The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-10-18

The Richmond Dispatch Of the 18th in
lulges in its congenial billingsgate about
he radical postmaster at Staunton, but
is exhibit of fishmarket literature cannot
'escue it from the contempt Of all respect
lblc thinkers. The days Of its influence
ave passed. So long as the popular mind
was sensitive to sectional appeals and con-
loned profigate epithets, and inflamed pas
sion tolerated such expressions as ''carpet- |
bagger," 'scalawag,' and traitor to section,
as Unfortunately applied to those who con-
ceived it to be a duty to support national
laws and authority. the Dispatch managed
to be accepted as an exponent of the worse
phase of partizan politics and the ambition
of the beer-house politicians, while Its col
umns were sought as the avenue OF approach
to the public for the mercenary railroad rings
and city ward statesmen. But better con-
dition of things now exists. The reason OF
the people is asserting supremacy. The
honest yeomanry of the State are moving.
The complexion of the next legislature pro-
misses to give death blow to the Dispatch's
occupation. Powerless to arrest the torrent
of popular feeling now surging all over the
State against the trading politicians and
their INSCRIPTIONS mouth pieces, that paper.
in its blind wrath, arraigns the great mass
of the people of Virginia as ''repudiators"
and swindlers, and invokes its most choice
billingsgate to vent its rage against those
who stand by the people. We can afford to
let it rave 1t is incapable of fair argu-
ment, and its ISLANDERS only expose the ye-
nality of their source, while the distance Of
its nose from the object of its assault, only
prevents the resentment proper for its vul-
garity.
The ostensible cause for the attack Of the
Dispatch Upon the VIRGINIAN is the criti-
cism contained in our last issue upon Gen.
| Walkers speech, in relation to the Public
Schools. The object OF the Dispatch is to
pervcrt the whole purpolt Of our article,
| and to manufacture All excuse to volunteer
| as the defender of gentleman by associa-
ton with whose name 1t hopes for respect
able recognition. Gen, Walker is certainly
unfortunate in this, for nothing could more
excite the Gistrust OF the people Of the State
than the championship of journal that per-
sistently defames three-fourths of their num-
Der as ''re2udiators," and is open at all
times to the mercenary purposes OF corrupt
rings and spectators.
The SENTENCES in the speech of the candi-
date for 1t. Governor which we criticised,
read:
'sIf our revenues are insufficient to meet
all other demands, then the loss must fall on
| the school fund or on the holders Of bonds
with no coupons receivable for taxes, fol-
there is no where else for it to fall. The
Constitution, which our legislators are
sworn to obey, requires chem to pay the in
terest on the literary and sinking fund an
nually; and this duty they must perform
Then it follows that we must raise taxa
| ton or the school fund must be depleted, OF
the peeler bondhoiders must 60 without
their interest. and that debt must be virtual
ly repudiated."
We directed attention to the fact that Gen
Walker did not comprehend the whole Con-
stitution in his conclusions, and that his ar.
gument contemplated the destruction of thu
Public Schools, in violation of the Constitu
ton. That instrument provides for a Ger
tain character of revenues to be set aside al
sacred to the Schools. 1t is mandatory ir
this respect, and regards the interest in
volved as of higher dignity than the sinking
fund. 1t even places it higher than the sup
| of xyhi sc 0e
to the Sinking fund. There is no conting
ency where the Constitution contemplate
that tie School fund may be directed to an!
other purpose. There is no condition o
things where it is provided that this funt
shall not be sacrediy devoted to the objec
for which it is paid into the Treasury. An!
diversion or msapplication of it is a clea
violation of the fundamental law. This wa
the purport OF our argument. The fact tina
Gen. Walker, and if we remember right
Ex-G Gov. Walker, both argued that a failur,
to raise revenues to meet the current expen
ses of government and pay interest on thu
literary and sinking fund, and support thu
Schools, substantially stated, this latter in
terest would first have to suffer, or the Peel
er bonds 90 without their interest. was al
indirect assault upon the school system, tt
be made through violation of the Consti
tution. How it could be possible for an!
Court to decide the Funding Bill to be con
stitutional, when its operation, according tt
Gen. Walkers argument. frustrated ant
nullified definite and distinct Constitution
al provision, was a mystery to US. And TO
Gen. Walker to contemplate the contingenc,
he did, had all the appearance of his acqui
escing in the violation of the Constitution il
the diversion of the School fund, and tn,
eventual destruction of the School system
The argument he advanced and which ha
been advanced by all the prominent friend
of the Funding Bill, Is that the Public
Schools must suffer or the amount of ieve
nues must be increased. They have clainor
ed about the honor of Virginia, the sacred
ness OF contracts, public faith, &c., an(
quietly pass by the pregnant fact that til,
Constitution has been persistently violated
in robbing the School fund, in the intcres
of legislative enactment. Which is of thu
more binding force and higher dignity. the
fundamental law of the State. or an act o.
the Legislature, the creature Of that funda
mental law? What contract is more sacred
than that which the people have ratified il
the Constitution of the State?
We repeat that any man who can quietly
contemplate the robbing of the School funt
in the interest of a Legislative enactment
and in violation OF the Constitution creating
the Schools and providing for their support
is an enemy of the Public School system
whether he knows it OF not. The School
fund is sacred, according to the Constitu
ton, for the purposes it is collected. There is
no power in the Legislature, there is nc
power in any of the officers or departments
of the government, to divert it, without vic.
lating the Constitution.