The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-03-04
Virginia Legislature.

Virginia Lot5 lSidtuISs
Having exhausted the ninety days fixed by
Jaw for fire regular session of the Legislature,
that body has decided, by concurrent action OF
the two houses, to consltu.e thirty more days
su an extra session. Up to this time they have
expended, of the peoples money, about one
hundred and twenty thousand dollars in the
pay Of members, &C., and when the thirty days
a,pon which they have now entered, shall have
expired, the an,u,lat OF the taxes drawn from
tho people oil this impoverished State and
~assed IN doing nothing, viii reach the huge
ssm of at least one hundred and sixty thousand
dollars!
When we consider that all the legitimate bus,
|iness OF the Legislature could have been dis
posed Of within thirty days, the reckless ex-,
travagance indicated by the action, or want of:
action, OF the Legislature, Is nothing short q
legallsed robbery. With the interest on the
public debt unprovidcd for, every department
Of industry fanguishing, and the State growing
poorer oyery day, there is no possible excuse
for such gross andunpardonable abuse Of pow
er as has been manifested BY the Legislature
The public debt is two millions more than it
was this time last year, adding the unpaid in
terest to the principal, and from all the lights
before us, it will be over two millions more this
time next year than it is now. While these
public obligations are accommodating, the as
sessed value of lands is decreasing; population
Is leaving, instead of coming in, and all the in
.. aacations point to such prostrstion of public
and individual credit, as to be truly alarming.
To bring matters down to an honest exhibit,
there Is no State in the Union in worse con-
xlNion than Virginia. Corrupt, uaprincipled
and reckless politicians may point to the ex-
trcme Southern States, and utter their iere-
tniads over the deplerable effects of carpet-bag
rule, and the expressions and outrages Of the
Republican party, and seek to inflame the pas
). sons and prejudices Of the poople against the
National Government, yet when we turn our
eyes to the FACTS that stare us in the face here
In Virginia where the Conservative party has
. had undispmted sway from time immemorial,
We find that the mismanagement, peculation
and wrongs that have been perpetrated here,
already known, the peccadilos in other States
sTould, in comparison, pale into insignificance.
It is not at all pleasant to write this way, but
It Is important that the people should be
brought to reflection, that they may devise
ssne remedy to arrest the downward tendency
Of all the interests of the State. Just think OF the
public debt increasing at the rate of two mil
lions OF dollars ssasssally, and the taxable re-
sources dcpreciating every day, with growing
aversion on the part of the moving, active bus
iness world to the very name of Virginia for
the reason that the Legislature has so defiantly
and wantonly triled with the States obligations,
encouraged the sentiment of Reputation, dis
regarded the fundamental law of the Common
wealth, indifferent to the rights of citizens, and
snadly rushing on in the path of sectional IA
natieisnl..
We say it regretfuliy, the State of Virginia
ns'inFa worse condition now than at any other
time since the surrender Of Gen. Lees army,
with a gloomy and forbidding future looming
mp before her.
There is but one way to- arrest the progress
OF this unfortunate state of things, and that is
for the Legislature to report and adopt a tax
bill that will Reet the interest Oh the public
debt and create.a sinking fund for the princi-
pal. That is the only solution of it. Let them
cease to legislate in office for a year beyond
the time for which they were elected, the OIL
GERS Of the city of Petersburg, for fear the Re
paBEaoans will succeed if a fair election is had
in the next contested them stop their foolish
appropriations for immigration let them cease
to excite the distrust of the eneite country
by their constant innovations upon and chan
Bcs in the State Constitution-and like honest
BUSINESS men, representing honest constitu-
cnts, 20 to work and frame laws to redeem the
States credit, discourage psrdzan Esectional
4cesdng, and by dealing fsiitly and justly with
all parties and all conditions of manhood, at
tract te 4fef borders enlightened enterprise and
capital.
The Legislature Of Virginia to-day stands in
worse repute as an official body with practical
business men, than any similar organization
in the Union-the State of Virginia, by reason
of the action of the Legislature heretofore,
staaitls as low down in public confidence as any
people in the civilized world. There is not
commercial centre, or monied power, on either
continent that would not contemptuously toss
aside her obligations, sheer at her promises, and
tlisdainfully turn away from any business
proposition she might make. Her disregard ct
her financial obligations, is Only equalled :by
the brazcn effrortery with which she Is dealing
with her political relations. The Legislative
body that ostensil'y represents the people, is,
day after day, tampering with the organic law, !
violating public faith, and trampling under
foot the solemn pledges of the people, thus ex-
citing the indignant amazement of the country,
that Virginia should so far forget her trad-
tional integrity and fidelity to assumed Obliga-
tons. - s::..s
The glory of the past will not, cannot up
hold the Commonwealth perfidy OF the present.
Virginia Of to-day must stand Or fall upon the
record she makes for to-day. 1t will not
answer the purposes Of this practical age to
drag up ''drows'd honors by the locks''-to |
march in imposing array the names of the !
long roll of Presidents, statesmen and heroes,
she has given to the country, and hope to con- I
ceal with the glamour of their greatness the
housing insignifcance Of those who are now
moulding her destiny in broken promises and
outraged faith. s'The dead past'' must ssbury
its dead" The memory of the great sages who
have rolled down their brilliant pathways to the
tomb, and fulfilled their mission tethcir day and
generation. cannot be invoked to coritlone the au
daciens intidclty of the present generation to