The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-11
our state.

The people of Virginia are devoted 70
their State. They are proud Of her history.
They have confidence in her capacitv Ia
command the confidence of the copntrr
they have just appreciation of her rreat
physical resources. They remember the
time when she knew nothing of the obsta-
cles and embarrasSments that cucumber her
now, and they are looking forward to an
other time when she viii be more prosper
Gus than she has ever been.
1t is an elevated, ennobling feeling
feeling of State pride; it IS the same senti-
ment that swells in the soul Of every Amer
lean abroad when he looks around on
strange faces and unfamiliar fields, and
thinks of the land he left behind him. 1t
has its seat, its source, in the finest fbres of
our natures. It is an affection, pure disin-
terested, unsullied by sordid desires for sell
fish ends. And it can be and should be
and must be utilized for practical good TO
the State.
Let this love for Virginia be made the
motive for the improvement and advance
ment of Virginia We have less to do with
Federal politics now than we had when our
State held higher influence in the councils
of the country. In our late election here
we looked 10 VirginIa's interests, and only
to questions involving those interests. And
now that we have secured what we sought,
in the triumph of the candidates represent
ing the cause which an overwhelming ma
iority of our people have declared to be es-
sential to the safety and progress of the
State, it devOives upon the Legislature TO do
all that can be done to carry out the princi-
pies of that cause in n policy so judicious,
so bold, so liberal, so positive, and so
prompt, that no man can complain of dis
creplncy between the promises and per
formances of the great party which mani
tested in the canvass, and in the result of
the canvass, such undoubted and undoubt-
ing devotion to Virginia We believe the
Legislature will do it. Ithas good material
in it; and we are confident that it will
prove worthy all the encomiums that have
been passed upan it in advance, and all
the encouraging expectations that have
been raised in view of the ability, intelli-
gence, and public spirit with which 1t is al
ready credited in the estimation of the
public
Our State is the especial object of the af-
fcctions of the people of our State Her in
terests are the interests Of each and all her
citizens Every man who has his home here
is quite sure to have his heart here The
legislation of Virginia should be for the
benefit of Virginia. That proposition will
meet with no dissent, of course, from any
member of either House, or from any man
in the Commonwealth. But more than
once the question will arise as to the policy
that is best, the action that is wisest, for the
promotion of the interests we are all so anx-
ious to advance. We are willing to trust
heresults to the representatives of the peo
pie who come directly from theirconstituen-
cies and are accurately advised as to their
wants and wishes. We must have an exhi-
bitiOn of liberality; we must have the credit
of the State placed upon such basis as will
assure the world that Virginia means to be
true to herself; that she has not only the
will but the ability to pay all she owes
But we must have taxation as light as it can
possibly be made, consistently with the ne
cessities and good faith of the Common
wealth.
We must earnestly urge upon Congress
prompt action in favor of the completion of
the James river and Kanawha canal. We
must show to the colored people that the
Conservatives are not their enemies but their
friends, by doing for them as we have done
during the four years of our party power that
have passed. We must be conservative but
not contracted. We must do everything for
Virginia that the means and circumstances
of Virginia will allow.
Our State can become great State, pop
ular, prosperous md happy And in such a
Legislature as has been elected, we have
reason to be sanguine that she will move on,
as she is moving toward the high place APP
pointed for her again in the sisterhood of
the Union. Richmond Enquirer.