Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-04-03

the numerous and confused classes before
enumerated, should be made first-class
debts of uniform terms and character
They are all equally jnst, and it is not re-
putable that we should favor any of them
with special advantages or make any dis
tinction between them. NJ ny of the least
favored creditors are our own needy and
worthy citizens. who have always been in
dulgent and liberal in their dealings with
the government.
A CONFERENCE WITH THE STATES CRED
ITORs.
He, in view of all this, recommends the
appointment Of two commissioners on be-
half of the State, representing it's best fl
nancial skill and experience, to be charged
with the adjustment of the public in
debtedness by conference with such agents
as may be depuled by creditors to meet
them. Such conference would be inexpen-
sive, and it is not apprehended that our
commissioners would be called beyond the
country. Nothing worthy of being styled
conference with public creditors can be
said to have been as yet held and if the
prop sed effort fail of q satisfactory and
final settlement, such failure would leave
us no worse off than we now are, while we
should at least have the sustaining con-
seriousness of having dischargedf "a high duty
to both the Commonwealth ana her credi-
tors, and of having deserved, if not COM
manded, success.
FEDERAL AID.
1t is not improbable that an additional
arrangement might be made for further Sc
curing the debt and relieving ourselves
In view of well-settled principles of public
la w II n " run tuat ti,u TTn;4.,J
States, by ilterposing between us and our
creditors, and destroying the original en-
tty of the Commonwealth, became liable
for at least SO much of her debt as is due
to nonresident creditors. When the pre-
sent financial panic shall pass away, it may
be reasonably expected that the common
government, which received wealth and
power from the munifcence Of Virginia in
the past, will at least aid US with the mea-
gre justice OF a loan of it's bonds or credit
to be used in securing and extinguishing
the public debt.
A DEBT OF HONOR.
AS germane to the general subject of this
message, herewith transmit a communica-
ton from the attorneys of Messrs. Barring
Brothers Il Co., asking repayment of the
amount advanced by that house, for the
State, on account OF interest on the debt
The transaction was one in which Messrs
Barring Brothers q Co. had no pecuniary
interest the sun, due them is not larger.
than the State can at once pay, and it con-
stitutes a de of honor which scolamend-
ell to your favorable action. The good for
tunes of Virginia for many years to come
depend upon your wise adjustment of her
finances and debt.
''r'WERE WELL T'wERE DONE QUICKLY"
Without firm and timely action on your
part, the government may be very soon in
want or the means necessary for it's main
ter ance. Measures are now urgently need
ed which will yield greater revenues, by
charging the subjects and by re-distribu-
ting and equalizing the burthens, without
increasing the present rates Of taxation.
Deferring respectfully and unfeignedly
to your collective ability and sagacity, |
invoke the highest exercise of both in leg
lslatl0n, which will at once keep untarnisli-
ed the public honor and remove the great
evil which sits like an incubus on the par
alyzed energies OF the Commonwealth.
JAMES l.. KEMPER.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF MINISTER IS
WIFE.-The attempted suicide of the wife
of Rev. J. F. Hardwick, pastor of the Bap-
fist church at Guyandotte, w. Va, has
been noticed. The Huntington ''Adver-
tiser" gives thefolloWing particulars of the
affair:
Mrs. Hardwick has been in bad health
for some time; and has brooded over her
trouble so much that her mind has bacome
affected; her continual lament was that
her life was worthless, that she was una
bic to doanything fer her family, and might
as well be dead. She had once OF twice
spoken of wishing to die, and of throwing
herself from the rail DAD bridge into the
river. Most of the time, however, she has
been entirely rational and has conVerSed on
the state of her mind with entire freedom
A protracted meeting has been going ON at
the church i'll Guyandotte, and she has
been good deal excited lately onreligious
matters. On Monday evening last she did
not attend meeting, but conversed with the
other members of the family, on their re-
turn from church; when the time came for
retiring, Mr.. Hardwick accompanied a Wis
itor to his room, and when he returned to
his own room Mrs. Fl. had disappeared
He sought her, but not finding her, he star
ted with his friend i'll search OF her; they
went to the railroad brissr bat saw no H.
Ing of her. and returned to arouse the
neighbnrS. After a good dt.l of search,
she was found on the bank of the river.
where she had gotten out. She seemed to
have been restored to her mind by the
shock IF plunging in the water. and gave a
statement OF the whole affair and SAID she
was on the pier of the bridge engaged in
prayer when her husband was looking for
her; she waited until he left, then went
down on the bank and plunged in; the wa
ter was deep, but she floated and realizing
what she was doing, she crawled out on
the bank where she was found. Mr.. H.
has the sincere sympathy Of the commune
ty in his affection. Mrs. Hardwick seems
perfectly rational since her recovery from
the water, but is greatly distressed.
A MAN OF THE PAsT-The Mecklen-
burg Va, correspondent of the Richmond
ewing" says, that there resides in that
county a gentleman, Mark Alexander, be-
tween eighty and ninety years old, in good
health, quite active for one of his age, and
whose mind and memory show no evidence
of decay. He has taken no part in poll
fiac pIpatio1,S ciyaa In