Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-01-08
Gov. Holiday on the State DeDt'

Gov. Holiday on the State DeDt'
We clip the following extract,
from Gov. Holidays inaugural
address. 1t cmbodieB his views on
the all absorb question Of the
State debt.
Is it a just debt, and has
the State received consideration for
it? / have never heard it claimed
that it was unjust and without con-
sideration. 1t was made before the
war, and is now represented by pub-
lie improvements, without which
Virginia would be in q slough of de-
spond.. with which she is ready to
enter into rivalry with the strongest
of her sister States. She gave her
bonds for it. at time when her word
would be taken and her credit pass in
any market in the world. And upon
that word and credit means were got
which were spent in opening up her
vast resources.
Why. then, should we not pay it :?
The honor of State is above price.
It cannot be measured by money. The
character of Commonwealth marks
her place among nations, and is the
guide Of the individual growth and
destiny Of her citizens. The law is
schoolmaster, and it will determine
whether the citizens is to be vicious or
virtuous. a generation or so Of bad
legislation may change people from
a high minded and honorable race
into depraved and dishone men,
Nothing SO soon accOmplishes this
unhappy end as a disregard of solemn
compacts. Upon their sanctity the
whole frame work of society reSts,
from the sacred bond that ties the
family TO the strong and subtitle cord
which binds in harmony otherwise
jarri e elements in the unity Of gOY-
ernment.
This should guide every one who is
called to take part in the councils Of
the State, Especially is this true in
Republican form of Government like
ours. Without virtue it cannot sur
vive; force must soon take the place
Of reason. And the man who thinks
he can use such tricks TO gain petty
end, will fad when too late that
everything is lost. The hope and on
~ hope Of Republic is the recOgni-
ton of the sanctity OF contracts and
the Olinding obligation and suprema-
cy of law.
OHr duty, then, as good citizens, is
to devise means To pay the debt; not
to find ways to avOid il. 1t viii hard
ly pay it to criminate some former
Legislature by general charges of bri-
berry and fraud. If any one has dared
to faint the halls of Legislation with
these crimes, let him he brought to
trial and punished with the utmost
rigor of the law. Nor will it anymore
pay the debt TO weaken the standing
among the people of our highest
court. by reflection upon it's Judge
ment or integrity; a court of which
any State might be proud-so learned,
so able, and so Uure.
Nor does it pay the debt 10 plead the
war, save as touching our ability
That was of our choice, and / hear no
one who engaged in it complain of its
losses, though untold wealth was
spent, and SO many lives lost that
Virginia is q great battle field and a
great cemetery, After four years of
OtOONl IAAC sNklCb db W HCc
the flag furled even in the midst of
and in view of more dreadful ruin
No complaint then of loss of property;
only hope Of victory. No complaint
of suffering and privation, though
famine stared them in the
face; only sorrow for the fall. Were
we willing now to bear one hundredth
part of what we then bore, the debt
would have been well nigh paid, and
a triumph equal to the victory of arms
would have signalized the patriotisA
and devotion of our people.
But our people are not yet given
over. / have not seen or heard of an
individual bold enough to avoW pub
licly or privately the doctrine of re-
pudiation. l hope none of rs will
mistake the thing for the name. But
ought not those who aspire to rule in
public affairs to be careful. lest in the
zeal of party they do not let fall ideas
which make the impression upon the
mind of the ignorant and unwary that
lt IL more important TO study how not
to pay the debt? Ifnot now. the dem
agogue, shallow and wicked, will
soon be abroad in the land, attacking
like poison the vitals of the State. and
more dangerous than an invading ar
my. The latter unites. the former
dissOlves patriotism. Not that the
little demagogue long survives after
be has done his work he is remitted
to his original Obscurity. and a might
ier than he rides and guides the storm.
With such ideas in the ascendant,
a strange picture Virginia would pre-
sent. A statute book full of provisions
for the protection of property and for
the enforcement of individual con-
tracts hundreds OF thousands raised
by taxation and spent yearly for the
education of the ingenious youths of
the country. that they may be fash
ioned into good citizens and stalwart
men, and yet the State that does these
things q standing fraud!
believe there is no danger of such
q result. However far Virginia may,
in moments Of excitemen or suffer
ings, drift from her moorings, sober
thought will restore her. Her people
are still earnest and true.
There is, and can be, bnt one excuse
for the payment CT an honest
debt-inability-either for the iDdi-
vidusl In the court of morals, or for
the State at the bar of public opin-
ion.
No graver responsibility can fall to
the lot of men than falls upon us, now
entering upon Office in Virginia.
This debt issue has hitherto teen