The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-12-14
Governors Message.

We publish in full on our first page, The
message Of Governor Kempcr, to the exclu-
sion OF our usual variety. 1t ia document Of
nore than ordinary force. Notwithstanding
she msny erroneous positions assumed. We /
have not the space this week to review it az
It. was our purpose to do. Apart from the
sembas.ic sapcrflcsity OF the allusion to
Federal af1airs and Constitutional liberty, the
Governor treats other questions with ability I
and fra,,kness from his standpoint. There |
ar.s several points, however, to which we |
mas hereafter refer, and from which NE dis |
sent. First. the State debt. The assumption |
that Virginia is only bound for and will only |
nav the two-thirds assigned her By the fund |
ING bill is not terable, IN viea Of all the facts
connected with the question. The part as
signed to West Virginia is not so easily dis
posed Of as the Governor declares. West
Virginia has never recognized the arbitrary
adjustment OF the debt.gnestion by the fund
ing bill. She was not party to it. and does
not conenr in the business OF the conclusion
BIZ which SHE is TO pay over $4,000. ND.-
Virginia will eventually be bound for it, not
only by the terms OF the fundin. bill, but by
the reason and the law OF the case, as announc-
ed by the Supreme Court OF the United
States.
Connected with the debt question. is an
other false conclusion Of the Governor. He
assumes that capital and enterprise have
been driven from Virginia by reason OF the
unsettled status OF the public debt. This is
not half stating the case. 1t is 10! alone, nor
primarily because the financial condition OF
the State is uninyIting, that capital has left
the State. It is because of the bitter parti-
zan prescription practiced by the party OF
which Governor kempcr is The political
head. His own canvass did more to drive cap
ital and enterprise from Firginia than the
State debt. lie inaugurated the white line
party, and Intensified the race issue. We
have conyersed with hundreds OF Northern
men within the past three years who would
have located in Virginia but for the bitter
partlzan feeling and proscriptivc policy OF
the Conservative or Democratic party. They
did not care to invest their means and locate
their political rights without being denounc
ed as carpet baggers, and socially and ma
teria.ly ostracised. Consequently they chose
other States. not so attractive naturally, but
whcrclthere is more liberia! and generous
spirit, and where man is Judged by the
true standard Of manhood. And Virginia
will never receive intelligent immigration and
capital until the party which Governor KEN
per represents is annihilated and more
catholic and practical sentiment controls The
people. 1t will not do for Mr.. Kenper to pa
rade the State debt as the sole and primary
cause of the prostration OF Virginia enter
prise and the dormant state OF Virginia re-
sources. That Is bad enough. But the con
trolling reason why We are passed by, ss thu
insane partizan blgotry and hatred which
sredoIninate We know this to be the case
and confront Gov. kemper's specnistioni
ssith our knowledge.
Another feature Of the message we canno
subscribe to. The recommendation OF an IN
ereaee Of the poii-tax. and the entire relic
Of property in the support OF the Publi
School system. This is the frat fruit OF tn
amendments TO the Constitution recently
adopted, and the first step towards the DIES
tFuction of the free schools. It is but yeri
flying the fears that We expressed in discuss
ing the amendments. 1t is scarcely neccssa
~ 20 waste time and space in referring t.
she question now in detail. The free school,
are doomed. The Democratic party have de
creed 1t. They have the power, and the.
mean to exercise il. We can only await dc
velopments, for we are powerleas to tairec
or control them.
We may hereafter take up these severa
questions and discuss them, but not with tn
hope OF accomplishing any practical good
anless the people themselves will NANTES
disposition to cooperate with us.
The property of the State can be taxed with
aat a murmur to support the University o
Virginia and the Military Institute. where TIN
poor boy may never enter. Certainl. only it
= exceptionable cases. But the Public Schools
where all classes are admitted and provided
for, and where tie future legislators ant
statesmen will, ia all probability. be educa
ted, are to be deprived CT this certain an
substantial aid now provided by che consti
tuition OF the State. The recommendation o
the Governor is an insidious assault upon tn
free schools. notwithstanding the support hi
views receive from the supple political toe
now in charge OF the educational Interests G
the Commonwealth.