The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-18
General Dnbney III. Maury on thc
State Debt.

Editor Chronicle: Sidney Smith once
SAID. :. 1t is a most fortunate thing for the
rest OF mankind that the States OF the Amc-
rican Union have deliberately decided TO
repudiate their debts; for if to their inl-
mense physical force they were to add the
moral power Of honesty the whole world
could not withstand them, ..:. -.-.t....
The people, OF Virginia do not entertain
the purpose OF Reputation, but vague UNI
easinesS has Been created in our minds by
the reticence too long maintained by some
Of the candidates for Governor and by the
doubtful utteranceS OF others. ...
The only issue before our people is repu-
diation, and it is not possible Firginians
will consent to that. Virginia stands this
day before all the States ineenergy, pros
perity, progress, and moral power She
feels the responsibility that. rests upon her
to uphold the high name which generations
Of great men have bequeathed to her, and
shc will never consent TO an act which will
turn her back in her high career and make
every honorable son of her soil, wherever
he may be, hang his head for shame that he
was born in her borders. ......-
Looking at the eXpediency alone OF this
question it is peculiarly uniustitiablc and
| inopportunc at this time, for never before
has kind Providence been more generous
to us. From one end OF our State to the
other bountiful harvests have gladdened
our hearts and Tiled our gamers, while the
fastrathering storm or war in Europe as
sures us of high prices for all we shall have
tn sell. Now, then, is the time to announce
that we will pay every cent OF this debt
without any scaling" or "adiustment,'
or other of those specious plans, which are
but shallow evasionS OF part or all OF what
we owe. The question is plain one. which
any honest man can understand. 1t must
be met and dealt with as such. Discus
sions of I" adjustment" only confuse our
minds in the intricacies Of financial queS-
tions, which are as little understood by
those who pretend to cXpound them as by
the taxpayers, who lend too willing an ear
TO the infamous conclusion to which they all
tend. .... .s..-.. 49,.
At this time tide OF immigration is about
TO seek on our shores refuge from the gene
raj war impending over Europe. No part
of America is so attractive to those people
as Virginia now is. and it is the prestige OF
her honorable history that has made her so.
Thousands of intelligent emigrants from
Great Britain already domiciled amongst us
are watching with keen anxiety our decl.
sion uDon this question. 1t must be met
now and decided forever if we would not
drive from Virginia every emigrant. who
values national integrity, and humillate
every proud native OF the State. n j.
| When any man tells you we cannot pay
this debt his mental vision is obscured and
his moral sense Slumbers. "a, ..-. y..ss..
Within six years we have seen the yenge-
ance OF Germany strike France from her
proud prominence in Europe-dismembe
her territory-desolate her lands, and lay
UNION her war, indemnity which seemed
enough to reduce all her people to bank
ruptcy and to poverty forever. The ruins
OF that unparalleled conquest were yet red
| and smoking when that gallant people paid
the first instalmept OF that great war-debt
before it was due! .... .r.f.....' il,
And in four years time we have seen
:'the. peers and the proltariat" OF France
unite in the grandest effort Of self-respect
ever exhibited by a great people. Not only
of before it fell due, but all the rayages OF
the war have been repaired; beautiful Pari,
| is restored to the glory OF her charms as
queen OF civilization in Europe, and the
army OF France has been re0rganized, re-
equipped, and enrolls to-day 1900, 600 SOL
diels, to whose physical force France adds
the moral power OF her noble self-respect-
full, honest people, and makes Prince Bis
marck restless and Kaiser William, uneasy
| in his seat. .9!e.ra-,. >t.4 - :, H..
what a, contrast, in the eyes Of mankind
docs all this point with our own conduct,
and with the condition to which repudia-
| ton or adjustment will bring us! ..tsl
Forty millions OF Frenchmen have paid
! 81 600, 600. 900 in four years, without one
plea for abatementor indulgence. While
i, 400, 900 .Virginians have owed 10000, 900
| for twelve years; have never paid one dol
| lar of principal or interest; have fatigued
Ichristendom with plants about their poy-
| erty,, and now in the very climax of an un-
exampled prosperity are urged by certain
politicians TO repudiates their debt! ,..e. .,&.,
| Should this people. eyef; be deluded into a
crime. so infamous, swift, and sure will be
the. retribution which viii follow in the ruin
Of. al that has made Virginia great, and
prosperous II .,I. YD-AHNEY IL. Marcy
u. q. AGREE, OF Lynchbur", il dead