Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-11
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. II. 1878.
THE WORK OF THE LEGISLA
TURE.

eAAOAVN~6AAJ w.
mon sense remark when he said that the
Adjusters had said to the people that they
knew all about how the State debt could
be adjusted and now the people expected
them to do it. To this expectation Of the
people of the State what answer has there
been given thus far, when over one-third
of the session has been wasted We say
wasted, because it has yielded no fruit, no
one whole and completed step towards the
adjusting or settling of the debt has been
taken, and all the news that the country
people get from Richmond is to the effect
that this Adjuster is to have such an office.
and that Adjuster such position and
that such man is getting the backing of
his county to be made Circuit Judge.
With such Office seeking tidings as these
and they the only tidings, what hope can
the people have that anything is being
done or intended to be done towards the
settlement Of the main question for
which they were sent to Richmond.
What do the people of Augusta care about
who holds the basement offices of the cap
ital so they are honest and capable men !?
What interest have we in the fact that a
man in some county is scheming for judge
ship? Our people want the debt question
settled. That was the distinct issue in Au-
gusta, with the addition that we wanted
it settled without cheating anybody. Why
is it when this is the chief work cut out
for this legislature that when the people
talk with their delegates who happen to be
at home. the burden Of the information
they receive is that this man is regarded
as leader in one Of the houses-not on
the debt question, but as to his chances
for the next Senatorship; or that another
man is rapidly becoming the favorite with
the members from his own congressional
district and will be apt to succeed the
incumbent at the next election.
Why is it every time the top of the legis-
lative pot is lifted for glimpse into it we
see the Debt question lying heavy and still
at the bottom and petty personal ambi-
lions bubbling and dancing On top? Is it
because the majority there are conscious
that they have deceived the people and are
trying to leave the main question, which
they cannot settle, undisturbed. The men
who promised to settle the public debt
without paying the creditor, who boosted
they could do it, who ridiculed those who
said it could not be done and should not if
it could, who flooded the primaries with
'.The People s Ticket who whlstled the
"effete'' regard for State honor down the
winds and who boosted that they wanted
to settle the debt SO as to avoid repudia.
ton, of which they professed holy hor
TOR, have had possession of the law ma
king power of Virginia for more than one
third of the ninety days allowed by law fol-
the session. They have held secret eau
cuses to settle their plans, and ruled out
from participation i'll them those who die
not think with them, thus securing the
most desirable and undisturbed unanimity
in fixing on what to do and how to do it.
And yet not one step has been taken. The
actual amount of the debt not ascertaiped
no attempt made to ascertain the capacity
of the State for taxation. no step-and
when we say step we do not refer to idle
;, resolutions, many Of them for buncombe
introduced-has been taken which would
bring creditor forward with proposition
We were told that this legislature would
be an example. to all others by the dash i
would exhibit, by the way in which i
would "wipe things out,'' to use thu
statesmanlike language of the occasion
We would suggest to the Adjusters thai
they go to work and parcel out all the Of
fees, settle as far as they can the chances
for the U. s. Senator, six up'' the con
gressional districts as well as the time will
allow and then hand over the D. bt mat
ter to the debt-payers for adjustment. VIZ
have been all along convinced that the only
men who are likely to settle the vexed
question at all are those who were sent to
Richmond as Debt Paying representatives
The creditors will ave no confidence in
the other class, nor has the world at large.
Let them have the question. While the
AJjusters are casting lots for the garments
let the better men have the body Of the
State they love and prepare it for glori
Gus. resurrection.