The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-06-14
State Affairs, Again.

OtdIC AntiIS, again.
We publish elsewhere two articles, ore
from the Lexington Gazette and the other
from the Culpeper Ncacs, suggested by the
meeting of Farmers in this county on the
10Th ult. Both draw conclusions from pre-
misses that never existed, and which do not
now exist. Neither had justification for its
structures iii . single sentence, line or word,
in its proper connection, contained in the
resolutions adopted on that occasion. Both
have done an ineXcusabie injustice to the
farmers of this county, without the least
foundation in fact. The Gazette is totally
inexcusable. 1t is conducted With sufficient
discretion, and, being contiguous to Augusta
county, its editor ought 10 know the people
of this county better than to charge them
with purpose to repudiate the public obi
cations. There is some palliation for the
Neacs, judging from the construction of its
article. We do not think the writer knew
what he was about, nor did he understand
when he commenced his article where pre-
cisely he would end, or how, or with what
scattering impressions he might be tortured.
How he drew the conclusion that few legis-
lative aspirants instigated the meeting, is
utterly beyond comprehension, especially
when he asserts that he carefully read
the resolutions. There is no force or mean
Ing in language il such construction can
be fairly given to the resolutions in question.
The distortion of the whole purport Of the
resolutions can only be accounted for upon
the hypothesis that the editor is incapable Of
comprehendng the Englisl, language and
the ideas its proper arrangement conveys, or
deliberately drew upon his fancy for his con-
illusions.
We propose to deal with this debt question
fairly, and from no partizan standpoint, or
for partizan objects. We are citizens and
taxpayers in Virginia, native to her soil,
and feel. as should every citizen of the Com
monwealth, deep interest in her prosperity.
We have had unusual opportunities to learn
the causes which have operated to our great
disadvantage. We have come in contact
with more intelligent and observing gentle
men, residing in the North and West, occa-
sionally travelling through this section, than
probably any other journalists in the State.
We have been questioned about the State
debt, the legislation in reference to 1.-THE
disposition of the people. and the ability to
pay. We clam, therefore, to know some
thing OF the causes which have operated to
keep away capital and enterprise. They are
two-fold First, the partizan bitterness and
prescription that crop out at every election,
and the coarse and brutal language used in
denouncing Republicans, and arousing pas
sion and prejudice. Second, the unsettled
condition of the finances of the State, and
the apparent Indifference of the people and
their representatives to State obligations and
credit.
The first, we believe, is being rapidly re-
moved. From all portions Of the Common
wealth there seems to be springing up a
more rational conception of the rights Of
citizenship, and the wickedness of the per-
sonal bitterness which has heretofore en-
tered political contests. better feeling
prevails with all classes of our people, and
the general tendency of popular thought is
to devise some means to rescue the Com
monwealth from the cmbarrassmcnts that
hedge about her. The people have gotten
tired of the ncessant appeals Of the dema-
goguc to prejudice. They realize its bane-
full effects, and wish to disregard all other
influences than those which will direc: the
energies and intcllects of all to the relief Of
the State.
The other cause is stated by the Gazette
"The management of the State, "-or rather,
the want of management" And for the
shameful disregard of the rights of the peo-
Pile and the integrity of the State, both par
ties, as represented in the Legislature, may
be Justly held accountable, although it is
usual to locate the responsibility for leg.sla-
tive acts upon the ruling party. The Gazette
admits that the action of the legislature has
all been directed to the result of practical
repudi0tion. Year after year the interest
upon the assumed two-thirds of the debt has
been defaultcd. Not over two per cent. Of
the Interest has been paid in any year, ex-
cept when $409, of the school fund was
Incorporated for that purpose. The ac-
debt assumed in the Funding Bill cannot be
less than $4,000, 900. 1t is probably as high
as 81 10000 But as we have not the data
before lis, we will not pretend to accuracy.
afa hoc NIL of Q6
since 1871, when the Funding Bill was
passed, and when the assurance was given
that the rate of taxation of so cents on the
800 of real and personal property would be
sufficient to meet the interest, create sink
ing fund, and pay the current expenses Of
government. The Farmers of Augusta,
whose property in common with the farmers
of the State. is mortgaged for the public
debt, were aware of these facts. They fur
Their believe that the Funding Bill settles
aothing-that in addition to the s36, 900, 900
or $37, 900, 900, including defaulted interest
up to this time, assumed in that legislation.
that the State of Virginia is legally bound
for the sl5,000,000 principal and s., 100000
interest assigned to West Virginia. They
further know that the Legislature, run in
the interests of non-producing demagogues,
prolonged its sessions each year to the limit
of the Constitution, thus unnecessarily ex-
pending each year at least 100000 Of their
money. They know that class OF men
who would so disregard the interest Of the
people, care nothing about the public debt,
or the amount of defaulted interest, or pub
lie credit, or anything else affecting the ma
terial interests OF the State. It has been
this character of men who have heretofore
through the operation of the eau
Gus, to secure their election. They have
been foremost in exciting prejudice and APP
pealing to passion, that the popular mind
might be drawn away from the true condi-
ton of the State, and by this kind of decep-
ton secure their own promotion.
This Encouragement and wicked de-
ception have been going OH until the people |
have become alarmed. They are confronted
with the stubborn fact that the debt ques-
ton must be settled in some way, or repu-
diation will force itself. The Gazette ad-
mits this. The Farmers of Augusta and the |
Gazette do not differ as to this point. The
difference is, that the Farmers of Augusta |