The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-24
.,The cna,apion Folly.


.The Champion Folly
a'he champion folly Oh she day - the re-
,at,s,,sters. agitation tn the matter Of the
nub.ic debt 81 Virginia. The forctble res
afi;usters had the consros OF the last Lsgis-
la,ure. but they discovered the utter ft,pos-
sibili,s 81 enforcing any law that accorded
viii, their view oi comp ceiling the public
creditor TO accept whatever terms the aLegis-
lass,re determined 10 dictate.
Finding this 10 be the case, they rashly
determined to have d convention 70 alter the
CONSTITUTION and reform the Government.
That desperate effort was made, and met
iuglersous defeat. ~,
Disappointed and irritated to q degree
that was at first almost phrenzy they finally
grew silent and sorrowful, leaving rage and
yiiuperation TO newspaper use, md covered
snp their chagrin by joining the better-dis
posed Representatives Of the people in pasa.i
ing the we'll known compromise bill, which
was Invaluable as showing that harmony
and deliberation were possible ina body in!
the election OF which triumphed plan!
that was radically disloyal to the honor OF
the State and contemptuous OF the public;
faith. s S s4
Tbs upshot OF the session OF q body so
constituted was a clear proof OF the fr,.stra-3
ton OF the purposes it had in yiew whensit
came to Richmond schemes OF the re-
adjusting caucus OF the bllliard-roofn, ad-
} vised and partly concocted by one who
mainly OBLIGATED at the birth and christen-
ing OF the most novel and strangely organ
ICED party that ever existed in Virginia.
The result was most fortunate triumph
for the State. No action at such q time was
public blessing, and this was about near
the truth OF what was done. The Radicals
were defeated. the legislative temper was
restored to serenity, and the much-teased
and petted people were granted furlough
to recollect themselves and contemplate the
situation.
Still, the folly of agitation was and IS
threatened; and for what? Can a sane and
reasonable man tell? Except upon one
sIlpposition we believe it impossible. and
that snpposition is that the agitators want
to be elected or reelected, and some men Of
sore heads and ambition above their merits
think that maybe they can get to Congress
by impressing it upon the people that they
are wronged and oppressed, and that they,
the ambitious men aforesaid, viii do some.
thing to relieve them. And this is all.
Now they all know, and 80 does the pub
lie, that there Is no earthly chance for these
agitators to do anything for the relief Of the
people in the way they propose. 1t is
equally certain that the threatening reform
OF the judiciary through the alteration OF
the Constitution cannot help them out. Re
cent decisions Of the courts, State and Fed
eral, show that contracts will be held invio-
liable, and Virginia cannot avoid hers.
But will the people OF Virginia be willing
to drive with destructive force upon their
own government to accomplish objects that
are discreditable, even if they could be ac-
complished In such manner? The Court
OF. Appeals might be eyicted, and their par
tisan successors might disgracefuilya ascend
to that bench which has never been furnished
by corruption or dishoDor. And should
they so unworthily reach that heretofore,
sacred position, what will they do? Do not
all the mad readjnsters know that the Fede-
raj Constitution will as assuredly. be pro-
tected from violation as that the Federal
Government itself will live2 Do they expect
that the clause declaring the inviolability Of
contracts will. become dead letter.? Ii
they do they viii find that they labor under.
the greatest deiusion. u a. s4t
Onr judges OF the highest State tribunal
are men selected from the bosom of the peo-
pie for their wisdom and their virtue. They
are of the people and their hearts are with
them in their trials and in their triumphs.
And like pure and honest men they look
upon that community as purest and best
which maintains Its Integrity and honor by
the performance OF all its obligations, and
they cannot for a moment tolerate the idea
that the State whose rights and honor are
in part entrusted to them shall become dis
honored by failure to meet her own obli-
cations. -, - q - ii
II such body Of iurists are to be evicted
the people should we'll understand what
they are to gain by an act so unwise, so
dangerous to good order, and ruinous to.
the purity and uprightness Of the judiciary,
as their removal because they are too pnre,
too firm, to yield to the demands OF a dis
honest political party.
WiIlthe people dream CT reforming such
q court or Of reyolutionizing the govern
ment for no possible advantage?
1T would be the maddest OF all mad things.
People Of Virginia, put your faces uncom-
promisingly against this madness, which can
only impair your peace and injure your
prosperity rs long as it is even talked OF.