The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-29
fTEor the DisI.atch.I
The HumbugScry of Rcadjustment


It belongs to good breeding to honor all
men, and to treat with respect whatever is
advanced in the name Of patriotism or with
show OF sincerity By men OF good stand
ing. ..... ..ts.. -, .....-........ :.s5r,. =.
The proposition. to reaIiust our public
debt owes its responsibility to its patrons
and advocates only. OF itself it is ALSO
lutely without merit or reason or decency.
And in all probability it owes the respect
and honor that have been paid it by good
men to the fact that it is regarded as a sort
OF breakwater, or possible substitute, for
the deep disgrace and crime OF reputation.
And yet how thin is the cloak that this
compromise with duty offers How like
the scarf yelling the lndian-without sub
stance enough to lend the color OF virtue to
the vilainv it aims to commend! The It's
sue will not bear handling.
Rcdj ustment That means that the debt
has once been adjusted. And so it has
been; and one third OF our debt has been
| taken off! And now what?
son. say the weeping Eirginians, "do
come see how poor we are! See how we
have suffered by the war. and your hearts
will move YOU TO rcadjust!" And the credit
ors, touched with the whine Of unnamed
poverty, give all attention. And what do
| they behold? ...'. ..r
There are some large landholders who
have been unable to make money because
| Of the very largeness OF their estates, and
who have been unable TO sell at satisfactory
prices. Poor fellows. These are our first
class paupers The State belongs to them,
and must give up everything to save them.
Here, next, arc a few small landholders,
with heavy liens on their estates, who have
been ruined By the war. These have no in.
| tercSt in the debt. Neither Reputation nor
rcadiustmcnt will help them a silver. And
then comes the army OF new Virginia farm
erS, who have suffered no loss by; the war,
and only hate the debt because they hate all
taxes. These people will hardly have the
fac" To interview the public creditors. -.
And then the committee Of creditors look
over the lands OF the State and their assess
mentS. They are tempted by low prices to
offer to buy, and not landholder will sell
within twenty-five per cent. of the assessed
values! The committee thinks it smells
rat. And then they turn to the personal
property books. And they are almost ready
for any terms. Why, here is the large
county of Chesterfield with only thirty
COWS in it What market for milk y
And. to Judge from the reports Of other
counties. the personal. property of the State
Is made up OF Scalawag cattle, old horses,
and diseased sheep, and secondhand agri-
cultural implements. Still, the committee
prefer to visit the paupers. Their hearts
are cheered with what they see. =, e.
They think they smell another rat!
On the whole! the committee will say that
Virginia is about as far from being pauper-
dom as any place they know. =, .,...., .
But suppose we manage to secure sort
of hSgh-c0inmiSston committee who Will not
60 behind the returns Of the land and per-
Sondl- property books, and suppose there,
amidst desperate men and sad landholders
and Ia throng OF gloomy Though well-fed)
clerks. they consider the matter, what terms
are to be asked ' -, So, ....', -.
Observe, now. we are dealing with men
who had nothing in the world to do With
I the war, and about the obligations and busi.
ness of dear old Virginia before the war
was dreamed OF. -:'' IL '.'.' .., -,
swell" say the creditors, ait appears
you have had a war, that has ruined a good
many OF your people, and hurt you good
deal You have already taken off one third
OF your debt; suppose we take off another
third Our readiusters are charmed.
Hurrah for old Virginia! "Let the kettle
to the trumpet speak, &C.. &C., as Major
Jones would say; "for Ma1y's got Il baby"!
And what will be the size OF this baby:
What will be the great outcome OF all our
whining, poor-nouthing, and misrepre.
sentation and pir'atical bullying? - ~. r..
Figure it up, and you will find that il no
mistakes are made we will be saved fax
of about fifteen cents on the, dollar, or less.
Our $4,000 men will be saved about $15,
our $4,000 men about SIS. per annnm, and
the masses Of the people not receive one
dollars relief. And, on the other, haud,;
every interest in the State and the State it.
self will be damHged in dollars and cents
quite as largely as in good name and self
respect - ..''.'" 3D..
Now just let's count the cost at once!
Let lis work the thing out to its practical
conclusions, and who will say that read
iustment is anything else than a swindling,
respectable humbug? Yours, ~, ~,
| , ~ - i."'.. One OF THE PEOPLE. i