The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-28
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rH,,nsp 1 AIRY .. 1878.
I irgiaia Forever:

hill was sent ant0 the Ee2isiaLuse,ah A Ao ll4
,lke i boual, amongst the hayward read.
iusters. Ii was not auticipated by them hen
So complete had been their relapse into the
t,elusiye idea that public obligations We're
not SO imperative as that they should in-
commode private ease and comfort--that
py,blie honor was not d thing that could not
he indefinitely suspended, while indispostiE--
ton 10 .pay taxes should be INDUCED LOT 2
ike iudeSnite time, and that any sort OF
device which could put of pay DAY ana re-
pel the public creditor would preyah over
all moral and legal consid erations-t u
was presumed that no idea OF a veto OF the
BARBouR bin could possibly be entertalne d.
S,,ch thing from the Governor was mol
dreamed OF, and when 1t was iat'nc NED lnto
the Legislature it was indeed like q bomb nll
and produced both surprise and irf rita
The Governor objects to the bill that It is
no settlement OF the debt question, the agi-
.at,on OF which has cost the State more tnan
the amount OF the debt. He further oDlec's
TO the bill because it proposes ylolation OF OF
the Constitution, according to the decision
of,he Court OF Appeals, and inevitably forces
the question already decided again upon tha1
j court. He most earnestly and impressiveiy
denrecates the idea Of pressing upon the
court the questions growing out OF iesisla-
ton upon the public obligations. de taxes
the correct view--that such questions CANNOT
be elevated by the judiciary above the polltl-
cal arena; but the courts themselves are IN
danger OF being degraded, dragged. down
TO the low level OF that arena. He depiores
the exigency that may array tue courts
against the Lesislature-one department OF
the government against another. lie we'll
asks, Whytempt again the inevitable!
With regard to the assumption OF the
preamble that any appropriation OF the rev.
enue to the payment OF the public dept
which would deprive the common schools
Of the means necessary to carry them on
was violation Of the Constitution, he re-
minds the Legislature that the obligation
to the public creditor is older than the Con-
stitution, and therefore has claim that is
entitled to precedence over one that was
originated in the Constitution. The argu-
ment and the suggestions OF Governor Hoi-
IrDAY on this point will be deeply interest
ing to the people, and set those who have
cudeayored to find out how to avoid the
public obligations instead Of paying them,
to much and anxious thoughtful considers
ton.
The preamble very properly occupies
further place in Governor HOLIDAYS rItl-
cism. The LIST proposition as to the obllga-
ton Of the Legislature to provide the ways
and means to support the government he
admits as one not to be denied. AS to the
I'd, concerning schools, the Governor takes
issue with the Legislature, as stated above.
The feature of the preamble which disa-
vows any purpose to deprive the public
creditor of his rights the Governor pro-
perry regards as utterly worthless, since it
is made after their rights are taken away.
The message is clincher, and the Legis-
: lat ure is possessed Of no implement that
can possibly unclinch and draw the nails
which are driven by it into their crude and
unconstitutional measure for avoiding the
solemn obligations of the State.
We hail the message as a grand manifes-
tation of the majesty OF Virginia. it re-
calls the representatives Of the people to the
solemnity and the imperative character Of
the public obligations. and to the impossi-
biIity OF evading them without the concur
renee of the public creditor. The moral of
this paper is that Virginia is great State,
whose obligation to perform promise
is equal to her right to make it.; that
Virginia as State cannot sink be-
meath her dignity by FORGETTING her
honor in refusing to fulfil her obligations.
II she should do so she is not worthy to be
called State. The world would cease to
look upon her as worthy so to be called,
and her people must lose that respect with
which as loyal citizens they have always re-
garded her. Worse still, those people could
not resist the demoralizing consequences OF
an act OF public faithlessness; and cor
rupted and Inundated by it would them
selves prove faithless, and thus private in
tegrity and honor would perish and become
unknown within the boundaries of State
once honored as one amongst the noblest.
This is what the most timely and manly
message OF Governor HOLIDAY does, and
let us thank kind Providence that has
raised up such man to stay the downward
progress OF our glorious mother in her hour
of greatest danger.
The time is serious and critical. 1t is a
time to arouse the patriotism Of us all-not
one to vent regrets or coniure up passions
that can only lead to further confusion and
public injury. 1t is now every mans duty
to devote himself to the public welfare.
Virginia demands his help. II we but sink
personal ambition and party tactics, and
combine honestly to rescue the State from
peril, we shall succeed triumphantly; and
il Will turn out that the day that put
check upon the unwise schemes that made
public defalcation and disgrace inevitable
was indeed happy one for the grand Com
monwealth which we are sure all OF us hope
as long as we live to be proud to call MOTHER.
#
Charleston and Richmond.
The people Of Richmond are much graft
fed at the exceedingly happy and graceful
civilities manifested by the chivalrous citi-
zens Of Charleston towards our volunteers.
M, :, S,,t ,sr;4;oa 20 the nnoaeion yuara az de.