Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-02-25
The Governor Last Sensation.


The Governors Last Sensation.
Gov. Walker has been Of such great service
to Virginia that it pains us to notice his last
effort, full synopsis of which We give on first
page but we can not but view it as ill-timed;
ilI-adyised, unconstitutional and utterly imprac-
ticabIe ia every way, and calculated to do seri-
GUS harm to the people generally, as well as the
Conservative party. We can net refrain from
remarking, also, that, both the Governor and the
Legislature, have acted, for some time, as if
every aim was to rend this party asunder,
and this last move Of the Governor caps the
climax Of folly.
Here is Virginia, who has been urging the
United States to take her great water line,
worth ST., 600 900, for nothing, and only re-
curing its completion, which will be the great
est blessing ever conferred on the whole pee
pie, and this our sapient Governor opposed,
calling it waste of time to think of the Uni
ted States granting aid, and, still, he urges her
people to hope aud believe this same hard
hearted United States will pay our $44, 000,-
900 debt, simply upon our promising ito dose
no more" Was there ever more glaring In
consistency or more perfect piece of tom
foolery?
To ask great Government to benefit it's
whole people, by accepting gift of $l2,000,-
900 of property, is idle, but to beg it to pay
$44, 600, 900 for us and some hundred for others
is the height of craftsmanship L may raise
new issue, upon which Gov, Walker can be
hoated into the United State Senate, but, even
this great honor to his adopted State, can not
compensate her fer the trouble such deusive
hopes may cause.
If the United States could be induced by ap-
peals to do Virginia simple justice, it could new
er pay her, in money, for half she has given
and is sill giving to the Union, for blot out her
history. and that Of her sons, and you..might as
we'll close the book-there would be nothing
worth reading in it. She never can Or will, and
we warn our people to look for no aid from that
quarter AID to set their faces sternly against any
deluzive hopes, which may make US forget that
we must pay eur debts by our own hard exer-
tions, and that anything which causes us to do
50, will only bring trouble and disgrace with
it.
Already the Northern press and people, ex-
cept Beast Butler and few others, denounce
this message and raise the Cry of paying the
rebel debt" and there is DO chance for it, even
if it was not an utter obliteraton of all the rights
of the States, and unconstitutional, to say no.
thing Of proud old Virginia appealing like a
mendieant and promising as whipped child,
for what she could fairly demand, in any court
Of equity or justice. Away, then, with such
demagoguery, and let US all go to work, de-
termined to pay our just debts, hard as it is,
and to ask favors of none, and, In a few years,
the Cd Dominion will have no need for her
Governor to place her before the world, as a
beggar fer Inc crumbs which fall from the table
of the child she created, nourished and made
rich, that it might turn upon and rend her in
her hour of trial.
SHARP Work WITH THE MoRMANs. -Presi-
dent Grant evidently means business with the
Saints. He has seat message to Congress,
Friday, urging stirgent laws and taking all
power from them, and has ordered all the
troops nov ia the South, to concentrate near
Salt Lake City. Hon. Samuel Merritt, of
Idaho, formerly of this country, urges Grant S
views upon his political friends, as the only hope
for the Geatiles out there. We are glad the
South loses the troops and hope the end of
Poligama has arrived.
TIE TRUE POLICY We turn from our do
nothing Legislature to that of Georgia with
pleasure. Il hes repealed all usury laws, those
trammels 90 commerce. and leaves capital free,
and all the capital invested, 10 cotton and WOODEN
mills; iron furnaces and manufactures is ex-
empted from taxation for ten years. They are
also arranging to pay State debt and, as con-
sequence, capital and labor are flowing in and
she viii soon again De the Empire State OF the
South. When will the Va. Legislature learn
that our people are abreast Of the times and do
as they are bid ?
The WESTMINSTER OF THE SoUTH.-The
Petersburg Inder feelingly urges the renaios
cfthe great Maury, be left at Lexington beside
those of Lee and jackson. brothers. In great.
ness, while they lived, let them rest together
and in the final resurrection let them rise to-
gether" says the L.aec. Every Virginia feel
ing will re-echo the sentiment and, for quiet
aud repose, there is no place which offers such
rare Inducements as Lexington. for the horol
of being 'the Westminster Of the South
-s.
POPULATION OF VALLEY Towns. 1870.
Staunton had 5, 100 inhabitants. Waynesboro,
506 Riverheads $3.50 Lexington 2S73; Har
risonburg 1928; Winchester 4. AT; New Mar
ket 600 Mt. Jackson go; Strasburg $50
Woodstock $50 Salem 1855; Front Roya
7O5; Marion 368; Edinburg 452; Christians
burg S64; New Town, Frederick CO. ,625; Berry
vile $50; Fincassle 579; Abingdon us; Myth
vile 1871 and Charlottesville, over the Blue
Ridge, 1888
STATE FINANCES. Should all the Virginia
taxes OF 1872, be paid the net yield will be $2
l5,480,ol, and of these $2O5, 1852. 81 have beer
paid' prior to Ost. 1st 1872. The ordinary ex
penses' OF State government, from Oct. Isl
1872 to Sept. S0:h, 1873. exclusive of claims
for school purposes and for interest on nubE,
debt, will be 81, O52 344. Add expenses Of Gen
eral Assembly for same time, and We have 81 !.
252, $50. This is the Auditor of Public Az
counts last statement