The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-31

all things benefactor, and in nothing an
oppressor, to the people of Virginia. Con-
trast the present condition of the common |
wealth with what it was in April 1865,
when this party assumed authority in
state surrendered at discretion aud abject-
ly at its mercy. What rights had we then
under constitution which wehad repudi-
aed? will not dwell upon the picture
sented: Stripped of all subsistence by
political right by the folly of their
the sad spectacle Of blind leaders of the
blind, both fallen together in the last ditch.
Who fed them? Who lifted them up from
the earth? And who in time has clothed
them with every constitutional right and
privilege enjoyed by the most favored peo-
7ple?, 1t there has been delay in comforting
this latter benefaction, what was the object
Of that delay but in order that all The peo-
pie Of the Commonwealth. white and color
ed, might be made its recipients? Was
any mans property confiscated? Was
any mans life or liberty exacted in atone
ment to the insulted majesty of the nation?
| Was a single act committed in malevo-
lence? Was single benefaction omitted
that generous craftsmanship could sug-
gest The answer to these questions will
sound through after age as an eternal an
them of praise to the Republican party of
our day. l., s,as, I'D .as., ,.r,'-..
THE SECTIONAL PARTY A CURSE TO
Iipa VIRGINIA. Tatgf 4. fsr
I'll might turn upon our accusers and de-
mand to know what the sectional party
has done for the restoration Of the state
from the ruin wrought by their own folly !?
What single act have they performed for
the relief of a distressed people? By what
single measure have they permitted the ces-
sation of arms to enure to the welfare of
Virginia ? To me it has seemed that,
exasperated with their mother Com
monwealth, they have sought to
! prosecute her for submitting to
the fortunes of war. l speak the senti-
ment OF thousands of our people when
say that in all the measures Of fhis section
al party they have made peace the agent
Of more crushing desolation than even
the war which it superseded !! They have
SO machinated that blessed peace instead
of bringing healing on its wings to a wound
ed and bleeding county entered their state
like the pale horse ri, the Apocalypse
"all:hell following" Iatfirm broadly, but
1 affirm truly, that all the measures Of the
sectional party have tended to impoverish-
ment and oppression; that all the meas
ures of the Republican party have wrought
relief to the people and restoration of pros
perity to the state. GI1imsi sc = q,
THE PRESENT STATE CONSTITUTION
r. Who but Republican state convention
and the Republican party gave its present
constitution to the state--the wisest il
ever knew and the most just it ever en-
| joyed. " s.AHi. g
M M THE HOMESTEAD. M
i Who gave the homestead to the people Z
The object of the Republican party in thai
measure was to relieve from the sacrifice
of their homes the old land-holding class
of the state who had devoted themselves
/ honestly to the Confederate service, ant
had lost all by their devotion. 1t is true
that his humane design was defeated by ;
. decision of the state court of appeals
founded on book-law, and ignoring the fac
of destructive revolution cut of
this deserving class from the benefit of tn,
homestead. But it is also true that Re
publican Congress has done all in its powe
to correct the mischiefof this decision BY
) requiring the national courts to allow tn,
homestead to bankrupts against Confeder
ate war debts. The effect of the decision
of the Virginia court is to deny TIN
homestead to the soldier ruined by debt'
originating before the Walker government
and to force him, in order to obtain it at all
to become a bankrupt aud q sutton in tn
national courts. Not onlyjn this matter
but in general, it is true that the sectiona
| a., Loo IL 81, o,,1 al
has refused to take care of the classes
which itself has ruined, and has turned
over that task to the generosity of the Re
publican party. Is 6ytlsaa Ed ,al1a
THE BANKRUPT LAW. .i
Who gave the bankruptlaw to the BRAY
|, men of the country, North aud South
! whose services in camp and battlefield
cost them their patrimonies at home?
ask southern men, ruined by war thrus
! upon them by politicians. who have deser
ted them in defeat, who passed that bank
e e rupt law which has come to them as an &C
! of emancipation to an Jenthralled class
Strange to say, the persons making mos
embitted opposition to that measure of lib
erty and disenthrallment are the politician
who where most strenuous during the wa
in conscripting the men of. the State int
= the armies of the Confederaey. These al
Z the same persons also who, ever since tn
war, have been most relentless in pursu
ing the people with suits and executions.
! DEsTITUTIoN OF THE PEOPLE.
f The schedules of bandrupts reveal tn
f destitute condition to which such harpie
e have brought the yeoman of Virginia.
/ will read iroma copy of one Of these sad ps
pers, filed by soldier of the Confederat
o army. 1t is a list Of all his worldly pos
2 session, except the names of his wife an
o children. It is very brief: $500
i Scedule B. Household and kitche
r furniture, $3.50 one COW, $15 one so
n and three pigs, Sc total, $3S. 50,o
r Yes, it is the .'total' Of this poor man
. entire estate. All else gone; with h
d labor mortgaged for life to creditors An
r this is but a sample Of hundreds of cases
n the same sort. / ask, with indignation
what has brought our countrymen to S
deplorable a restitution ? The answer
palpaple. First, the cruel war. Next,
THE CONSERVATIVE ,PARTY's BLACl
= CATALOGUE OF MEASURES.
3 Stay laws; continuing and accumulatin
v debts. Suits; stimulated by the priorit
4 and vicious. sanctity given to judgment lien
q judgments hanging over debtors for il
!. definite years. Sheriff. executions, ssuir