The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-26
8itl,n,o,ld 1lspatth.
SEPTEMBER %. 1877.
pra.,aant rzayes and Readiusters.

President Hayes and Readiusters.
We have beheld many signs OF DISPOSE
zion of rcsdiusters to lean towards and
anon President HAYES. Judging these Per-
sons fairly and dispassionately, we perceive
that they are al, very weak in the back when
it comes to doing anything that requires
constancy and brave exertion. They always
look around for help. for something TO lean
upon. They delight in the idea OF getting
rid Of debt without paying it. ina Is sue
hsppiest possible mode OF relief. ines
consider the throwing-of' Of the public oo't-
cation the shortest way to relief from PR
y.te obligations. An illustrious adiuster OF
buckingham of rip-roaring logic declared
the other day that botn public and private
aahts should have been cancelled by the
loric OF the war. This conclusion is out
raceous Of every principle Of honor, and
vet we have little doubt that in the hearts OF
many leading compulsory adiusters 1t Is
held TO be as Just now as they considered 1t
the day after the end OF the war.
The war was waged by those who were
overcome under the full understanding OF
the consequences OF defeat, and justice does
not call for their exemption from those con-
sequences. It would be 4 disgrace to the
men who hazarded their lives in the cause
they thought Just that they should seek inn
munity from the consequences OF their de-
feat Neither honor nor manhood could
excuse such an eXpedient; nor could JUS
tice acquiesce in its success. Take the pub
lie debt OF Virginia, for instance. 1t IS not
due 10 the Federal Government, against
which we struggled, but to persons who
did not provoke the war, and who had no
power to prolong. or curtail it. We had
their money, and they were In no way in
yolYed in the matter OF war. We expended
their money, and still have the public works
we built with that money. No principle OF
Justice or honor can for an instant justify
failure TO pay these creditors. 1t would
obscure forever the heroism OF the State
displayed in the civil strife il we could see
the men who imperilled their lives for the
State repudiating such an obligation.
that persons who proposed the preparation
OF such a wrong incline to lean upon Presi-
dent HAYES. 1t would be entirely incon-
sistent with the noble sense Of justice dis
played in the administration OF President
HAYES that he should feel anything less
than horror for the scheme Of compulsory
adjustment in Virginia. lie could never
fora moment look with federation upon any
disposition to deny the obligations to the
creditors OF the State, who had nothing TO
do with the war, and whose claims are as
strong to-day as they were the very day
they loaned Virginia their money.
Nor can Virginia find any justification in
the Judgment OF any honest people in the
civilized world for her failure to pay her
creditors Nothing could furnish even a
poor apology for such failure, except 1t be
the. utter inability to pay. And no man, we
believe, can conscientiously say that Viz
ginia is not able to pay. Beyond question
she is able and will continue TO be able as
her debt natures. The people have been
piled with argument and stimulated with
excitement uUIi lucy uafe lditSu nto VIC
idea that the debt can't be paid, and there is
no chance at this time to increase taxes. 1t
is this very point that we have commented
upon. We have assumed from what we
heard and saw that the taxes would not be
raised at this time: but we have been salts
fed that Virginia could pay and would do
so in good time.
Assuredly the Federal Administration can
not possibly be induced to sympathize with
the party OF dull perceptions and feeble reso-
buttons in the matter Of public honor: the
men of little faith, who prefer prema-
ture surrender to temporary struggle,
which would be crowned with triumph and
honor worthy Of the men who staked their
lives upon their country's cause. Mr..
HAYES is too just, too fair man, to take
such persons into his respect and favor.
The Federal Government is eminently loyal
to public obligation, and it is impossible
that it can nourish the party that has not
respect for public credit and desires to pro-
mote its decay and ruin.