The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-02-11
A FATAL STATE POLICY.

The House Of Delegates of Virginia, Oh Fri
day last, voted against the appropriation Of
$4,000 to encourage land purchasers aud actu-
al settlers,-ayes 81, noes 37-and not being
two-thirls in favor, which the constitution re-
quires, as it is an appropriation of money, WAS
lost.
We regret to see that there were 50 many, as
the vote Indicates, in favor of robbing the peo-
pie Of Virginia OF $l5, 900, for it is nothing more
nor less than scheme to pension some broken
down politicians upon the taxpayers OF the
State. There never was q more fragrant and
bare-faced attempt to pervert the revenues OF
the State from their legitimate purposes. There
is not solid reason that can be advanced in
behalf OF this measure, and it carries upon its
face the evidences of insincerity and speeula-
ton. What indictment could $l5, 900 hold out
to the country to attract immigration. and what
kind of immigrants is it expected will be secur-
ed by this appropriation? There is no State in
the Union that has a larger surplus of useful la
Dor, and to attract men of the iaboring class OF
either race, would simply oe to invite conslim-
ers OF the substance OF the people. The de-
scraption of immigration that Virginia wants, is
intelligent enterprise and capital. This cannot
be seduced by brides. 1t is governed in its To-
cation and investment by the consideration of
climate, and the laws and usages governing the
community in question. SO long as the State
OF Virginia rests under a cloud in respect to he1
public obligations-so long as the laws regulat
ing values are changing and unsettled long
as the Legislature Hampers with the fundamen-
tai law of the State-so long as the intolerance
OF party prescribes the circle of social inter-
course-strangers will not voluntarily seek
homes here. Immediately after the rehabilita-
ton OF Virginia as State in the Unioa-after
she had accepted the amendments to the con
stltutien-.n.ad incorporated, them into her Or
ganic law-had enacted liberal laws to carry
out the free school system, and exhibited spir-
it in harmony with the new condition of things.
the attention of men Of enterprise and wealth
was attracted to our lands and natural advan-
tages. Many of them located In different por-
tons of the State. They were adding their ex
perience, their intelligence and their means te
the wealth of the State, and were giving impe'
tus to the industries OF the Commonwealth
Many of them were Republicans in polite:
when the campaign of 1872 for President and
that OF 1873, commenced, and a wicked spirit O.
prescription for opinion's sake was inaugaratet
tile lines draw, upon color and caste by
reason of honest differences OF opinion as tx
public policy-this class OF men SO desirable fo
the state, began to become dissatisfied, unit
finally two-thrds OF the most intelligent O.
them left in disgust, after sacrificing, in many
instances, the Investments they mad made
The Kemper campaign threw Virginia BAG.
ten years ia the march OF material progress, and
no transparent legislative specifies can effectll-
ally counterfeit the reactienary tendency OF the
bitter sectional, prescriptige spirit then mani
tested.
less administrative, yet much more disas-
ttous method is now quietly progressing in the
committee Oil Constitutional Amendments to
PROSTATE Virginia, compromise her honor, all i
paralize her future. That committee, by All
therity Of the Legislative branch Of the State
government, is ruthlessly tearing the funda-
msEtal law into tatters. It Is connecting prop
osisions to emascu!ate the Constitution Of those
features recognizing the results Of the war
embolying the solemn pledge OF the people:
thus taintiis with bad faith the voluntary agree
meuts made as condition Of remission to State
authority and Independence.
The Legislature OF Virginia, and the Corser
Yat:ve party of Virginia, may lightly regard
innovations upon the constitution under Which
they assumed State i!nmunities. In the eXer-
else of the power invested in them, they may
ignore the plain dictates Of public policy aad
the sanctions Of public faith, and congratulate
themselves upon the rapidity, as we'll as reclz-
lessness tlab characterizes their return to the
repudiated and exploded dosmas Of the past
But while they are thus enjoying the assunp-
tions of a little brief authority their in
futessiIially small parts in doubtful side
scene-the eyes Of the whole country are upon
| them, wondering that so brief a period should
have elapsed since their solemn acceptances
Of the determinations Of great arbitrament,
before they uablushingly and with bold pre-
rily assumed obligations.
So ling as these things continuc, and there
is exhibited strange recklessness as to the
manner in which the public revenues are squan-
derad-a disregard of the demands of honest
debt contracts--a weak, vaccillating course,
upon all matters affecting the interest OF prop
ertyowners and taxpayers, immigration bills
may pass in vain, so far as attracting the IA
vorable attention OF desirable immigrants is CON
cerned, and the appropriations incident to slch
laws will only subserve the purpose Of design
ing and hungry political deraagogues
When the people of Virgini:s learn to see
themselves as others see thein-learn to appre-
ciate enlightened public sentiment and the
spirit that anin1ates and prevades the outside
world-when they shall rise above the spirit of
party intolerance-wifen they shall inaHyarate
a system of wise legislation, looking to al eco
iioalical and statcsmanli!se direction to the
public revenues-aelnolistrat their regard to
public faith by m king provision in some way
for the fulfillment OF public pied ,as; when they
shall elect men to represent them, who feel and
appreciate the sanasity of organic Aw-who
sAsp consider that we are only 4 part Of a greaa
political system, and that our policy as u Com
nonwealth, must be in harmony with the en-
lightened and progressive ideas which control
the destiny OF every advanced community, and
every civilized government, and that at the
bottom Of all substantial worth is faithful and
severe maintenance Of public faith in all mat