The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-01-01


j support as may be consistent with our prin-
/ clplrs and justified ~ tbs developments OF
the tuturc. | recommend its re affirmation by
the General Assembly if no untoward event
occur to forbid such action.
Let none suppose that we attach Impor-
tance to the dispcnsation Of the official pat
ronage of the Federal Government in Vir-
/ gina, or take interest in it beyond desiring
to see appointments conferred upon honest
and capable men If any imagine our people
can be Influenced by such pal.ry considera-
tions they fail to comprehend the moral and
political level on which we stand.
In period Of declining political patisan-
ship, when national parties seem to be in
process of transition and transformation,
Virginia stands upon her own firm ground
of catholic patriotism, of constitutional justice
and equality, of universal peace and recon
eiliaton aground broad enough and fit, If
not destined, to be occupied by all good men
of all parties.
THE UNITED STATES AND THE DEBT OF
| VIRGINIA.
] While resolutely rendering full justice to
all others we seek with confidence that JUS
tice for want of which our State suffers,
Virginia has just claims upon the United
States, the consideration of which ought not
longer to be postponed. In time Of war, and
as one of series OF war measures, the Uni
ted States dismembered our State, making
no provision in respect to her previously con-
tracted debt, for the payment Of which both
the now discovered parts had united in pledg-
ing the faith Of the whole. the responsible
| ty Of the debt was left between Virginia and
| West Virginia, with no arrangement for its
equitable distribution between them, and
with such conflict of claims as renders any
voluntary settlement or compromise on the
pert of the two States plainly impossible :
while neither has such remedy as the exigen-
.cy demands for enforcing an adjustment
The United States, in controlling the dis
memberment Of Virginia, failed to adjust
necessary terms Of separation to make
any provision against the grave and perplex-
ing difficulties which have resulted-and
such failure has postponed and seriously in
terfered with the rights of public creditors
States and between the people Of the Gov
ernment; has imposed upon US unjust bur-
thens which repress the energies of our PEG
pie, restrict our means for providing for pub
lie education, and hinder the material recov-
cry Of the State. The Government of the
United States by its action prevented the
State from fulfilling its obligations; it inter
vened disastrously between Virginia and her
creditors and cut the body oe the debtor in
twain with the sword.
!. In asking TIE United States to assume and
discharge our State debt or at least to SO
readjust its own work as to relieve us of un-
fair burtheps, We are not involved in any
discussion of the power of the Federal Gov
ernment, under ordinary circumstances, to as
sumo debts of the States We are invoking
that Government to perform duty incident
to war, and to exercise authority inherent in
| war-making power, by adjusting the incom-
plete acts and unrectlGed results Of war, and
by adjusting them in accordance with inds-
putable principles and precedents of equality
and public law. IF the Government Of the
United States should now, in the pentitude
of its wealth and power, restore prosperity to
our state by assuming her debt,a patry bur-
then on the National Treasury, but grievous
to us inpoverty,it would only in a small meas
ure make return for the vast donation with
which the muni6cence of Virginia endowed
the Union in its weakness and infancy.
THE UNITED STATES AND THE EDUCATION OF
THE CoLoRED POPULATION
Another unadjusted result of the war is
made manifest In the new and enormous bur-
thens imposed by the peculiar circumstances
under which Virginia assumes the task Of ed
ucating her colored population and admins
tering justice among them. Before their
emancipation the cost Of governing and ad-
D,intstering justice among the colored popu-
lation, and Of maintaining paupers of that
class, was mainly and directly born by the
stakeholder. Yet now not only that charge,
but the far greater charge Of educating the
colored race is imposed upon the public
treasury, so that our burthens are enormous
| ly inceased &C the time of our greatest i'm
poverishment and depression. At the date
ofthe destruction Of large proportion
! of our taxable resources we are entrusted
with the care and education of more than
| half million of the "wards Of the nation"
without being provided with the indispensa-
BILE means for executing the trust
Let US not be misunderstood. Deplorable
consequences must result from such custer of
State authority as would be involved in any
interference with the administration of our
public schools by the Federal Government.
The enforced application Of civil rights, as
commonly understood, to our State schools
/ would prove quickly destructive of the edu-
cational system, arrest the enlightenment Of
the colored race, produce continual irritation
between the races, coun -eract the pacifcation
and development now happily progressing, re-
pei immigration, greatly augment emigration
reopen wounds now almost healed, epgender
new political aspertiies, and paralyze the
power and influence of the State Government
for duly. controlling and promoting domestic
interests and preserving internal harmony.
Nevertheless, justice, humanity, and the
best interest of the colored race and of the
country at large invoke the common Govern
ment to enable us to efectuate its policy of
educating and elevatng our newly-enfranchi-
sed population by supplying to the State the
necessary means to that end.
TIONAL CURRENCY.
| The financial panic, or money famine, pro-
ductive of such distress throughout the coun-
| trv ia MT new here Tt has with greater or