The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-10-11
Gen. Walker and the Public Schools.

In this canvass, especially, have we guarded
against any manifestation of mere fault
finding disposition as to men, and passed by
without comment various expressions as to
public measures with which we could not
agree. We have aimed to direct the thoughts
Of the people in channel that we believe
will lead to healthy condition OF State af-
fairs, infuse integrity into legislation, and
promote the general good. Indeed, until
the speech of Gen. J. A. Walker, ut Rich
mond, on last Friday night, there has been
no deliberate enunciation of a policy or a
line of probable action, on the part of the
candidates for State offices, that we thought
called for criticism. We had hoped there
would not be. We preferred that the candi-
dates put forward BY the Richmond Conven.
ton should be accepted by all parties, rest
ing in the belief that they would abide the
verdict of the people as recorded in the
Legislature to be chosen. We do not be-
lieve Col. Holiday would presume to arrest
that verdict by any authority vested in him
as Governor, by the Constitution. lie would
hesitate before he would lnterpose an arbi-
trary power to contravene the clearly eX.
pressed wishes OF the voters OF the State
upon any question affecting themselves aud
State policy, and would hardly presume to
exercise Constitutional prerogative, de-
signed to protest against hasty legislation,
to thwart the sovereign will of the people.
We have taken this much for granted, and
have therefore sought to manufacture no
sentiment in opposition to his election, or 20
disturb the peaceful progress OF the cam
paign so far rs he is concerned.
We have INDUCED similar feeling and
views as to the rest of the State ticket, and
had hoped there would be no occasion for us
to depart from policy OF passive support to
the gentlemen who had been chosen as the
representatives OF their party in this election
We cannot, however. allow to pass unno-
ticed very remarkable declaration of Gen.
Walker on the 9TH inst. It involves ques-
ton that is vital to the State-which, to our
view, is paramount to all others, and in
which the people-the masseS-are more
deeply interested than in all others. We
mean the Public Schools.
In the speech delivered in Richmond on
Friday last, after discussing the fact Of the
default in interest, and pointing out that by
a certain line of retrcnchment the expenses
of the State might be brought within the re-
venues derived from the present rate Of
taxation, Gen. Walker says:
"If our revenues are insufficient to meet all
other demands, then the loss must fall on the
school fund or ON the holders of bonds with NO
coupons receivable for taxes, for there is nc
where else for it to fall. The Constitution, which
our legislators are sworn to obey, requires them
TO pay the interest on the literary and sinking
fund annually: and this duty they must perform
Then it follows that we must raise taxation or
the school fund must be depleted or the peeler
bondholders must go without their interest, and
that debt must be virtually repudiated."
A little reflection might have demon
stratcd to Gen. Walker that the oath pre-
sented to the Legislators =" comprehends
the entire Constitution, and that it is as
much their sworn duty to obey one part as
another. 1t not only requires them to pay
interest on the literary and sinking fund,
but desisnates the revenues for the support
of the Public Schools, and it is as much per-
jury to disregard this, as any other mandate
Of that instrument. Hostility to the Public
Schools is lily concealed by Gen. Walker.
We are very frank to say that we do not
like the spirit and evident intent of this an
nouncemcnt, not only because of what is
positively said, but more particularly by
what is implied. 1t contcmplates the con.
tingency when the declared policy Of the
State may be to assault the Public School
system, regardless Ct the Constitution and
the highest interest OF the Commonwealth.
Instead of pronounced policy against the
system of robbery that has been practiced
against this great boon, it is plainly to be
understood that in order to comply with the
provisions of the Funding Bill fraud, it may
become necessary to fix it as part of the
economy of the Commonwealth to invade
the fund set apart by the Constitution for
the sustenancc of the Schools, and practi-
cally wipe them out OF existence, in order
that the ailers and abettors OF bribery and
corruption may reap the results of their in
famous transaction. We have no patience
with any public man or candidate for public
favor who can cody contemplate such con-
tingency. 1t would be crime against hui
manity as we'll as against public policy. 1t
would seem that no interest, however vital
and however hcdged around by Constitu-
tional provisions, is to be considered as pro-
tected from the assaults of the holders OF
the fraudulent Funding Bill issues. Instead
of condemning and denouncing the fragrant
violation of the Constitution in the diversion
of the Public School fund to the demands of
the Funding Bill, Gen. Walker allows the
crime to pass unnoticed, and complacently
argues that it may become necessary to
make it part of administrative policy to
persist in the violation of the Constitution
so far as the Public Schools are concerned,
in order to satisfy the Funding Bill require
ments.
We regard the Public School system OF
Virginia as the most sacred interest that ap.
peals to the fostering care of the State, and
the Constitutional provision for its protec.
ton paramount to any other mandate of the
fundamental law. There is no other inter
est that we would not consider as secondary.
1t is interviewer with the very groundwork,
not only OF State prosperity, but Republican
liberty, and any policy that does not look
primarily to its development and preserva.
ton is in conflict with the genius of our in.
stitutions and inimical to the rights of the
people.
1t is matter of alarm to every friend oil
human progress and the amelioratlon and
elevation of the condition of the masses,
that all the arguments yet advanced in de.
fence of the Funding Bill by those who re-
gard it as sacred, have indirectly, and some.
times directly, contemplated the destruction
of the Free Schools. They do not seem to
regard the Constitutional provision for the il
support as of binding force, nor even Of
equal dignity with the Legislative enactment
which brought into existence, through cor.
rnntion the most inoIitOnS law that avn,