The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-01

no untoward event occur to forbid such
action. pe
Let none suppose that we attach import
ance to the dispensation of the official pat
ronage of the Federal government in Vir-
ginia, or take interest in it beyond desiring
to see appointments conferred upon honest
and capable men. If any imagine our peo-
Pile can be influenced by such paltry con-
siderations, they fail to comprehend the
moral and political level on which we
stand. r
In a period of declining political parti-
sanship, when national parties seem to be
in process Of transition and transformation,
Virginia stands upon her own firm ground
of catholic patriotism, of constitutional JUS
tice and equality, of universal peace and
reconciliation ground broad enough and
fit, if not destined, to be occupied by all
good men Of all parties.
THE UNITED STATES AND THE DEBT OF
N tl1s z VIRGINIA. zee gta,s
While resolutely rendering full justice to
all others, we seek with confidence that
justice 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 United States dismembered
our State, making no provision in respect
to her previously contracted debt, for the
payment of which both the now discovered
parts had united in pledging the faith of
the whole. The responsibility OF the debt
was left between Virginia and West Vir-
ginia, with no arrangement for its equitable
distribution between them, and with such
conflict of claims as renders any voluntary
settlement or compromise on the part OF
the two states plainly impossible while
neither has such remedy as the eXigency
demands for enforcing an adjustment.
The United States, in controlling the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Virginia, failed to ad.
just necessary terms of separation, failed
to make any provision against the grave
and perplexing difficulties which have re-
suited, and such failure has postponed and
seriously interfered with the rights of pub
lie creditors, has left the seeds of aliena-
ton between states and between the peo-
pie and the government, has imposed upon
as unjust burthens which repress the en-
ergies of our people, restrict our means Of
providing for the public education, and
hinder the material recovery of the state.
The government of the United States by
its action prevented the state from fulfilling
its obligations it interviewed disastrouslY
between Virginia and her creditors. and
cut the body of the debtor in twain with
the sword. -t.s1 ~ Ia ..s, Is es
In asking the United States to assume
and dischargo our state debt, or at least to
SO read)ust Its own work as to relieve us OF
unfair burthens, we are not involved in
any discussion of the power of the Federal
government, under ordinary circumstances,
to assume debts of the states. We are
invoking that government to perform q duty
incident to war, and to exercise authority
inherent in war-making power, by adjust
ing the incomplete acts and unrec.
titled results of war, and by adjusting
them in accordance with iudisputable
principles and precedents OF equity and
public law. If the government Of the
United States should now, in the plentitude
Of its wealth and power, restore prosperity
to our state by assuming her debt, q paltry
burthen on the national treasury, but griey.
GUS to us in our poverty, it would only in
small measure make return for the vast
donation with which the muni6cence OIL
Virginia endowed the Union in its weak
ness and infancy. $780,.
l.
THE UNITED STATES AND THE EDuCA.
TIoN OF THE coLoRED POPULATION.
Another unadjusted result of the war is
made manifest in the new and enormous
burthens imposed by the peculiar circum-
stances under which Virginia assumes the
task of educating her colored population
and administering justice among them.
Rafnra fho,r L. n
erning and administering justice among the
colored population. and of maintaining
paupers of that class, was mainly and
directly borne 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 enormously in
creased at the time of our greatest i'm
poverishment and depression. At the date
of the destruction of large proportion of
our taxable resources, we are entrusted
with the care and education of more than
halfmillion of the wards of the nation, y
without being provided with the indispen-
sable means for executing the trust.
Let us not be misunderstood. Deplora-
BILE consequences must result from such
custer of state authority, as would be in
volved in any interference with the admin
istration Of our public schools by the
Federal government. The enforced appli.
cation of civil rights, as commonly under
stood, to our state schools, would prove
quickly destructive Of the educational sys-
tenn, arrest the enlightenment of the
colored race, produce continual irritation
between the races, counteract the pacifica-
ton and development now happily pro-
crossing, repel immigration, greatly aug
ment emigration, reopen wounds now
almost healed, engender new political
asperities, and paralyze the power and in
fiuence of the state government for duly
controlling and promoting domestic in
terests and preserving internal harmony.
Nevertheless, Justice, humanity and the
best interest of the colored race and the
country at large, invoke the common gov
eminent to enable us to effectuate its
policy Of educating and eleyating our
newly enfranehised population, by sup.
plying to the state the necessary means to
that end.
INEQUALITIES IN THE DISTRIBUTION
{. OF NATIONAL CURRENCY.
The financial panic, or money famine,
productive of such distress throughout
the country, is not new here. Ii has
with greater or less severity prevailed in
this state for years past, in consequence
of the inequitable distribution of the ma
ton currency. While some of the states
have allotted to them several times their
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