The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-02-27
From the Norfolk Day Book :'
COL. r W. HUGHES' OPINION ON THE
SITUATION

SITUATION.
Several days since we wrote to COL Hughe,
for his opinion on the General Government
paying shs State debt Of Virginia, its admis.
sibiIity, &c.
Yesterdays mail brought US the following
we'll digested and sensible letter set.ing forth
in full Col. Hughes opinion on the bearing
of this point, in all its detail. The letter
will be read with much interest by Colonel
Hughes many friends in this section.
WIZARDS HOTEL.
WASHINGTON. d. c., Feb 3. 10.
DEAR SiR:-Your kind letter has been
forwarded 10 ME here. | certainly have not
forgotten you, thoagh it has been several
years since We met.
The idea CT inducing the National Govern
ment to pay our State debt is agreeable, but
fear it is hopeless of realization. We could
not, with any candor, encourage the people in
such an ex pcctatior; and we should incur
the liability OF being charged with attempting
political fraud. The encouragement oisuch
hope would also tend towards repudiatiou.
and the Republican party Of Virginia could
not thus separate itself from the Republican
party Of the nation, whose cardinal tenet in
fnance is fidelity to public obligations.
The State debt is certainly source Of!
great trouble to us in the present depressed
condition Of business. We all f, ell perplexed
aud distressed by the difficulties of the ques-
ton My own idea is that We should
stand to the honor Of the State, and DO what
lies in our power towards meeting the public
obligations. We should not squander money
due the public creditor upon uuimportant OBJ
jeets. We should faithfully pay in discharge
Of the debt such taxes as the people can rea-
senably7 BOAR. aud encourage in them That will
which always finds way out Of trouble. #
our intentions be honest, the public creditor
will respect CDR condition, aad will be salts
6ed for the present with what he can Go.
: The real trouble Of the people. however, is
not SO mucl, with the State debt as with their
personal obligations Almost every msu is
holding property which is more or less mort
gagged for debt He is holding his land, in
many cases, at the sufierance Of his creditors.
He is holding it in the consciousness that it
must pass away from him. He holds. proba
bly, great plantation, which, if his debts
we're paid. would be reduced to few acres
about the family dwelling. He is called up
on TO pay taxes on this large property-to
pay hundred or two do liars year on prop
crtg not really his own. He naturally there
tore complains of the tax, aud feels it gall
ing burden.
Soon, these great landed holdings will be
broken up. Each man will part with, or be
divested of. the great bulk Of his lands, which
virtually belong to his creditors. He will be
reduced to his little homestead, and released
ffem the financial burden and the mental
.hraldom Of debt. lie will then go to work
with elastic hope ana energy. He will labor
tc beautiiy his little homestead tract the
tax upon i, will be very small he will easily
aud cheertuly pay it; he will be better
pleased with his condition; and be no longer
appalled, by. or at war in his heart with, the
public debt lie will then look with horror
upon Reputation al bringing dislionor upon
our good Commonwealth, which he will love
again with the old fervor. aud he will be
cheercd by the hope and prospect Of a better
fortune for himself aud graDder destiny for
Virginia.
The breaking Of cur large old landed es-
sates. and the .extinguishment by the meth
DDS OF the law, Of the personal indebtedness
Of the community-a harsh, sad process
through which our people are now passing
will relieve the present construction III their
affairs, aud open the way to q rew era for cur
State.
Tho completion Of the Chesapeake & Ohio
Railroad will tell powerfully upon all the ma
terial interests of the State. Gen. Malone
roads. if pushed to the Ohio into the prosper
Gus Northwest, will second its Northside
handmade in this work of IMMIGRATION. And
the General Government, at the next session
of Congress viii undertake, as ana.ional ne
cessity, the completion Of our central water
line.
Thus standing as We do on the eve Of great
things we may dismiss despondeaey, and re
iect aIl such czpedienis Of despoudency as
begging the nation to pay our debts.
1t is nov clear that we shall succeed 10 our
endeavor to induce the national Government
to perform its duty to the great population,
of the Union, by completing the Virginia
Water line but we shall never succeed iu
pursuading it to assume our State debt
Aud, indeed the General Government will
do more for Virginia by expanding $49 600
coo in completing the canal line, than it
would do, if it paid off fer us our s32 900,
coo Of State debt. The canal will soon yir.
tually liquicatc thu amour !, of the debt many
times over whereas, the mere payment Of
the debt out Of the national treasury would
p,oduce nothing Of the material development,
and prosperity which the canal will create.
With prosperity, confidence, cheerfulness
| hope what is a debt Of a32,000,000 to such
a State as Virginia without confidence
prosperity and material progress, what Of last
ting or substantial advantage could secure t;
Virginia even from an aims Of S32 100000
Don't let us encourage the people in aims
seeking Of any sort or for any amount. Sue
cess IN such an unworthy enterprise woui,
impress them with a seuse of humiliation
and failure, which in this case would be Ger
cain, might iasten upon them feeling Of ig
noniry.
The destiny Of Virginia is too bright an,
| promising to permit the thought of mendi
cancy. Lei Us realize the true situation, 40
act with the manly spirit which it should in
spirc.
am most respectfully aud sincerely ycu
ebedieut servent, RoBr w. Hrdnys.