The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-27
Gen. James A. Walker.

lie recently made speech at Wytheville, in
which he used very harsh language in his
of what he termed " forcible
reimbursement" and those who favored it.
The expressions he employed have aroused
The people OF the State, and from all sections
comes the declaration that Gen. Walker will
be scratched - in the ballot cast next No
vember.
We know Gen. Walker pretty well. We
think we can fofm correct estimate of his
and therefore do not believe it was
his purpose to accuse any portion of the peo-
pie of Virginia. and especially of his own
party, OF "larceny or highway robbery"
He was unfortunate not only in the use of
terms, but in the manner and spirit OF their
declaration. lie did no. give the language
he used, or the facts connected with its use,
that deliberate and judicial consideration
the position he occupies demands, or that
the citizens of Virginia are entitled to. He
imagined sentiment that does not exist,
and with fiery ardor assaulted Imam OF
straw abe had himself erected. Gen. Walker
is Of the people, and cannot help entering
into sympathy with them. His whole past
history demonstrates this: and if he had
carefully weighed the apparently conflicting
views Of State policy now engaging their at
tention, he would have found that there is
really nothing to denounce. There is no
party favoring I" forciblc readjustment in
the sense that he criticised the term. There
is no brigandsh spirit, waiting in ambush to
grab the creditor by the throat. with the de-
mand, tss.Your money or your lfe." There
is no depraved morality that stimulates to
the robber plea-we have the polcer, and
will use it to destroy contracts and repu-
diatc OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF law and
equity. Those who contend for a readjust-
ment of the debt of Virginia do so because
they arc convinced that persistence in the
present policy will lead to the very ends
Gen. Walker SO vigorously and coarsely de-
nounces. The purpose was well expressed
in the resolution of the Convention which
nominated Gen. Walker, that such policy
ment Of interest upon the entire indebted
ness within the power of the present reve-
nues, at the same time giving increased Vi
tality to the public schools, and saving the
Commonwealth from the shame that now
confronts her of virtual suspension of the
machinery of government for want Of means
to carry it on. This is all the people want.
They do not believe they can stand any
more taxes. They know the taxes they
now pay are not adequate to the demands
upon the State. They realize the difficulties
Of meeting the present tax, and yet they see
no good result from what they pay into the
Treasury. They labor and toll to meet
promptly their dues to the government, anc
] yet they are met, at the close OF each fisea
year, with an exhibit that shows deficit tc
the amount of nearly million of dollars
with the Public Schools deprived of the
means collected for them, and one class Of
the creditors without copper of interest
The people want to get rid OF this condition
of things. They want to readjust the al
fairs of the State SO as to correct these
wrongs, restore credit, and bring about in
dividual prosperity. Nobody wants, or
would tolerate "repudiation - in the sense
the thick-headed Bourbons charge. 1t is tt
rescue the State from the disgraccful and
disastrous position in which she has beer
placed by this very class of men, that tho
readiusters are agitating this important ano
vital question, and so arrange the obliga
lions and revenues of the Commonwealth
that they will come together at the end o
each fiscal year evenly balanced. with !;
sinking fund assaulting the principal OF tho
debt, and gradually cutting it away.
Gen. Field, the Attorney General. under
stands this question, the difficulties which
environ it, and the remedy to be applied
r. T. Barton, of Winchester, takes practi
4 cal and sensible view of it, and plants him
self squarely where the Farmers CT Augusta
stand, where Col. Holiday stands as inidi
Gated in his endorsement of the Convention
/. platform and his letter written before hi
nomination, and where Gen. Echols stands
his party, and the true policy of the State
. They stand where Gen. Malone stands, ant
where, in fact, two-thirds of the rejecting
people of Virginia stand, upon basis
policy that will mete out equal justice tt
creditor and debtor, and yet preserve State
autonomy, enforce the Constitution i'll re-
spect to the Public Schools, and start the ole
Commonwealth upon a new lease OF life ant
progress.
We do not think Gen. Walker intended tt
stiematize these gentlemen as robbers ant
highwaymen, nor do we believe ne Will re
peat what he is reported to have said al
Wytheville in the speech there delivered
He cannot have such low estimate OF tho
honor and morality of the people OF Viz
GINA. 1t was hypothetical condition Of
things he was speaking to, and not to any
declared policy or purpose of any party o.
class Of men who are acting for what they
regard the true interest of both the Stat'
and her creditors. He ought to know thai
Il il to the interest of all that this debt ques
ton should be settled, that doubts ant
speculations and fears may be removed
He ought to know that any policy that hal
for its object an increase of taxation will
not settle it-that it would but stimulate ex
element, arouse feelings, and prolong
controversy that has already been mlscon
strued to our disadvantage. Ihe peoph
Uin neuer consent to augmented burdens
It is useless to argue this point. That is
settled conviction and purpose with them
They will pay the taxes now levied cheer
fully, if they can see that they are effective
in arrcsting default, and are appropriated tt
the object for which the levy is made. They
will co operate in any retrenchment consist
ent with law and the Constitution. But
they will not consent to continuation OF
policy that must necessarily work out even
tnal "rcpudiation. They mean to have
, this question settled upon fair basis OF adj
sustment, and settled at this election, il
possible. They recognize the harm the pres
ent lamentable state of affairs is working tt
all material nterests-the depreciation o
property, the barring out OF immigration
the exodus of the muscle and brains upon
which the future OF the Commonwealth
.l.,,,J Joro,,d on1 tho octration Of enter.