The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-25
yIRusNEA TO BE REnEEMEp.

Freemen of Virginia! The political Ie-
dempton of our state is at hand. This is
our firm conviction, grounded not merely
on the evidence before us, but on that in
fallible test OF experience which invariably
indicates, more or less conclusively, how
the currents of human thought and action
run. As the issues are made up, the Con-
SENTATIVE party ought to be defeated, and
this is another conviction largely obtaining
among very many Of the best people of the
state, and those having but little if any
regard for or utilization with the republican
party.
From the moment the acceptance of
General Kemper was flashed to Richmond
over the telegraphic wires, the Conserya-
tive cry has been for " Virginians to rule
Virginia. and for white men to array them
selves against the blacks. 1t was on this
narrow, bigoted, and intolerant issue that
the Republican party took up the gage of
battle, and has thus far admirably sus-
tainel the fight. We have kept our plat
form of principles and ticket constantly
before the people, and every day has added
to our strength AID to the certainty OF our
success.
Unless, in fact, we greatly mistake the
signs OF the times--those infallible indica-
tons of success which lifelong expert
ence has enabled us to note in the passing
of events--the Conservative party, which
utterly repudiates principle and goes for
the malignest Of all policies that could be
started in the state, is destined to COM
plete rout and overthrow in the great bat
tie now progressing. That their defeat
will bring such change of administration
IN the state as will result in wholesome
and economical supervision of our financial
affairs aud interests, and greatly add to the
material advancement and prosperity of
our people, is conceded by many who
have not heretofore been, nor are they
even as yet, recognized to be Republicans.
The policy of Conservative legislation
dnrlng the last four years, and the
administrative measures they have adopted,
have been such as to involve the state not
only in needless and unnecessary expendi
ture, but to fasten upon US a public deb
Of the most gigantic proportions. 81
improyident and reckless have they beer
in this regard, that, in preparing for the
impending struggle, their attitude at onc'
challenges a check upon their improyi
dence and mismanagement of thu
financial affairs of the state, as well as
their general impolicy in regard to Other
matters.
SO far as our financial condition is con
cerned, they have endeavored to relieve
themselves, in measure, of the odium o
assuming the debt Of the old state, and
especially of compromising the interest &C.
cruing thereon during the war, by charging
that the Republicans also voted for the
Ineas ure. This is true; but they only
voted for it after they had uusuceessfully
fought the compound interest feature and
other obnoxious provisions Of the bill. and
after the impression had been created upon
their minds that not to pass it, would fas.
ten upon the state the stigma of repudia-
ton, and render it hopeless for our people
to obtain any credit whatever, either to
carry forward our works of public improve
ment or TO develop our material industries,
both Of which were matters of paramount
consideration with them.
r. xnn.n tba,, ~, Tba rnyo,, n n
had assured the legislature and people OF
the state that there were not less than
thiIty-fve millions in available assets from
the old state, which could be used by the
new in discharge of the liabilities it was
urged that we should assume; and
we happen to know that this statement of
the governor, confidently relied upon as
true at the time, had great weight with
the Republicans voting for this disastrous,
'if not infamous, financial measure. The
truth is now shown to be that there was
10 such amount Of available assets,
nor could there have been any reasonable
expectation of realizing even one-half
that amount towards the ulti-
mate extnguishment of the gigantic
debt we assumed. That the Conservative
party was wholly responsible for this
funding-bill iniquity, we have the assurance
Of Mr.. r. I. Daniel, the chief law officer
expectant of the state, who said that the
bill came from the hands Of Governor
Walker; while the Conservative leader of
the House declared that it should pass as
it came from the committee itself Consery-
tiye) without amendment, or the crossing
of a ! or the dotting Of an !. This is con-
elusive, we take it, both as to the paternity
Of the bill. and the championship Of Il
through the legislature. SIR