Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-01-04
WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA.
HThursday, January 4. 1877.


Twice before, in the exercise Of
editorial functions, the writer has felt it
his duty to present what he conceived to
be a proper criticism upon our state
affairs, as depicted in messages of the
Executive. Our comments were not of
the kind too common with the press in
dealing with public filnctionaries, and
several of our contemporaries ungen-
erously charged the annnadversions to
the common account Of improper motives.
Independent then, as now, we graciously
submitted. confidently relying upon time
and IFS developments for complete
vindcation iron, the aspersion. The
cycle has revolved, another fiscal year
has closed, the fourth message on state
finances has been read and published.
and comment is again in order.
On the occasions above alluded to,
we took the ground that Governor
lemper had added to our pecumiary
embarrassnents by his wailins jeremiads.
The effect of such messages we held
could not be wholesome, and our reasons
for that humble judgment where then
given with all earnestness and sincerity.
Demagogues from the hustings had
beclouded the public mind until the
fewest number Of our people had clear
understanding Of the condition of fiscal
affairs. Our opinion was that the
Governors second message of 1874 and
the message of 1875 were calculated to
Inislead still further and add to the peril
Of our situation by assisting the already
strong hands of artful haranguers. That
we were not wholly mistaken, we
propose now to establish by the tcsti-
nony Of Governor Kemper himself. as
given in his message of 1876.
1t will be observed that We are no
more in accord with the last message as
a whole than we were with its pre-
decessors, for reasons which will appear
IN the comparisons Of them. For
instance, his excellency was an original
champion of the funding bill as evidenced
by the ''Booten Letter." wherein he is
represented to have made his aclliowl.
edgments to that gentleman for saving
the county of Madison from disgrace BY
voting against its repeal.
When Governor kemper wes installed
into Office the funding bill was an
adjudicated fact. Its validity had been
passed upon BY the Court of Appeals,
and their decision had been accepted as
a fnality by all law-abiding citizens.
On the 9th Of March 1874, the Justly
celebrated message on ''the financial
condition of the State" made it's appear
ance, in which it was endeayored to be
shown how utterly impossible it was to
meet the requirements of that act
''scsthout imposing upon orr owa people
bwrttens impossible TO be borne" (see
Senate Doc. No. II and message OF
1873. from which we shall quote.) Ou
taxable values were put down at 1885,.
686, 433, %, ''and no more" Gu.
losses in production were shown to be
seventy-fve per cent. Our credit was
represented as second to that of Egypt
Turkey and Peru" The sum required te
meet demands was stated at $5,964,.
427,77, and our annual deficit at 81, 324,.
94l, 81. sour real SITUATION" said the
message, ''has been greatly misrepre
ssnted and is not understood abroad
The proposition is toe
obviously true to be argued. that direc
taxes cannot be increased. Such increase
would be virtual confiscation of private
property" This was truly sad picture
OF gubernatorial painting; and wher
tae only remedy for this Pandora's boz
, of pecua;a,y affection vas suggested tt
be ''two commissioners on behalf o
tae State, charged with the readjustmeu
Of the public Indebtedness by conference
with such agents as may be deputed b,
creditors to meet them," was it an,
wonder the stoutest hearts quailed an,
the brayest Virginians trembled for tn
imperlled reputation of the Old Com
naonwealth? 1t was, in our Judgment
then expressed, the very thing to rein
force the demagosues BY allies from tn
Z ranks Of desper alton.
Following all Of this, came the fatuou
fiasco Of decentralization" when tn
/ half dozen bond-holders convened ia tn
Seuate Chamber were shown that GU
whole taxation-Federal and State
was s1s, 3Sa68l ,Ol, or ak per cen
upon ali values, real and personal
when those who had the tax-receiyable
coupon bonds couldn't see It as tin
Governor did. and those who held tn
ten millions of unfunded securitie
manifested no little anxiety to 'scom
in" on the marvellous Executive condition
that the taxing power Of the State wa
to be reiegatsd TO a single individual
Then came the Hunter-Kemper schem
for three millions Of coupon clrrenc
for. domestic trade" which was Il
nashackle business, stimulate pro
daction. and inaugurate the happy err
when resumption Of full interest paymen
should begin. This last was the cap
stone on the great pyramid of financis
folly. This was the tue representation
and these recommendations were th
o7ly panacea for our peeuuiary Ills, a
the 'sreafirmation by the Genera
Assembly, if no untoward event occu
toforbid such action, "of that supereroga
tive pledge to Judge General Gran
by his Official conduct" was to hea
: political wounds and Ak the status Q
t;iat great Virginia majority no
identified with any existing natioaa
party" But this disqualification