The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-02

IN the plan. 'sa SIS ~ So.
we take il that the great body OF the peo-sF
| nile desire the settlement Of the: debt qnes-3
tson. Internationally shewhole State would
be Immensely benefited by that. Y would ]
secure peace 10 ali business and all pursuits
r. would stop the decline OF the public
credit restore confidence sin the integrity
and rsspec. Tor the fame and name OF Viz U.
gi,ia. ii would give credit to her citizens,
invite immigration to her lands, Increase,
their value, give new impulse 20 trade, anu
bring. about such "a changed u the eonditionI;
ana prospects OF the State as would inspire
hsr people with cheerfulness and content 4.
ment. ea5s:siga IS ~ s5Ss 3z.sssz z5
An adjournment without doing anything
would leave us at sea nothing viii have
been done to, check distrust and decline IN
ths state. The war upon credit. and that
vulgar defamation OF the bondhoI ders who
have done nothing worse Tor Yirgi nia than
to frost i'd her honesty wand lend her: money,
must continue ru:nously impairlng the pub
lie reputation md bringing upon Virgin.
ians The opprobrium Of the civilized world l'l
How. can any nam hope ything for the.
good OF Virginia out Of such I, o state OF
fhings2 80 81, t.,1..;,z
The RECOMMENDATION OF silver and the
policy OF the Federal Government promise
for the nation new departure in the busi--
ness worid--a restoration OF commerce and
industry to a condition of order land thrift.
Atsuch q time the illustrious State OF Viz
GINA should throw off the weight which
bears her down, arrange her affairs with the
public creditor, and at once take q leading
position in the onward march TO better
things, rather than ,linger behind, like q,
wounded soldier, to remain in hospital until,
after Glow recovery, she may appear weak
and aitenuated amongst her associates, to
lament her misiortunes instead OF to share,
their good fortunes and join with them in
their reioicings. ,t.iaE3
The BARBOUR bill settled ncsbing, and
Governor HOLIDAY, under his sense OF
duty to the Constitution. vetoed it. That,
OF course. is amongst things past. But the
elaborate discussion of that measure de-
yeIoped the fact that the State OF Virginia
was entirely able to make settlement OF
her debt upon terms that reasonable men
thought altogether acceptable to the public
creditor Why cannot the Legislature, in
q patriotic and bipartisan spirit, determine
some measure that may accomplish this de-
sirable end p: l,e :,}F .1S3a 81, Y. Il s;SS
Mr.. FAJNTLERoY on Thursday introduced
measure TO place the peeler-bonds and the
consols upon the same basis, making the in
terest due each receivable for debts due the
Commonwealth. II we presume that Mr..
FkuNTLERoY was in earnest in his PROPOSE
ton It is as easy to make the interest on the
coupons receivable for public dues at four
per cent. as-those at six, for which they may
be exchanged. II the interest were fixed
at four per cent, and thus made receivable,
the public creditor would be satisfied, and
that interest the State could pay with this
qualification consolidate the accrued in
terest and issue for it certificates OF debt to
be paid without interest at given period.
The State could begin with the accruing
interest and 60 on smoothly. The practi-
cable retrenchment, close collection Of rev..
enue, and vigilant administration OF the
government would end the endorsements
of Virginia, and the people would once
more feel that they were citizens OF real
and proud and independent State, and
not OF poor Commonwealth pitied for
her improVidence and disrespected for her
want Of integrity. The suggestions here
offered have been embodied in measures
already proposed to the General Assembly. i
1t is entirely easily TO carry them out, pro-
vided the General ssembly shall be iii-
spired with the proper motives 81 ts4. h
For ourselves, we cannot bear to think
that Legislature Of Virginia can leave
their State 10 its hamiliating condition. We
cannot think that any State faithless to her
public honor merits the name OF State, much
less that she can maintain the true dignity
that belongs to4a State. Setting aside the
question of the terrible injury that the peo-.,
DIE OF Virginia must suffer from the impaired
credit that must fall upon themselves as
well as their State, there Is q political infa-
my that attaches to public dishonor that
gentlemen entertaining proper sentiments
cannot regard without dismay.
What possibility IL there for any Of the
monarchies OF the day to repudiate their
debts or fall to meet their responsibilities ?
What would be the standing Of one that
would become deiaulter making no proyi-
sion for a continuance Of its credit It
would hold no respectable position in the
society OF nations, and would be RENTED
to the place Of decaying aud contemplate
States.
Shall ne hold orr oxr republican State
in less respect than belongs to personal
government? is the government proceed
ing from the people the government that
reposes Epon their bravery, wisdom. and
honor-one that may exist witha moral
sense aud . political Integrity Of character
degraded ia comparison with q one-man's:
goyernment
Shame should mantle the cheek OF any
citizen 81 The Republic who would confess
that It should sassa
The matter Of public honor OF State IL |
one that concerns the nation. State dis
honor must involve, TO- some degree, the
sdishonor Of the nation Does any one sup.
pose that the dishonor Of q State like yir.f
ginia exeFts no effect upon the nation?I
That wonla be TO nndsrrate yirglniR. God
forbid that any man called ~ rginisn hould
4