The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-11-30
Report on Public Schools.


precisely the language of Dr. Ruiiner in his
allnsion TO the robbery Of the School Fund
by the State officials, of 100000. He at
tempts to condone the crime By stating, ac-
cording TO the abstract given, that no "well
informed person supposcs that any one COM
mittcd intentional wrong in the natter
How he arrives at such 4 conclusion we are
not Informed, nor do VIC think the Superin-
tendent can satisfactorily explain. The con-
etitution Of the State and the laws enacted
in pursuance of it, expressly set apart GER
tain revenue for the Public Schools. 1t viii
not be claimed that officers, whose duty it
not know the sources whence they are Derry
ed. and the uses 10 which they are to be APP
piled. To assert the contrary would he
tentamonn. to declaring that not one of the
officers in the basement Of the capitol WAS
qualified for the position he holds. There is
no other reasonable presumption than that
the School Find was robbed knowingly and
for a purpose. It will be remembered that
the statement was made by the Governor in
Il speech at farrisonburg several years ago
| chat 5 per cent. OF the interest due Oil the
State debt had just been paid, and that the
present rate of taxation, by wisely adjusting
the subjects upon which It was assessed would
be sufficient for the demands OF the State
An investigation Of the question, not foT the
| MIR 81 bn Of fIis
statement Of the Governor, but with q view
to learning the financial condition OF the
! Commonwealth, discoyt red that this $409 ,00C
had been perverted from the Public Schools
and applied to the payment OF the Interest
and current expenses, and That $3.50, 900 had
been borrowed from the Richmond Banks
for similar purpose. Ii was, doubtless, in
this very way that the exhibit Was unexpeet-
ly made OF 5 per cent. Of the interest having
been paid
II was nothing more nor less than an I'm
worthy attempt to delu'le and deceive the
people, with What expected benefit we are
unable to divine The stern fact now stare.
them in the face that the revenues Of til
State fall short Of the legal demands about
4 81. 900, 900 annually. In this, we include
the certificates OF debt set apart to Wes
Virginia which that State has never re
cosnizcd, and which the Supreme Court o
the United States decided, substantially, Viz
yiuia will have to pay.
This $i09. 900, taken from the School Fun(
has hot been paid back, nor never will be, rot
witllstandng the brazcn eflrontery Of Dem
ocratic dcmagogues in claiming ia the can
vass Just past, that it had been returned Ant
it is reasonable TO suppose that il all OF The
sworn officers of tie Stale could. in defanc,
of the law and the Constitution, misapply
this fund, and deliberately cripple the Pub
lie Schools, they will avail themselves OF
the amendments to the Constitution adopte:
by the people, TO destroy the system, in or
der that the whole of the revenue may be ap
piled 20 the payment OF the interest on th'
bonds, many OF them. it IS charged. fraudn
lently issued and circulated
Affairs in Virginia are approaching 4 crisis
The property of the people has been mort
gagged to carry out the provisions OF the fund
ing bill, the result Of fraud. The question il
now before them whether they will consent t,
double these taxes, or allow this default O
$2,Q00,00o to accumulate, or whether the,
will demand L REIMBURSEMENT Of the whole
matter. upon basis spondns with thei
ability to pay. There must be some settle
ment OF the question. 1t Is certain ruin ant
bankruptcy TO continue on in the prcscn
fatal course. The question must be met ant
determined, and it is to this that the atten
ton OF the people mast be called in the cleo
ton Of the next Governor and Legislature.
Iii: possible that the Democratic part,
will at once take advantage of the amend
nenss, recently adopted, and proceed tc wp
out the Free School system. The Iegsla
sure is invested by them with almost su
prcme power. They have the people virtti.
ally chained and may do rs they please
The Constitution can be amended withou
submitting the amendments 10 the people
The Free School system can thus be killed
the revenue that is now set apart Tor it
support, thus reserved for the bonlholders
ard by this means the necessity for so larg
an increase in the ratio OF taxation dispense
with. 1t was this possibiiity-aye. stron:
probability, that stimulated on, efforts agains
the amendments. They are adopted, ant
will become part OF the supreme law. BE
fore any devimclt can be consunmate'
nnder them, the people will have one chance
, left, that viii be next fall, when the Govern
or and Legislature are to be elected. Ii the,
will disregard the aeRpoiism Of the part .cali
cns-frown down political rings, aud ap
proach the grave issdes that must then be de
termined, like men, they may yet defeat th
designs of the corspirators against The inter
ests OF the poor men of the State.
We say now in advance of the agitation Q
the election of Governor, that we are willin.
to unite with the people OF the State, with
nut distinction OF party, and independent 0
parry, in the support OF a candidate who vii
favor prompt and.decsive steps towards TIL
settlement OF the State debt question ant
5 preserving the Free Schools. and Shall here
after more fully express our views upon thes
topics. The time is upon us that it will b
suicidal to shut our eyes to the dit1icuit!e
: which environ us. We mus by some bold
determined effort extricate ourselves iron
them, or make up our minds to emhrac
bankruptcy and ruin
In the mean time, we invite al expression
of opinion, through the columns of the FIR
GINIAN. aud discussion OF the important is
sues involved, to the end that the people ma
be informed and prepared to act.
Tie Next House CT Representatives
4 correspondent OF the Cincinnati Gazette
:, writing from Washington, say: table G
, the next House rs it stands, under the lates
and most reliable returns, has Just been com
pleted here by the best Republican authorl
ty in the city, who has access to all informa
ton regarding the result in each District We
received by the National Committee. II
t gives the Democrats l49 and the Republican
fIA1 of fh