The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-10-31
Gen. Echols and the Public Schools,

Gen. Echols and the Public Schools
We received last week for publication a
communication from prominent Repub-
lican in this district assigning his reasons
for opposing Gent. Echols. The late hour
at which it was received prevented its pub
LEGATION at the time, and since then it has
been withdrawn. The legislative votes of
Gen Echols against the Massey School Bill,
the Barbour Bill, and the resolution to in
crease the taxes were the stated grounds of
the opposition Of our correspondent, as
assuming that all OF those votes showed that
he was nc friend of the Public Schools. 1t is
true Gen. Echols did vote as stated on the Mas
sey School Bill and the Barbour Re-adjust-
ment Bill, but he did so upon high ground,
believing that both of them were unconsti-
tutional and in direct conflict with the de-
cisions of the Supreme Court OF Appeals Of
the State. He could see no reason for tan
talizing the creditor or raising false hopes
with the people, by enacting into law these
bills to be decided null and void by the
highest judicial tribunal Of the State, where
they would have at once been taken. While
we differed with him then in the reasons he
assigned for his opposition to these meas
ures, we should have respected him the less
had his votes been governed by the desire
to conform to popular sentiment, instead of
the oath he had taken to support the Con-
stitution. Eminent lawyers, and am ong
them majority of the Supreme Court of
Virginia, agreed with him, and we are sure
an intelligent constituency, whether his ac-
ton was in accord with them or not, would be
far from condemninghim because lie had vot-
ed as his conviction Of duty and oath Of office
inspired him to vote.
He voted also against an increase of tax
alton, because he believed then as he be-
lieves now, that an adjustment with the
creditors can be effected, mutually beneficial
to them and the State, if approached in the
proper spirit. The resolution, providing for
an increase OF taxation, was introduced at
an inopportune time. before any meas
ures had been indicated or presented for ac
ton, that looked to re-adju stment. 1t was
faction device, framed and offered for faction
advantage, and not to subserve a great pub
lie purpose. The proposition was made for
just such purposes as it is now used, to sus
tain charge OF Inconsistency, to accord
with the aims of politicians, and not with
reference to any sincere, earnest, practical
legislation designed to settle the complica-
tions and endorsements which environ
the Commonwealth. 1t was trifiing with
legislation trifing with the credit and honor
Of the State; trifling with the people; and
was Invested OF any high and patriotic
purpose to lift Virginia out Of the difficult
ties which surround her.
None Of these votes were inconsistent
with the earnest support of the public
schools which Gen. Echols has always Civ
en-. He has been a consistent, active friend
of the Public School System from the day
of its Inauguration in Virginia, and believes
it is essential to the welfare of the Common
wealth and the growth and prosperity of
the State, that the schools should be firmly
established and literally cared for. Had all
honest, sincere cndeavors been ex-
hausted to secure an adjustment of the debt,
he would have favored the only rational
alternative left, of laying tax to preserve
them and perfect their operation and bene-
fits. That is his position now, and in this
he differs with his competitors in this con-
test, for they both declare that under no
conceivable circumstances would they favor
an increase of taxation for any purpose
Gen. Echols can see no way out of our diff
ficulties, except by an adjustment of the
debt, mutually acceptable to the creditor
and the debtor, or an increase of taxation,
consistent with the maintenance Of the pub
lie schools. He sees in the decision of the
Supreme Court an insuperable barrier to for
chile REIMBURSEMENT. He does not believe
that this is possible; and if all friendly eff
forts to the contamination of an adjustment
fail, so earnestly does he support the Free
School System, that he would favor an adj
ditional tax for that purpose. Will Judge
Harris or Capt. Paul declare as much? If
they regard the Public Schools of Virginia
as essential to the well being of commu-
nifty, and indispensable to the proper i'm.
provementand development of the rising gen.
Grafton, what is their remedy should re-adjust-
ment fail? 1t must be either increased tax
alton or revolution. Would the latter sue
coed. and if successful in striking down the
Courts, the bulwark of our civil liberty,
would the schools flourish upon the ruins
thus consummated? The law is the basis of
our entire social organism, the guardian of
our property rights, and Of life itself. Strike
a successful blow at the base--of our institu-
tions, as represented in the adjudications of
our highest Court tribunal, and anarchy
would follow. Would the schools flourish
then? Would society improve and the func-
tons of government operate?
Gen. Echols had in view the sanctity of the
country In the votes he cast, land he would have
been false to the highest duty Of the represen-
tative hadhe allowed any mere considerations
Of popular prejudice to have controlled
his action. he had duty to his conscience
and his oath to discharge, and he met it
like man. He could well afford to trust to
time to vindicate his motives. We differed
with him in his views and his votes at the
time, but because Of this difference we cou Id
see no reason to question his convictions, or |
arraign his fidelity to high public trust, in
7olving, in a degree, the Public Schools. We
had knowledge of his deep and sincere in
;erests in the schools, at time when it was
If questionable popularity, and when much
prejudice had to be encountered in their
upport. Then as now he did what he be-
ieved to be right, and here where he is
Known, no one would have the effrontery to
aise question as to his sympathy with and
arrest solicitude for the maintenance and
of the Public Free Schools.
This discussion, however, is foreign to the
'osition for which he is now candidate. In
70 contingency will a member of Congress
n called unon fo ant I n ro fnropoo to r. opd