The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-05

This S1,742, S65.S2 does not include the
annual interest due on bonds held by the
Literary Fund, fuHinterest on which would
be SS4,34964, as shown by the report OF the
Second Auditor. II this item be added to
the first statement OF interest as above. the
total annual deficit would be 1854, 952.97.
This is, every one will admit,
AVERY LARGE DEFICIT,
which must be met, and must be met honor
ably. by the State. 1t cannot be said before
the General Assembly, however unrefect-
ing men NAV at large talk, that this debt IS
without consideration, or has any other de-
feet, actual or technical. Happily that mai
ter is closed, and hope forever.'.by the re-
heated declarations Of your respected body !;
nor have we the preteXt, shallow though 1t
would be. that the consideration was lost
by the war. That consideration stands TO-
dav: and could it by some magic process
he lifted out of the State, instead OF alb
stracting its mere sum, it would take away
MANY times its amount from the values OF
the. Commonwealth. Indeed, it would leave
Virginia, with all her endownlents and re-
sources, equal to those OF any other area, a
vast wilderness. In any direction we may
travel on its surface, we see how that con-
sideration has gone before us. and strength
ened and beautified the whole fabric OF the
State.
But whilst this purely material view is
based in fact and cannot be controversed, L
regard it as small, if not insignificant, IN
comparison with TINT higher view which
ought to impel us, as the representatives OF
the State, to uphold her integrity because IL
is right. I will not insult You by asserting
that q single member Of the General Assem-
bly would be so faithlcss to the history 81
Virginia. as well as to his own obligations,
as TO knowingly vote for any measure mat
would cast shadow even Of discredit upon
her name. Yet the ear is offended constant
IL Inv reflections or insnuations that there
may be some other things more desirable
than honor, and that they who uphold it are
impeled either by selfish motives or h'hsy
sentimentallty.
| know that the profoundest and hottest
emotions NAV be undermined BY the WHY
demagooue. know that the deepest and
most sacred OF those emotions IS that love
OF country founded upon its history ana
the noble works OF our fathers in the old
tine before us. It Is worth more than na-
terial wealth. Such wealth can be rapidly
accumulated, and as rapidly lost, and the
powers educed in amassing it are not OF the
highest order. But the. fame or State IS
the outgrowth Of the experience, suner,
ings. and blood Of generations Of men, ana
their words aud deeds are the richest herl-
tage. The people ought to value it above
any other earthly possession, for lit Is the
monument OF their glory, which will sur
yiye the material works of the generation
which wrought 1t, and be an example and
guide to their descendants, and promise oil
the greatness of the coming race. The
man who murders his fellow suffers the
penalty Of death. What shaii-be done with
the man who, for selfish, tgnoble purposes
strikes
A BLOW AT THE HEART OF THE STATED
State, too, which, when you consider tht
short course OF its life, has not been sur
passed by any other in the whole range O.
! the worlds history.
/ do not regard these references as empty
words. I think in such active, materialistit
times US these they contain the weightles
considerations that can engage the attention
of those who I'LL high office. And when W
meet with one who treats them lightly, w
NAV be assured eis unwortLy:oi them. anf
| needs to be watched. And were we NEAR