The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-10-14

rails, and 800. 900 tons additional, of iron in its
various forms for locomotives, cars, bridges,
&C., &C., which will be required to construct
and equip 2,oao miles of rail road, in case the
aid asked for shall be granted.
| 1T Has Saved Virginia.
The Conservative press of Virginia, whenev-
er there is a purpose manifested to receil from
and protest against the despotism of King eau
Gus, and a FESTIVE spirit exhibited by the peo-
pie in reference to the inpositions of the Ring
Managers, flame out, the harmony Of the Con-
sentative organization must be preserved, be-
cause sit has saved Virginia. This sterreo-
typed phrase has been rung npon the ears Of
the people so frequently and with such persis-
tent vehemence that many really believe that
the State has been rescued from an impending
danger and is now surrounded and protected
by the loving and patriotic arms Of the Con-
| servatives.
| How has Virginia been saved, and by whom?
1t will! not be denied that but for the consti-
tutional provision, prohibiting the State from
lending ITS aid to works of internal improve
ment, or increasing the State debt for any pub
| lie enterprises, the Old Commonwealth would
gance and reckless expenditure Of credit, that
by this time would have mortgage the property
Of people beyond their power tf redemption.
1t was:the Republican party that framed the con-
situation with this wise and salutary prohibition,
and it is to the s'Black-and- Tan-C Convention, -
as it is elegantly called by the immaculate con-
servatives, that the people are indebted for the
fundamental provision that has 'ssavcd the
State"
In what has Conservative salvation consisted?
Since the adoption OF the constitution i'm 1869,
the Conservative party has had undisputed
control of all the departments of the State gov
ernment-legislative, executive and judicial
1T has managed to sqaander s20, 1000 OF
State assets in public improvements-itha has ex-
pended every cent OF revenue that has been
rung from the people by the tax-gatherers, it
has compounded and funded the interest on
the public debt, and fastened $4,000, 600 upon
the people, without a thought of the desola-
lions of war and the destruction of values. It
has defaulted in payment of the interest on the
public debt to the amount of SO, 500, 600. 1t has
1 defrauded the treasury th rough its party rep
resentative, and purloined public securities, for
which the guilty is now under indictment. IT
has driven away capital and emigration, pros
trated industry, and hedged the commonwealth
around with prejudices so that no liberal min-
| ded man cares to venture here. After squal-
dering the revenurs of the State, in prolonged
session of the Legislature. and exhausting the
estimates for current expenses, it is now antc-
| ipating the tax gatherers and borrowing $780,
| 600 to meet the outlay necessary to carry on
| the State government.
These are the evidences furnished by the
| history OF conservative admins tration in Vir-
ginia, of the manner the estate has been s.l-
ved'' by that party. Having grabbed every
available resource and squandered it-having
piled the taxes upon the people by corrupt
job which fastens $5G,O00,000 on them,
having lowered the standard Of public credit
deprecated che landed interest-driven off
emigration and capitals it NOT reasonable to
suppose that but for the prohilitory clause in
ced there by Republicans, the v;.stness of her
complications would have now far surpassed in
extravaganza any schemes that have been car
riec out by States, where the constitution is less
stringent? We venture the assertion that there
is not a State government in the en- tire South.
where more reckless disregard for the people
has been shown, How could it be worse. when
all the assets, substantially, the State has, have
been squandered-when the condition of the
public debt is such, that there will have to be
an increasesof two-thirds OF the levy that eXis-
ted before the war, when it was 40 cents on
the 500, and it will now have to be at least
sl.2o on the 800, if the funding bill is carried
out.
This is the manner in which the Conservative
party has ''saved the State" and it is this par
ty that the dear people are called upon to pre-
serve, protect and defend.
Good Lord. deliver the people from all such
monstrous outrages upon the body polite and
open their eyes to the absolute necessity of
crushing out the miserable vampire that is
sucking the life blood of the Commonwealth
The indicator is very solemn about the rec
ognition of the conservative party in the Legis
lature Of those who may be elected in defiance
OF Caucus dictation. 1t forgets to inform it's
readers that there is a strong probability the
anti-caucus sentiment will control the legisla-
ture, and really elect the U. 6. Senator In
dependent candidates are springing up all over
the State, and the people intend to elect them.
-e&~~D~p0--
Mr.. w. NJ. Clarke, of Halifax, a student at
the University Of Virginia, attempted to get
on the cars Sunday at Charlottesville to go to
Keswick to instruct Sunday School. He fell,
breaking his leg so badly that it had to be am
putated, aud fracturing his skull. He is in a
very critical condition.
Col. W. w. Wood, formerly member of the
Legislature of Virginia, and more recently OF
ST. Louis, has accepted the position of superin-
tendent of a gold mining company to operate
in Chihuahua, Mexico.
| lit is good time now for the Vindicotoy to
commence the publication OF the Conservative
party by assigning to the Radical party all
who will not swear by the nominees. Let the
good work go.on.