The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-13
RmlullDllll Alspatrll,
rHryRspAY DECEMBER IL, 1877.
The People.

+ IL
The People,
-os some sections Of Virginia viii in
short time become very tired, and, indeed,
ashamed, OF the men whom they have sent
TO Richmond to legissate for them. These
persons are worse than marpots. Iney
are schcming to promote their personal on
iects, with no regard to the public interests.
II the States interests Haay be benen'ea
by any measure which they consider nene,
: fetal to themselves, very well; but u those
interests be injured by devices tnat are Gu
rendered in their selfish minus ioi 'hel
own advantage, very well also. 1net o"t:
.nh;,;on their own selfish objects, are thus
ex.,tes above the public welfare. rms
y;lI anpear so plainly that the most conn
hin, q, the constituent body Will see tneS
have entrusted to very bad men the puol'c
welfare.
Already the signs are beginning to crop
out. Plainly the uHprincipled leaders arc
bent on obstruction. They will not FAVOR
anv measure that will lead to economy ana
10 increase Of the public revenue. Already
IL has been announced by some that they;
will not assist to retrench the expenses OF
government until the bondholders indicate
what they are willing to do. This IS right
in the line OF bulldozing the bondholders
nv arousing in their breasts the passion OF
fear, which has been defined by the great
expounders OF law in manner not fiattering
to the tricksters. 1t is an attempt to ,,eS-
tort money from the public creditor by
means altogether discreditable:
But look how the welfare OF the State is
retarded by this miserable strategy, which II
would be a compliment to style unstates-
manlike. The persons who are disposed to
carry it out never thought Of statesmanship.
1t never entered their brain. They are only
devoted to themselves, and their little move
= ments on the chess board are intended TO
advance their own promotion to office, and
to marcel out amongst the leaders OF their
little army OF destructives the offices OF the
State. This can best be done by keeping up
agitation and postponing the settlement OF
the question of the public debt. The people
are deluded by promises OF relief, while they
bear of the bones which they have fought
over instead OF guarding the interests they
were sent to the capital to protect.
The State OF Virginia pays annually to
the Federal Government in internal-revenue
tax OF many millions Of dollars. Yet these
valiant men who are denouncing the bond
holders and seeking to thwart the measures
for satisfying their claims do not seem to be
brave enough to employ any OF theifcunnlng
devices to defeat the United States Govern
ment agents who drag the State with their
rakes, which never fail to bring in all the tax
which the Federal Government imposes.
This Federal tax would pay our whole public
debt in say four years. Yet no man dares
to assail this tax and to step forward to
thwart ii. But the so-caIled "bloated bond
holders" whose only sin Is that OF having
loaned money to this Commonwealth to
build railroads, and which railroads we now
have and profit by, are the constant objects
OF the vituperation Of the brave men who
have promised to relieve the people OF their
burthens. This is, rs Governor KEAPER
says, "the spirit which shr:nks from an en-
s.counter with the strong and tramples on
4sthe weak" The people Of Virginia should
be proud Of such representatives. Are
they not?
The State IS peaceful and improving. The
taxation Of last year, with the proceeds
from the Moeett register and such re-
trenchment % should be made, will meet all
the obligations of the State. This fact was
affirmed by the Governor and also by the
FirstEAuditor. Why cannot the Legislature
go along firmly and iudiciously in the dis
charge Of its duty to guard the public well
fare and promote the public order and
serenity? The disturbers Of the peace do
not constitute the ruling power OF the
General Assembly Every representative
should bring before the forum OF his con-
science the question OF his public obllga-
tions in regard to every measure that
is presented. II he be an honest and
conscientious gentleman, his Judgment will
be freed from personal considerations, ana
he will desire TO serve the State rather than
to aid in the wretcbed policy that makes the
public good, the peace, and security and
happiness OF the people subordinate to the
personal ambition and personal advance
ment OF politicians. If gentlemen would
make such an examination OF their duties
and motives the wise and the good would
soon be separated from the selfish and un-
scrupnlons, and Virginia would be safe.
It's crying evil that this noble old State
should have her troubles prolonged that q
few unworthy partisans may get places in
the government. A.'I> - s't,s. 81 80,
The Meeting Canal. r.,
Some Of the best and most influential men
in Richmond call meeting OF citizens, to
he held at the Exchange this evening ut