The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-25

the high seas; . s.s5F s ESQ -
Mr.. MILLER is the lust reviewer, the we'll
balanced philanthropist, who cannot be
biased by sentimental zeal or party preiu-
dice.
Logic and WISDOM.
We most willingly make room for the fol-
lowing wise and suggestive article, and
earnestly invite for it the patient perusal
and consideration Of our readers:
The .. Rea4lSuaters.''
Iobseryed that in an editorial published
in the Dispatch some days ago you eX.
pressed surprise that the "readiusters "
should entieayor to bring that matter as an
issue into The coming electionsfor congress-
men. l do not share your,surprise on that
subject; on the contrary, / should have
been surprised ii they had failed to do So.
A disregard OF national obligations Is
u logical sequence Of violation OF
State obligations. The avowed object OF
the " resdjusters is TO relieve the people
| from the burtben OF taxation, and to that
end they seek to get rid Of the debt OF the
State. But it IS obvious that reputation
or !" readiustment" OF the state deDt Wouio
give but partial relief. The State debt is
lint a small matter compared with the T ede-
raj. It is only some thirty-odd millions
contrasted with over two thousand mil
| lions OF dollars The tax for State purposes
| is but drop in the bucket compared with
| Tinted STATES taxes The whole amount
required to pay interest on the State debt is
only about one million two or three hum
dred thousand dollars, while the amount
necessary to pay interest on the national
debt is larger by over one hundred millions.
Look at the tax Of seven millions Which
Virginia pays on tobacco, and the immense
tax on whiskey! Would it not, then. nc
nonsense for the 'sreadiusters" to limit
their efforts to relief from taxation TO pay
interest on the State debt? Would it not
be gaping nj a gnat while they swallowed
camel? The .sreadjusters are shreWd
set. They know what they are about.
Their effort in regard to the "readjust-
mentn OF the State debt is the entering
wedce-a preliminary experiment. When
the abolitionists commenced their agitation
they Justify proclaimed that they had no In
tention OF interfering with slavery in the
States. All they desired was to get it out
OF the District Of Columbia and keep it out
OF the Territories. So the 6 readlusters
heretofore have limited their operations to
the State OF Virginia. May 1t not be that
their comparative success encourages them
| to seek broader field Of action?
why should they not do so? Is it not di-
rectly in the line Of their policy Nay,
does not every reason in favor of repudi-
ating the State debt apply with much greater
force in favor of repudiating the national
debit And are we not warranted III the
conjecture that they have this end in view
in seeking to send 9 readiusters" TO Con-
gress? II it be right for the people OF Vir-
State
debt, which was contracted By them through
their representatives, and for which they
received valuable consideration in the
form OF railroads, canals, and turnpikes,
and asylums and schools, which still exist,
and the benefit of which the Sbeoplc OF
Virginia are enjoying daily, Is not much
more reasonable that they should Gre
adjust" or repudiate the national debt,
which was contracted when Virginia was
not even represented in the national coun-
cils-a debt for which they received no con-
sideration, and which, In fact, was theprice
of their own subiugation
Large streams from little fountains flow,
Tall oaks from little acorns grow. )"
The sreadiustment" movement III flr-
ginia may contain the germ OF national re-
pudiation. A few blatant demagogues IN
Congress may do incalculable mischief to
the national credit and sow broadcast the
seeds OF distrust. Let all good men exer-
else VIGILANCE.
Most true. State reputation is OF little
value if there be anything commendable or
desirable in reputation. 1t must DE ma
tional to make it valuable.
Let the people look at the matter in this
clear light. And in looking at it thus let
them take along in their minds these una.
9oidable points:
The Union has recently resisted the most
fearful civil war fought for its disruption.
The Union triumphed, and is incomparabiy
stronger than ever. With its added power
there are added responsibilities. and these
must be maintained with an integrity and
force that will prevent the degradation OF
the national dignity one iot or title. The
nation stands now in the foremost rank
Of nations. And he is not wise, he Is not
true to his country, who dreams that 1t Is
possible at this time for any theoreti-
cal sentiment or political CROCHET to iostle
or to any considerable degree impair the
standing OF this great Power.
With such power as we are under we
are proud to believe that one OF the first
matters in the object Of the Government,
and in the minds of the people is the main
tenance OF the public credit, and honor
throughout the world. Such q Government
as that OF this nation is bound to maintain
this position before all men and nations.
Circumstances that surround it compel this
to be done.
The national honor cannot be perfect II
there be faint in the States which are men,
bers of it; and above all, il faint exists in
the first Of all the coniederated States. This
being the case, the time is not far oil when
it will be found that no member OF so great
a nation shall be permitted to bring it'into
disgrace by the sacrifice OF its own .honof.
No State could gain its own consent TO be-
come discredited member Of such Gov
ernment-to become the neglected ana
despised runt, the deformed and pltled on
spring, OF noble family.
! When Mississippi repudiated, and other
States were shaky and Stacking in prompt
itude. the United States Government wanted
some money and endeavored to borrow it
abroad; but her bonds were unstable, and
she had to do without the needed funds.
This occurrence viii never happen again.
We would rather say because no State will
ever faint the general reputation by infidel-
ity on her part. ut1whether it be due to
Al. az