Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-09-18
AN ELOQUENT LETTER.

debtednesS, 1t may be question OF little prao-
teal moment to them how the old State is to
extricate herself from her financial embarrass-
ments. But there are very many in West
Virginia, and especially in this section,
to whom every matter touching the honor
of old Virginia is q question of deep
interest. To such persons the controversy
aow going on in that State as tc tho propri>
oty of reputation is deeply interesting, even
though their own pockets may be unaffected
by the result. We, therefore, cannot forbear
publishing foroible and really eloquent letter
by Gen. Dabney Fl. Maury, to the Charlottes-
Vile Chronicle on the sub ect of the State debt
Gen. Maury is himself Virginian, graduated
at West Point in time to distinguish himself
greatly and receive severe wounds in the
Mexican war, while serving under both Tay-
Tor and Scott, and afterwards added to his
own and his States reputation by his
gallant defence of Mobile during our lato
war. While reading his letter, which is full
of the ardent spirit of patriotism for which
the old Virginians were distinguished, we
could not help feeling that the General be-
longs to that high type of men who realize
that stain upon their country's honor is =
reproach upon their own.
Editor. Chronicle Sidney Smith once
said, at is a most fortunate thing for tho rest
of mankind that the States of the American
Union have deliberately decided to repudiate
their debts; for if to their immense physical
force they were to add the moral power of
honesty tho whole world could not Withstand
them" The people of Virgi nia do not en-
terrain the purpose of reputation, but q
vague uneasiness has been created in our minds
by the reticence too long maintained by some
of the candidates for Governor and by the
doubtful utteraEces of others. The only issue
before our people is reputation, and it is not
possible Virginians will consent to that. Vir-
ginia stands this day before all the States in
energy, prosperity, progress md moral power.
She feels the responsibility that rests upon
her to uphold the high name which genera
tions of great men have boqueathed to her,
and she will never consent TO An act which
will turn her back in her high career and1
mako every honorable son of her soil, whor.
ever he may be, hang his head for shame that
he was born in her borders. Looking at the
e1pediency alone of this question, it is pecu-
liarly uDjustifnblo and iuopportuno> at this
time for never before has kind Providence
been moro generous to US. From one end of
our State to the other bountiful hnrycsts have
gladdcnod our hearts and filed our garners,
whilc tho fast gathering storm of war in Eu-
ropo assures us of high prices for all we have
to sell. Now, then, is the time to announce
VIC will pay every cent of this debt without
any "scaliug" or adjustment" or other of
those specious plans which but shallow
DIVISIONS of part or all of what wc owe. The
question is a plain ono which any honest man
to
with az such. Discussions of adjustment"
only confuse our minds in the intricaces of
financial questions which as little under-
stood by those who pretend to expound them
as by the Taxpayers who lend too willing an
cor to tho Infamous conclusion to which they
oil tend. At this time tide of immigration
is about to seek on our shores refuge from the
general war impending over Europe. No
part of America is SO attractive to those pco-
pie as Virginia now is, and it is the prestige
of her honorable history that has made it So
Thousands of intelligent immigrants already
domicilcd amongst us, are watching with
keen anxiety our decision upon this question
It must be met now and decided for ever if
We would not drive from Virginia every om>
isrant who values national integrity, and hu>
initiate every proud native of tho State
When any man tells you We can not pay this
debt, his mental vision is obscured and his
moral sense slumbers Within six years We
havo seen the vengeance of Germany strike
France from her proud pre-eminence in Eu-
rope-dismember her territory-desolate her
lands and lay upon her a war Indemnity which
seemed enough to reduce all her people to
bankruptcy and poverty forever. Tho ruins
of that unparalleled conquest were yet red
and smoking whom that gallant people paid
tho first instalment of that great war debt
before il was due And in four yecrs limo
we have sccn "the Peers and the proletariat"
OF France united in tho grandest effort Of self
respect ever exhibited by people. Not only
has every instalmcnt of that debt been paid
off before it fell due, but all the ravages of
the war have been repaired; beautiful Paris
has been restored to Che glory of her charms
ss the queen of civilization in Europc-and
tho army of Franco has been re-organizcd,
re.equiped, and enroles to-day 800, 600 SOL
diors, to whose physical force France adds the
moral power of her noble, selfrcspcctful,
honest people, and makes Prince Bismark rest
loss and Kaiser William uneasy in his scat.
Whsta contrast in the eyes of mankind does all
this point with our own conduct, and with the
condition 10 which reputation or adjustment
will bring us. Forty million of Frenchmen
have paid 81 900, GOO, 900 in four years, with
out one plea for abatement or indulgence
lille 1,300, 900 Virginians havc owed $780,
100000 for twelve years havo mover paid
one dollar of principal or interest; have
fatigued Christendom with complaints about
their poverty, and now in the very climax of
an uncxampled prosperity are urged by Ger
tain politicians to rcpudiato their debt =
Should this people ever DO dcludcd into
crime SO infamous, swift and sure will bo the
retribution which will follow in tho ruin of
all that has mado Virginie great and pros
porous. DABNEY II. MAURY,