Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-06-29
The Public Debt Question.

for the solid purpose of the many. But |
these noisy fellows have been encouraged |
of late by the fears they have inspired and,
going too much without rebuke, have fam
cied themselves power.
1t is full time they should be undeceived,
and full time that the so called leaders
should begin to lead one way or OTHER.
This paper, at least, proposes to speak its
mind and to keep this subject before the
people. Decided it must be in some way,
and which is the right way we have, and
have had, no doubt, believing that the
credit of the commonwealth must be main
tanned at all hazards, the contract made
by the Legislature in composition with the
creditors must be carried out, and that
provision must be made for paying the i'll
terest on the debt, both by receiving the
coupons of one class of the bonds, and ty
paving the interest on the other part.
In the matter of detail, how far we can
now pay the interest, there is no need t.
go in this article, but that it is to be paid.
that we shall not try to shave the creditors
again, and not stultify ourselves by offer
ing third compromise when we have fall
ed to carry out the compromises we have
already offered and the creditors have &C
copied That is the point we make.
1t is grotesquely unfortunate for can
didate to have to take his stand when he
VI
the fence he chooses. But this thing
which not candidate only. but the very
party itself must decide upon.
If the party evades the issue, an indie
pendent will run as repud1atlOnlst hop
ing to get some Conservative Stragglers
and mass of Republicans who will vote
with him for the sake of mischief. Ii it
frankly takes its stand on the side of wis
dom and right, it can bring its Organiza-
ton to bear.
Lastly, we ale frank to say, that if it be-
comes the champion of reputation in any
| form, implicitly or explicitly, it commits
! suicide, and can be beat by any man
| bold enough to take the field armed with
( the righteous cause-and such man will
not be lacking.-Riclamaond State.
The Lexington "Gazette" has an article
| on the State debt that we should like to
print entire but will have to content our
| selves with short synopsis. 1t is COM
menting Oh what are now known as the
| Augusta resolutions, a set of resolutions
passed by small minority of Augusta
county farmers looking towards the repu-
diation of the State debt Winchester
Neavs.
The Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, of Angus
ia. addresses his constituents through the
Staunton 'sSpectator, making an able ar
gument and earnest appeal for the square
payment of the State debt Charlottesville
| Chronicle.
Mr.. Stuart's opinion upon matters OF
States is listened to with the utmost re-
spect by statesmen, not only in Virginia,
| but throughout the Union. He shows the
exaggerations of even the wise farmers of
| Augusta, in their statement that to meet
the engagements of the State, would re-
quire tax Of five per cent; that this tax
of five per cent would in two years wipe
out the entire State debt, and pay the cur
rent expenses for the same time. We
should like to notice his views farther, had
we the time and space.-Pded1eont NcWs.
Mr.. Stuart holds that the debt is just
one and that by proper economy it may be
paid without lnflictlng very great sacrl-
| flee on the people. Tie resources of the
State, he insists, are ample to meet all of
! its necessities, and we have but to manifest
! the will to avail ourselves of them to solve
the perplexiteS of our financial condition.
We agree with HIM fully, and we trust
that the words Of this departing statesmen
may tend to stay the foolish talk of s'hon-
orable Adjustment on the part of some.
and TO crush out finally the dishonorable
purpose of those who advocate outright
repudiation.-Pete Iade1-Appeal.
The present depression in all interests
make the people willing listeners to any
proposition. however deluSive, which looks
to the mitigation Of the hardships under
which they labor, by lifting, in part, the
weight of taxation they are bearing. And
| those who wish to profit by this too will
| ling credulity upon the part Of many, in
casting around for an issue to meet the
case, find none, they think. will answer
the purpose so well, as the promise of re-
lief from taxation. by reputation. But
when not bold enough to advance the ma
ked issue of reputation, they resort to
kindred subterfnges: which v, il they know are
who do not take the trouble to inform
MISUNDERSTANDING Washengtoniaa.
At the request of several friends. we
publish OF our first page q letter written
by the Rev. Jno. E. Massie on the State
debt of Virginia Nobody will dissent
is a cumbersome affair, but ''what are we
going to do about it p Mr.. Massie pro-
claims himself against udiation-but his
impracticable scheme for reducing it, is
not likely to lead out of the embarrassment
| Nobody would object to the U. S. Govern
ment paying the whole debt, but it is hard
| ly worth while to tiatter the putlic mind
with the utopian notion that she will ever
do it.-LeesbTg Mirror.
Hon. A. H. Fl. Stuart, of Augusta
| county, Va. has publis! ed a long and in
| teresting address to his constituents, in
which, after taking a retrospect Of the last
| half century, he expresses his views on the
| questions now uppermoSt in tie public
mind. In conclusion, he announces his
| final retirement from public life. Mr..
Stuart is at present the chairman Of the
| finance committee of the Virginia House
in regard to the States finances than any
member of that body. He has always ear
nestly advocated the putting forth of every
effort to meet the Just obligations Of the
State, and his withdrawal from active SER
vice at the present time is loss to the
community baltimore Sun.
We are glad to see so able a statesmen
as Hon. A. H. H. Stuart holding the posi-
ton which has all along been held and adj
yocated by the Gazette" We welcome
MI. Stuart as co-laborer in the good work
before us of redeeming Onr State from the
faint of reputation. Lexington Gazette.
Robert Dale Owen, the famous spiritual
list, son Of Robert Owen, the Scotch re-
former, and author of "Footfalls on the
Boundary of Another World" is dead
He had been member of the Indiana Leg
islature, member of Congress from the
same State, and United States Minister to
Naples.
James Gardner and J. W. Grove are in
Jail in Maryland for the murder of Rev J.
M Friday, the Lutheran Minister Of Har-
per's Ferry. Gardner has confessed that
where he was found. The murder was
committed for pure rowdyism.