Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-08

of the largest aDd ablest that ever met 10 this
State, knew nothing TO prevent the payment OF
this debt but inability. Nor 40 l.. They
knew and you and l full we'll know, that the
condition OF our State is very different from
what it was when the debs was made Ihen
We were rich; now We are very poor. Then we
held within our bounds one OF the hnest coun-
tries is the world, stretching from the ocean to
the Ohio, with variety OF soil and saubrlty OF
which We have any knowledge. Ihroug 1t
was the shortest route from the Mississippi
VALLEY. with its exhaustles5 resources, to the
sea, by which We owned one OF the grandest
harbors 90 The continent. Our people were
rich 10 this worlds goods High education
held wider sway than in any other coun
try. save Scotland only. Our colleges and uol
yersities were more numerous and OF better
Grade than those Of any State 10 tho Union,
| from which annually were issuing Ingenious
Youths, who were, 10 turn, establishing schools
| from which we're going out fresh and lncreas'
| ing forces, to add to the brightest ornaments
| as we'll az the strongest power nation can
have. Behind US was u history, tho like OF
| which has never been surpassed 10 whatever
constitutes human glory, and OF which our PEG
pie were justly proud. -,
Now, our condition is very different. War
came, and with it. all it's woes. 1t came be-
cause the honor beneath which these great
blessings were born and grew, had been assailed.
| Its fortunes wero against US. We were defeat.
ed. Our territory was rent. Our Government
| was for time taken from US. Our property
was destroyed. Almost every foot of soil was
pressed by the feet of contendDg armies. Our
very social organization was broken up, and
those who had hitherto been slaves were cloth.
ed with citizenship, bringing about state of
things harder of solution than even loss of prop.
erty. The very framework OF society had to be
reformed; thing far moro difficult than tho
simple restoration Of wealth.
| No true man and lover Of bis couotry COIN.
plaiued of those thiogs. He felt that the honor
OF the State, though preserved at such cost,
was not expensive. The wager OF battle had
been joined to save it; they did not mourn that
| it had been saved at so great sacrifice.
The very same question ls offered to US again
| in another form. The duty presented 10 1861
| to preeerve our State Integrity was not a bit
more binding than that presented in 1878. to
preserve and keep sacred our promises. ludeed
it would be far more oreditabls to us To keep
our faith in this hour of poverty and trial tLan
| it was TO vindcate our honor in the Leyday OF
our power and prosperity.
And why should We not do it? The loss OF
property is no reason for the denial of our hon.
est obligations. The creditors who trusted and
lent US their money, which We used and now
enjoy, did not make tho war, nor take or de.
stroy our property. The war was Of our own
choice, for another cause, and with different
power. We cannot plead that as affecting the
sacred obligation OF contract based upon en-
tirely different grounds and with totally differ
ent persons and for different purposes.
The obligation Of the contract Tor this debt
10 its creation. is unassaied and unassaabe.
The war and its fruits have nothing to do with,
aud can 10 no way affUot that obligation. Even
tho interest could ooly be affected during lis
continuance, as between clti2ens of beligerens.
Which Of tho creditors now holding the State
bonds occupied that position to the Common
wealth.
| Nor does our condition during reconstruction
| times any more avail. 1t is true W. were
thrown into military district and so continued
for several years dominated over by the Fede-
raj Government 10 manner few proud people
have ever suffered before. But We looked for
restoration Of our State Government with a
longing that prisoner looks for the coming OF
the morning. We petitioned for it and most
eagerly embraced it at the first opportunity,
clothed as it was with May humatlng and
painful incidents. We got it in time. And
whatever may have been the status OF our oblI'
cations during the time of our thraldom, they
were revived in their full force by the resump.
ton of our sovereignty.
1t would be very poor relief were the ideas
of those to prevail, who argue that We were
conquered, and that the conqueror became
bound for our debts If that be true the other
and oorrelative is also true, that the territory,
and property, and industry of the conquered are
mortgaged for the debt. know not how 9th.
ers may feel. but [ would rather Virginia
should settle her own affairs, than have them
attended to by the Federal tax gatherer.
But neither of these excuses can now avail,
because, admitting Tor tho sake OF argument,
that the debt was thus effected, it was revived
in full force by legislative enactment, after the
restoration of the States sovereignty in re-
neua of it's obligation.
What good, then. does it do, to 20 back to
the past and quarrel over it haps and mlshaps
Why rake up its bones to annoy and disturb ?
Lot the dead past bury its dead. The living
present is about US, and before US future filed
With life and hope. if We will 20 forward like
men to meet it. We cannot do it by cumber.
ing ourselves with so many memories that we
might as we'll let die, and so many Sorrowiul
aod angry thoughts that ought to sleep.
Those who fill Office now are clothed with a
high and holy trust, No men called to Office
in Virginia since colonial times were ever
clothed with higbcr % them rest the tamo
and future of Commonwealth SO renowned
| as to rival those of ancient story. May they
have wisdom and strength to uphold and
guide them
In feverish excitement some call out for a
convention aud the formation Of new organic
law as If, whether desiring to pay or wishing to
get rid of the debt, that would IN any way help
| them. The convention would be gifted with
DO higher power for the simple sett emcnt Of
the debt than the Legislature has. 1t would
sit under the shadow of the Constitution of the
United States. and must oontne its ordinsnces
within the provisions Oft that instrument. 9th.
erwise those ordinances, like the acts of tho
Legislature, would be utterly void Such
being the case. would it not be better TO give
to the creditors the hundreds OF thousands of
dollars convention would cost, to be credited
upon their duss2
We are shut up then to the conclusion that