The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-12-12

Deduct amount due to public free
schools. 44l.757 81
Net revenue applicable to payment OF
Interest,". SS1Z,Sez ~
/ Amount OF interest on u,
debt of $29 35Os2e.ss at
| six per cent. 81, TAP 1856 81
| Deduct net revenue appli-
| cable to payment OF In
tereSt.... Sfz'zu1 ~
Deficit. s77o,s,s 50
| This $1,742, 865.S2 does not include the
| annual interest due on bonds held by the
Literary Fund, full interest on which would
be $84 .349. 84, 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 1851, 1922.
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 unrefiecting
| men may at large talk, that this debt is
without consideration, or has any other de-
ect, actual or technical. Happily that mat
| ter is closed, and hope forever, BY the re-
| peated declarations OF your respected body
nor have we the pretext, shallow though it
would be, that the consideration was lost by
| the war. That consid, ration stands to-day;
| and could it by some magic process be lifted
out of the State. instead Of abstracting its
| mere sum, it would take away many times
| its amount from the values OF the Common
wealth. Indeed, it would leave Virginia,
with all her endowments and, resources,
equal to those Of any other area, a vast will
aerness. In any direction we may travel on
| its surface, we see how that consideration
has gone before US, and strengthened and
5eautiied the whole fabric of tue State.
But whilst this purely material view is
based in fact and cannot be controverted, |
,egard 1t as small, if not insignificant, in
comparison with that higher view which
ought to impel us. as the representatives OF
the State, to uphold her integrity because it
is right. I will not insult you by asserting
that single member of the General Assem-
bly, would be so faithless to- the history of
Virginia, as well as to his own obligations,
as to knowingly vote for any measure that
would cast shadow even OF dlscrediJ upon
her name. Yet the ear is offended constant
ly by reflections or insinuations' that there
may be some other things more desirable
than honor, and that they who uphold it are
impeled either by selfish motives or hmsy
sentimentalty.
II know that the profoundest and most honest
emotions may be undermined by The willy
,iemagogue. I know that the. deepest and
| most sacred of those emotions is that love OF
country founded upon It's history and the no.
ole works of Our fathers in the old time be
fore US. 1t is worth more than material
wealth. Such wealth CAIN be rapidly accu-
| ,nuated, and as rapidly lost, and the pow
ers educed in amassing it are NOT OF the high
est order. But The fame Of State is the
outgrowth of the experience, sufferings, aud
blood of generations of men, aid their words
and deeds are the richest heritage. The
people ought to value it above any earthly
possession, for it is the monument OF the
glory, which will survive the material works
VI the generation which wrought it, and be
an example aud guide to their descendants,
and promise of the greatness Of the coming
race. The man who murders his fellow SUI
fers the penalty Of DEATH What shall be
done with the man who, for selfish, ignoDle
purposes, strikes. 80.
BLOW AT THE HEART OF THE STATE?-
a State, TOO, which, when you. consider the
short course OF its life, has not been sur
Nassed by any other in the whole range OF
the worlds history. 81;
l do not regard these references as empty
words. l think in such active, materialistic
times as these they contain the weightlest
considerations that can engage the attention
Of those who fill nigh office. And when we
meet with Que who treats them lightly, we
may be assured he is unworthy OF them, and
needs to be watched. And then We mean
enough to fall below them and forget the ex-
allied sentiment they ever carry, W. ought to
remembe they bear practical value worth
far more than pecuniary wealth, and which
money cannot buy. A man or State may
have money and have no credit ;-either State
or Individual that has credit can command
money. This have occasion to know and
feel since have occupied the Executive Of
lice. Though Virginia has not repudiated,
aid does not intend to repudate; though l
know, and you know, that the people are
honest and will not tarnish her reputation by
so base an act. yet the very discussion Of this
question Of the State debt, and the bitterness
1t has engendered among the people, has be-
gotten an alarm that has prevented the adj
vent If capital and labor to our borders and
thrown a cloud over our heretofore bright
name.
If any class of men in the Commonwealth
could, or would, from selfish motives advo-
cate reputation, it would be the friends OF
the public free schools, or those who occupy
official positions in, or derive their support
from them; for by reason OF the deficiency Of
the revenues, their existence is now threat
ened. Yet know OF none such. How could
| there be, when daily they teach the pupils
who throng them. how they ought to emulate
the works of those of whom they read, and
who were ever in life's highest aims guided
by truth and patriotism? The Superintead-
eht of the public free schools, who, am sure
will not be offended, if say has a belief in
their efficacy for good which amounts to en-
,husiasm, and, who, whilst laboring for their
support and improvement wi Ii the energy OF
devotee, sees them now crippled, If not en-
dangered for the want of funds, can yet not
be diverted by these pressing considerations
| from what he believes the profoundest inter-
| est of both State and schools, and says with
the same energy and force with which he
| protects and argues for their benefits in his
report, which herewith transmit to the Gen.
| eral Assembly INSTRUMENTATION is moral
death-it is worse, it is eternal damnation. =
! This is stronger language than l have used,
and more incisive, probably, than1 was able
to use, but none too strong to show that the
ardent mind of the Superintendent can sec
| how the most far-reaehing benefits OF tho
public school system 90 hand in hand Wltl
the preservation Of the honor and renown O.
the Commonwealth. La.
We thus see that every interest, even thu
largest, demands an honorable settlement
with the public creditors. This large detici
is due and Justly due. 1t will rot do to let
several years, aud accommodating with alarm
ing rapidity. 1t ought to have been settle
long ago. There is II responsibility upon Il
to settle it finally, that no after generation
may say that we assumed a trust to which W
were not equal, Or were meanly faithless. w
have no right to transmit it, with accumulai
ing woes, to those who may occupy the place
we now fill. The duty is on US; believe W
can discharge ,t--discharge it without in
fringing upon any constitutional provision
and without fighting over legal technical
ties, and without assuming or imposing bul
de:.s too grievous to be borne. 1t is not rigt
to postpone it, waiting for a better day; th'
day may never come. Indeed, the pos
ponement is almost sure promise tn At the ds
will not come. The burden is constantly il
!, creasing, and that very increase lisa warnlr
away of aid which would otherwise come ar
help US lift its weight. All this time Il
!, heart Of the people is growing faint, al
their virtue is suffering in its own home, al
wherever on the earth it is power.
:. There are only two ways open to us for al
l honorable settlement-by increasing the ia
vi