The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-09
A Rose by any Other Name.

"A Rose Nv any OhhSk
The peop'e who are strenuousIy and per-
sistently opposing tue fuf'ment by Vir-
ginia of Der sacred promises continue to
show an exaggerated objection to the word
srepudiatioD." Why, what else do the let.
iers spell! Now. gentlemen, you are work
,ng for an end with a motive, and we can-
cot understand why you should shrink
from the shadow of your own selected SUB.
stance. The money is owing, and 1t was
spent upon legitimate objects OF State I'M
proyement. A refusal to pay mears either
protest against The validity of the debt or
it means q resolution, desplte OF all leason
and right, to repudiate. r-'
Now none Of these poverty.shriekers dare
desy that the bonds Were honestly paid for.
and that the proceeds were honestly app!ipd.
The railway yslen Of The State standsas evi.
dence of the proper application OF the
money. But for the debt, SO odous now,
there would not be In existence single base
IN which to found our claim for the Central
" tcr.lIne. Virginia exchanged her word
tor certain moneys, aud then used those
moneys as she pIeased-retaining control OF
their product. After the war she assumed
TO be administrator on the effects Of the
original Commonwealth; and she gave away,
or Sold, or pledged, without reference to the
wishes or rights OF West Virginia or her
creditors, most OF the assets and evidences
Which the war left available:
About this whole transaction between the
State and her creditors there is nothing in
The past that wears a single feature OF fraud
or Ells placed confidence. ThuSe who pur.
ceased the bonds paid 10 good faith the price
dem ipded for them, and accepted as their Sc
cur,'y the honor OF the people. The State,
on the Other hand, used fairly and leglti-
N .tely the means so advanced, and applied
every cent Of the proceeds of these IONS ~
the development OF her resources and the
extension of her commercial facilities. We
sold our word for hundred cents in the
dollar, and we used the money as promised,
and as proper. =.
Foe end Of hostii.ies found Virginia strip.
ped of much of the property on which this
luvluce had been predcated. Her wide
domain bad been severed, and the largest
item OF personal property had been stricken
from existence. Yet, still burning with tt e
honest ltrvor which battle for princip e
al ways engenders, still cIioeing through coed
and evil report to the traui:ious which bad
made her great, the people, ere yet The Dol
had speat lis force, rat fed the whole dett,
and by their representatives pledged tie
WORT that, betide what might, Virginia
would keep her honor sacred.
THIS was, if you please, QiiXotism
least the world and the Snylocks 90 regarded
=. The very leeches AGAINST whom such
fierce conflict is now waged came forward
voluntarily to say that the &c 'arian opera
ton by which West Virginia had gaiued a
bastard existence entitled the ODD mother TO
some release. Aud then came recODs'ruc-
ton aud restoration! A seemly spirit Of
pride in dong r,gpt still animated tue people
and their chosen leaders. The debt was par
ceilvd ous between the mother and diughter
of a rape, and the guardians OF the mother
made solemn contract to assume and carry
two-ihnds OF the debt upon conditions
plainly put and universally understood. \
large minority OF the creditors accepted by
irrerocaDle act the terms proposed, and the
result was an Understanding deot " bch
now amounts 10 about thirty millions OF dol
lars. This is the sum total to-day, and comes
from q voluntary movement or the legally
accredited representatives OF the people OF
Vitginis.
Then what? Why, then. this primary OBJ.
struction teing m vel aside the Legislature
commenced TO adminise r on the estate of
the diSmembered Commonwealth. The cre-
ditols made no objection. They saw their
safety reflected from the surface of shield
which had never been furnished. And the
settlement went on. The honor able debtor,
under the provisions Of the compromise,
proceeded to make available the property in
hand. FIRST went this canal, and that rail-
road, and at prices and on terms sub-
| jet only to the discretion of e VIZ
ginia Legislature and the approval of
q Vlrgihia Governor. Little by little
and line upon line the sales were
at last the Safe met her creditors empty
handed. Were these sales ~it? Were they
| advantageous Was the bargain in any case
good one, and has it eventuated we'll any
where? These are questions 10 be asked
and answered hereafter, and without refer
eace to the liability of the State for the fund.
ct debt. What matters IL now whether the
caaaI. or the CheSapeske and OHIO roai, or
the Richmond and D4avile road, or the At.
Iaut4es Mississippi and 0nio road, have been
parted with for inadeQI prices or unsatis-
factory securities: Tue Legislature was au-
thorized to speak for the people, and h Lee
gisl I, ure disposed of these assets. There is
nothing more to be said. The roads are still
run in our interest, or have been sold for q
consideration, and the men who built them
respectfully ssk for six per cent. interest on
Two .cDirds OF the original cost. There is
nothiDg, then. between Virginia and pay.
IN ent but the square assertion ihIt ner peo-
pie VIII not pay. There is no mddIe.ground.
Tue demann is now, Choose We this d'y
whom sc will serve" II ne ject tue com.
promise already entered into, ana ny our own
motou, there can be but one Hame which will
exactly characterize our action aud that Is
the name which our tnin.skInned friends 80
Indignantly reject Reputation
This rose ~ another name might smell
sweeter, but it would not be SO well de.
>eribed. We know the underlying reason of
ali this stir aud Of all this seu.ItIveness, and
II any reputation organ desires u have lls
own pt oiograpb it can be accommodated by
msktng direct reply 10 The STRENGTHENING
Star.