The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-07
ilIll,,oll 1 I
Is. ,,,,,rr, & SUARY 1873 g,
sn,,nd views.

M eterssurg Post ~ q paper whose g
views TO and measures We .aaye
s;aa,,s -, ,aJs from N ore FROM lis views
II ne,, Than its views 81 measures. I've
nave always felt faith in its editor g 81 ~.
fs,.ss. when the question became one OF
nr,ncip,e we never apprehended that we
would 30 far away from him. His rsper. OF
saturday has a striking article upon the Lee
gislatare, which we copy below, intcflaein 9
with his paragraphs comment or two when VII '.
VIC think appropriate. First, as 70
THE IESrsIAruas AND The DEBT.
The Post says:
The Legislature OF Virginia has now heen
in session for nearly month, including ths
holidays Of its members, and they nave not
vet done anything which has made any par
ticular mark upon the caienaaf, Ianu Wn .u;!
could not have been dispensed Win WIZ
ant serious injury to the people. 1t is true
shas ~ they continue In session for the whole
year Il does not cost as any more, except
for fuel and incidental eX penses: but new
gertheiess, the legislation that is OF import
ance to the State should be transacted as
soon as possible, and without further neglect
or deiar. There is the debt question, which
rises above all others and demands imme-
;l,a,e and final action. Neither series OF
resolutions nor lcng-winded speeches VIII
dispose OF that absorbing question. the
longer it is delayed the more complicated
and difficult OF solution 1t Will become. Let
the debt be satisfactorily readlnsted, or
taxes levied sufficient to meet its present
responsibilities. Let us have no postpone
ment or lodging Of the question.
Thus far the Post. Now, here are the
inst cpinions OF an honest man. He expects
something like honesty from others. de
wants the Legislature to {" readiust" orleVy
taxes ..to meet" the "preseat response
biliteso OF the State. he demands that
there shall be no spostponement, no dodg-
ing Of the question:" by the Legislature.
Colonel GLASS is ore OF the aolest and most
sincere editors OF the State. He was strong
readjuster, on The ragged edge OF s'enforced
eouity.'' if not entirely in favor OF tie
pol;cv thus entitled. But he understands
we'll what injury is inflicted upon the pub
lie welfare and the commerce OF the State by
the prolonged agitation OF the question OF
tho STATE debt. He understands how every
pursuit in life is impaired by this trouble
some and prolonged agitation. Above all,
he knows how the peace of the State is dis
turbcd by il, and how there can be no rest
and no well-ordered domestic economy until
there Is "readjustmeut" or levy Of taxes
sufficient TO meet the States Responsible
ties. He plainly informs the Legislature
that there should be s:no postponcmcnt or
lodging of the question"
THE JUDICIARY.
What the Post says on this point is admi-
rable. The man who cannot say /" Amen! ;"
to every opinion here expressed is not an
earnest and faithful citizen. If the Legis-
lature proceeds to elect judges upon any
view of responsibility to public duty incon-
sistent with the Posts it will be guilty OF
faithlessness and lay the foundation for a
practice that tends to the corruption OF the
Judiciary and the ruin OF the most valuable
OF the feguards of public virtue and pub
lie liberty. We quote Colonel GLASS;
words:
And then, after this grave question has
been disposed OF, there will come the cleo
tion OF circuit judges-one OF the most i'm
portaut duties to be performed. No politics
or ring influences should enter into the
work. Men should be chosen upon their
individual merits-for their superior capa-
city, integrity, and purity OF character. With
sound judiciary no government can be
made corrupt.
APPoRTIoNMENT OF REPRESENTATION.
The Post briefly and exactly states the
merit OF this measure thus:
After this vital duty is performed, on
which all eyes are turned, then comes the
next duty OF readjusting representation IN
the Legislature. There must be fewer sen.
ators and fewer members OF the House, and
it should all be accomplished without any
gerrymandering by politicians.
Aye, sswithout any serrymander'ns by
And we conclude our notice
OF brother GLASS; message to the Legls-
lature" with this paragraph;
These are the three most important duties
deyolved upon the Legislature, and they
should be disposed of with wisdom ana
promptitude. II there should be any fail
ure or blunder the fault will rest upon one
wing or other OF the Conservative party,
and The consequences in the future VIII be
utterly destructive OF party unity ana dis
cipline.
we give to the article OF the Post espe-
cial prominence because its worthy editor
is understood to have favored the far-ad-
yanced, if not the farthest-advanced, views
OF the :. Readjusters." But he Is true
yirc;nian, and cannot reconcile it with ms
idea of honesty that public measures should
be selected as implements with which 10
play a merely personal and party game. he
demands that gentlemen shall proceed serl-
ously with the public business-that they
shall either "resdiust = the debt OF pro-
vide for the States responsibilities by taxa
ton.
This is right. This is what all people
who have votes have right to demand. 1t
ia the duty OF the Legislature to comply
with the demand. The man who holds the
position Of representative and CONSTITUTES his
duty to be less than to require compliance
with this demand is either mentally incapa-
BILE OF understanding his representative
character or too dishonest and faithless to
perform his duty. 81
The Legislature must be as prompt as
possible. The public interests, which are
suffering, demand this. The debt must be
adjusted or the taxes levied to meet the
public responsibilities. The judiciary must
be kept pure BY eleeting capable and honest
iudges, in whose election there must not he