| increasingly for restoration to supremacy, is
committed-the Virginia portion of it at
least against progress. While | was in
the legislature, | submitted resolution
calling on congress for an appropriation
to aid our national public works.
but it was defeated by large majority,
| every Democrat voting against it.. Re
| peatedly, the land fund lying to her credit
IN the United States treasury subject to her
calls, was refused. And in 1852, while
l was still member, a resolution was sub.
| mtted, directing the officers of elections
''to open polls TO ascertain the popular
| will" on the propositions, first, 10 receiy,
the land fund, "the annual income TO be
| appropriated to the education of the
INDECENT children of the commonwealth :"
and secondly, in the further proposition
| that "the senators and representatives Of
| this state i'll the Congress Of the United
States be requested and instructed to use
their best efforts to secure the passage Of
law setting apart to Virginia O,OOO,-
GOO acres of the public territory
TO- be applied to purposes Of common
school education in this commonwealth
(sce Doc. 20. llO. Del. 1852, and vet by a
Democratic Virginia legislature this rcao.
luton was voted down. They would not
even allow the people to express Gin
opinion in behalf Of common schools, or
to ask congress to give back to Virginia
for popular education a small pittance Of
the vast domain of which she was at a
crisis of extreme embarrassment. the
uncalculating donor to the Federal govern
mcnt. The Resolutions of '9S stood in their
way.
Now, while do not propose to question
the sincerity Of present Democratic pro-
LESSONS in favor of tie James
River and kanawha canal, and
Of popular education, see no
necessity of leaning on party which. if
it chooses to shift it's position, may refer
us back to its old record for Justification.
when we can have to stand by us one whose
commttal to internal improvements and
general education and to liberal policy gem
orally, is beyond dispute.
We must take fresh start-a new lati-
tude and departmental under new re-
glme altogether.
expressed my views on this point as far
back as July, 1867, in a speech delivered
at my home in Hampton, Virginia, in
which L earnestly urged the full accep-
lance Of the situat on, and mcomplain-
ing acquiescence in each and every
one Of the reconstruction measures
| of congress. May | quote to you what |
then SAID? After insisting that in our con-
gresional elections we should receive the
issue Of federal appropriations for our
great lines of improvement, especially the
water-lmes | said
'Now what we want to bring on new
era for Virginia, is political organization
of more liberal and broader statcamanaIlp.
that will help US in our new career Of de-
Velopmcnt and progress. We want a live
constitution, live party, a live representa-
ton in congress, q live policy--a policy
that will make the south live section,
and Virginia live state. Such policy
we have no reason to expect from any OF the
parties that have heretofore held douinlon
IN the south.
'ln my judgment, fellow citizens, new
political orsaniZation-call it by what name
yon willis not only demanded by the
interests Of the entire country, but
especially Of the south. The parties that
have figured and controlled since the atlop-
ton of the federal constitution, have been
the very bane and ruin Of the south. I'm
mediately after General Washington's
accession to the presidency, a party COM
menced struggle for power, whose
doctrines, cXempliiied in the Resolutions of
1913, tended to emasculate the national
government of its legitimate powers, and
encouraged sectional feuds and srlcs until
we reach the natural result-seceSsion in
Snrrect!on, disruption, war, and destruction.
The south, under the sway of the old party
oiSaillAitiuIlS, mas BCen the Cncl Sullerer
by this mistaken policy. Its incubus has
rested with killing blast upon all the
material and industrial interests of the
south. Virginia, l know, has never come
in for a share OF the vast benefits Of the
| most bcnelicent Of all American policies,
the protection Of home industry and Fed
| eral internal improvements. She has been
cut off ty the queer notions Of her
politicians, who could discover in the Re-
solutions OF '9S no authority to levy
dime for the protection of American manu-
features, or a dollar to build a road or
canal, or to remove the snags from the
| channel of navigable stream.
For one, | want change. We can't be
worsted, and am quite willing to try the
| Republican party, because verify be-
lieye that, in reference to the main
interests of Virginia, that party is with
| us-is on our SIDE"
And now, sir, starting anew under this
new regime accepting the situation uncon-
ditionally and heartily; receiving the new
amendments Of the constitution as irrevisa-
BILE; dismissing from our thoughts espe-
cially the baseless idea that this is white
mans government remembering that
equality before the law and in political
| Driyilepe is the solemn adjudication of the