The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-06
: ., 1.,uo,.,,o,. Yernrer on the Debt.

Governor hS1npei Ola eAA@ - -
.rho message sent in by Governor MEM
per Yesterday to the General Assembly IS
mo orandest message that ever enanated
from Governor OF Virginia. It derives
.n.esnecial dignity from the situation IN
which the Governor is placed and the c'r-
cumstauces that surround him. Inc CHI
harrsssments that grow out OF the cues
lions OF public policy. YeSed by the extra
ordinary public discussions ana tue sA''a-
ordinary views and influences brought 70
ncar unon public opinion, are such as no
,or,,er Governor was ever required TO con-
front. So great responsibility mas not
fallen mon any Governor before Governor
Epsprs. This he has met with an apii-
ito that is unanswerable and puphc
Ssyotion that is heroic. FMS Is
ph.t makes the message moi only nus
sh,es, and noblest. but entities it to ap-
n,a,,se as the most splendid document that
ever issued from the gubernator'al char OF
the Old Dominion. We say this with earn
estncss and pride: in carncstncss that
Springs from a perfect conviction OF the
tru.h Of what we say, and pride excited
by the honor reelected upon the State by n
papcr so Just. so orthodox in law and
morals, so worthy OF the Commonwealth III
her ,,roudest days. and so eminent'y heroic
ir devotion ut time when public devotion
derives q halo Of nobility and glory from
the cmharrasslncntS to which the grand old
State is reduced. #..,..
The main feature of the message is its dis
cussion Of the public debt and the funding
act. That part OF the document must be-
coIae aIext-book. 1t is logical, Just, true,
and unanswcrablc. The impracticability OF
the proposed eXpedients to get rid OF the
funding act is so completely exposed that
the cbarlatan politicians surely can only be
led TO undertake any Of them as dclnasogi-
cal strategy. Those who idly deny the OBJ
legation Of the State to pay her debt are
brought to confusion worse confounded
by tbc clear and authoritative view
presented by the Governor showing the
unavoidable responsibility Of the. Com
monwealth for every dollar she owes.
This paper has more than once told those
who claimed that the Federal GOV
crnn:ent should pay Our debt, that II
the Federal Government. having overpow-
cred Virginia and brought her to subjec-
ton. was bound for her debt, that Govern
merit must have the right, as it certainly
had the power, to make Virginia pay her
OWE debt by taxing her people for the Dur-
pose. Certainly when the National Gov
ernment restored to Virginia State auton-
omv-:hc power to tax her people, and
along with it the public works built with
the money she had borrowed-clcariy the
restoration carried with il the obligation to
ptrty. There is no room left for single
word in answer to the argument OF the
Governor. .
Eat after presenting the true vie" OF the
obligations OF Virginia in the most tri-.
umphant argument the Governor proclaims
from his high position that Virginia is able
10 pay her public debt, and that she can do
this without disturbing the present tax
laws except in the way OF needed amend
meutS. This declaration will be received
with the highest qualification by every citi-
zen of the Commonwealth and by every
friend OF hers at home and abroad. That
Governor kEMpER is perfectly fortified in
his assertion we believe: and we hail his
assurances as the gladdest Of tidings to the
people who have been sorely disturbed by
the political discussions and the extrava-
CANT representations OF those prophets OF
evil who undertook the odiously unflial
work OF disparaging their State to strengthen
their Pedagogical logic. >.f"E
We felt our heart leap with delight while
reading the sound views and the solid argu-
nerts OF Governor KEMPEE, and it was a
happy conclusion that gave assurance that
the State was entirely able to maintain her
credit and comply with obligations which
be proved to be unavoidable. .. ......
After following the message to the. con-
clusion of this branch OF it, the reader, we
are sure, will be entirely ready to agree
with this whole-souled paragraph:
I close my official laborS in this connec-
ton with the noble words which John {.
Calhoun uttered for South Carolina, and
adopt and apply them, expecting the .ap-
proving response winch tucg cauuoL 1al w
command: 81 pledge myself that my State
will pay every dollar she owes, should it
take the last cent, without inqtlTing whe-
ther it was spent wisely or not. Should !
in this by possibility be mistaken-should
she tarnish her unsullied honor and bring
discredit on our common country by re-
fusing to redeem her plighted faith, which
I hold TO be impossible-deep as is my devo-
tion to her, and mother as she is TO me,
would disown herr
The Governors Recommendations.