The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-07-19
NitI.ll,l,Illl llspairl
The Pubic Debt.

The debt question Is certalniy geIuHg 9
,,eeree al ventilation. sTt isstinie something
decided was determined upon. The State
ought TO pay or 10 refuse to pay. To 90 on
as at present, paying nothing, while the
debt is steadily accommodating, Is very bad
1t Is an evidence OF ineffciency and incosn'
petency Of the body-politic that might sug'
gest the Inquiry, Is Virginia Ut for seif-gos'
ernments #
IL is depiorable, after so many years anu
aitcrtwo several settlements OF the ques.
ton by the Legislature, that the people o.
the State are TO be agitated yet again upon
the subiec as Of q vague matter that IS 50 9
be disposed OF somehow that nobody seems
exactly to understand. There appears 70
be dreamy, mental condition that IS smar.'s
popularized that looks to the ADVENT OF
so,ntion out of the public difficulty that IS
~ necessity to be vouchsafed, because a
s.pposed necessity impeis 1t. Win 3
state complete, possessing ail the ma
ch;nery wanted to constitute State, such
3 solution could only be moulded through
The processes Of the Government with IFS
departments The solution must be elabo-
rated and matured through the law-making
branch OF the Government, and II contested
must stand the judgment Of the judicial
department. 1t may have to go further.
1t may be carried into the Supreme Court
OF tho United States, and there compelled
to abide the Judgment OF that body.
Now. all this is something serious to con-
slider. Ii is manifest that discussion Of
this subject, involving SO many complica-
lions, is not likely to bring forth solution
upon the hustings. The ancient Poles at
one time held their law-making assembly in
the forest, and the legislators legislated on
horseback. a unanimous vote was re-
auircd to pass measure, and that was so
difficult to obtain that the minority was
sometimes shot to silence the dissenter.
The popular assembly in these times is not
to be brought to harmony by this summary
proceeding. The dissent,rs are irrepressi-
BILE; and upon the question Of the public
debt there could be no agreement. Discus
sion could never come out OF the wilder
ness; ard in that wild scene OF hopeless
discord the demagogue would ride the ram
pant. horses OF wrangle to no advantage
save to that OF themselves.
We mentioned the other day that the idea
Of compromise was no new thing. Governor
KEMPER in his first message laid before the
Legislature the condition Of the State, ana
urged upon the body some measure With
view to relieve the State from its emoar-
or provide for the public neces-
sites. That letter contained the ideas pre-
sented in the letter of General MALONE.
Governor kENPER urged his views earnest
". The Legislature concurred with him in
his disposition for a compromise, upon
new basis. He persisted in his efforts; bad
an unsuccessful interview with the bond
holders, and as late as last winter submitted
to the Legislature propositions sent through
his hands concerning the settlement OF the
public debt.
Nothing has come out Of all the dilatation
upon this troublesome subject. Governor
KExPER, however, stoutly maintains the
obligation Of the State to redeem her plight
ed faith. Suggestions have been discussed
in the Legislature relative to some device to
restrain the coupon bonds paid into the
treasury for taxes, and thus prevent them
from clogging the Government. That has
been found to be impracticable, and every
attempt to solve the public difficulty has
but turned us back to consider the sitlfa
ton. $50
Il..
And now how is the renewed agitation
to bring peace and relief We see not. Is
an excited and riotous writer to give light
and instruction to the people3 Is heed
less demogogue who cares nothing for the
public, and only seeks his own promotion,
to explain the way out Of difficulty to an
honest aud sincere people? It is absurd to
hope SO. These are not the men to give sat
isfaction and confidence to an anxious pub
lie.
Therefore we repeat what We said before,
that the people must look TO their own wei
fare, and select from amongst the wisest and
most honest Of their fellow-citizens men to
whom to entrust the difficult task OF set
fling, and. if possible, OF compromising, the
public Obligations. Such men alone can
do what is best. Demagogues, whose
TRADES against bondholders and whose
reckless disregard Of all public obligations
are freely uttered before the people, are not
the men to trust. They cannot help the
people. They can only succeed in making
the condition OF the public indebted
ness worse and worse. No, people OF Viz
ginia, get your best men to serve you, and
avoid demagogues and reckless ranters as
you would the plague. Your Legislature
should be composed Of wise and honest
men, and your Governor should be man OF
unsullied fame and unsupported integrity.
We want calm, sincere man. OF compre-
hensiye judgment and personal honor and
dignity. Such Legislature and such a
Governor will give to Virginia, if possible,
d compromised and settled debt that will
satisfy creditors and people and reestablish
the public credit upon firm foundation.
The Adjustment. y
To explain to our friend OF the Peters
burg Post what we supposed was seli-eyi-
dent, we say that we have classed the cam
dldates for Governor as all disposed to
tighten the burthens OF the people by any