The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-08-30
The County Canvass.

The County Canvass.
The County Conservative Committee for
Augusta met in Staunton on Monday last,
and resolved not to hold Convention to
nominate candidates for the State Senate
and House of Delegates, unless regular
Republican ticket should be brought out.
The contingency provided against will not
occur, and therefore we may expect an ami
mated and active campaign, in which the
people will record their preference. The
Republicans are not ambitious for Legislative
honors at this time. They would prefer that
the Democrats, who have gotten the State
ntoher present unpleasant and embarrassing
financial condition, should have the exclu
sive privilege Of getting her out Of it. They
will do what they can to select the best men
to aid In the work, but do not care to assume
any responsibility in the premises.
1t is not out of place to remind the people
at the Threshold OF the canvass that the
work to be performed by the next legisla-
ttlre will be no child's play. One of the
most important questions ever submitted for
It's consideration and adjustment will be the
Public Debt question, and it will require all
the skill, ability and patriotism of the State
to dispose of it in such manner as to do Jus
tice alike to the creditors and the people.
There should be full discussion OF the ques-
ton before the people, and a full ate ndance
at the polls, to the end that the popular will
may be expressed in the gentlemen who
may be chosen, and that the legislation
which may follow will embody the views of
those who have the debt to pay.
The Debt Question is eminently practi
cal one. There is nothing fiOrid or senti
mental about it, and those who may deal in
such clap-trap will mean deception. The
first object to be attained is, to see whether
the creditors cannot be placed on an equality
the uniform dignity Of the debt recog-
nized-and then to explore all the resources
of the State, and ascertain how mach she is
able to pay, and levy tax bill to pay..it.
The creditors and the people are alike and
equally interested in this. The policy of
promising to pay and not paying is worse
than open reputation. IL is pretending to
virtue which we do not strive to practice,
and encourages disregard for public obi
cations that has very demoralizing effect.
The annual default in interest, and the loose
and disgraceful management of the base
ment offices, tolerated without protest, re-
fleets more discredit upon the State than an
open, unblushing declaration of Reputation.
Men should be elected who have the moral
courage to do what they believe to be right
who are not afraid to assume RESPONSE
bility. and whose knowledge of the condl-.
ton of the State will direct their minds to
fair and equitable adjustment OF the compli-
cations upon business principles. The Com
monwealth has had enough of sentimental
iemagogues-men who clamor about the
States honor and the sanctity Of contracts,
whether tainted with fraud or not. and care
very little about their own. No law was ever
enacted that was not necessarily compulsory.
Our whole system of jurisprudence is based
upon compulsion-that is, to make people
or corporations do what they would not do
without the law to compel them. There
can be no adjustment without compulsion in
this sense; and no one has ever contended
for the compulsion of the highwayman.
Neither is there "repudiatlon - party in
Virginia, except to repndiate the abuse Of
legislative power and the reckless squander-
ing of the revenues of the State, which have
been pushing the Commonwealth rapidly on
In the path to bankruptcy. Men must be
sent to the legislature who will demand and
enforce reform in real earnest, and the cur
tailment Of every expense that is not abso-
lutely essential to the existence of the gov
ernment-who will have the courage to
purge the various Offices of the capitol of all
sinecnres, and to entrust the management of
the finances into the hands of those who are
capable Of attending to them. Virginia is
in no condition to bestow charities or to
maintain pensioners.
There is another vitality important ques-
ton that should not be overlooked in the
selection of representatives, and that is the
Public Schools. The persistent robbery of
the School Fund has operated to the disad-
cially in the rural districts. Dissatisfaction
has grown out of this, and many well-mean-
ing persons who favored the principle OF the
system have grown lukewarm in its advo-
cacy, charging the defect to the system,
when the fault has been in Withholding from
it the means for its healthy operation, paid
in by the people and dedicated by the Con-
stitnti0n for that purpose, but diverted to
other objects through the infidelity of those
entrusted with its care. There should be no
further liberation of this kind OF grand lar.
ceny. No higher duty is imposed upon the
people Of Virginia than that of educating the
masses. The future prosperity and growth
of the Commonwealth is involved in it, and
no man should be allowed to hold legisla-
tive position who will not pledge himself to
be true to this vital interest.
We urge upon the people of the county,
and especially the Republicans, to vindicate
their devotion to the State and all her para
mount interests in the ballot they will cast.
It is the highest and most sacred privilege
known to our institutions. 1t is the basis of
all good government, and its proper exer-
else is the test Of the intelligence, the vir.
tue and patriotism OF those who use it. It
is at the Dallot-box, and there alone, that
the people make their impress upon govern
ment. 1t is the Constitutional method pro-
vided for their participation in legislation,
and discriminating appreciation of its dig
nifv and canctitv will maasrrp rho moral
forces which govern in its use.
The Order.
Inasmuch as the Richmond Dispatch and
ha, flaraa to,ol tho stStallutoia most.