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

the debt. The resumption Of our sovereignt.
and our recognition by the Federal Govern
ment disposed OF that point. and the Legis
ature so treated it.
The back, including the war interest, wa
also fully discussed and acted on, and de
cided according to law aud Justice, and as !
bad been several times before, decided b.
previous Legislature.
But, probably most important, the amour
of the State debt was thoroughly investi-
gated and strictly ascertained, no longer t
be an element Of inaccurate representation
or wilful Misrepresentation. Nothing causet
more trouble than these Misrepresentation
or inaccuracies. The ignorant, though non
est and patriotic, citizen, was struck dumt
and felt powerless when it looked noun
tain-high right In the path OF the States
growth and prosperity, and utterly hopeless
Of removal by any strength che had or was
likely I'M the future to acquire. The amount
happilv. was sscertained, fixed, and clearly
acknowledged-thu closing the door upon
Il charge OF any wilful or attempted re-
pudiation of the principal Of the debt.
This was important work, but it did moi
embrace everything the General Assembly
did. It passed bills OF retrenchment ano
reform. which became and are now laws.-
It used freely, and perhaps to the drawing
of blood, the prunlng-knife, and spared nc
department OF the Government, thus show
iue an earnest desire to come to some ct
fective conclusion, and reducing expendi'
lures to merely living rates. Apply the sur
plus to its just obligations under the Constl-
tuition.
The first finance bill that passed both
houses of the General Assembly failed to
become a law, because, on constitutional
objections, it did not receive the approval
ri the Executive. And the pubic iree-
school bill failed for similar reasons. These
acts OF the Executive have since been ap-
proved by the establishment OF similar prin :
cinles by both the Court of Appeals OF this
State and the Supreme Court OF the United
States. j.,
At a subsequent period of the session the
General assembly passed bill, by an almost
unanimous vote. which became law, and
which was simply In the nature OF q propo-
silion to the creditors, and contained 40 ele-
ment of force. ..,
Thus out of infusion, by the comparing
and friction OF opinion, came order.
PERSONAL BITTERNESS, PREJUDICE AND
EXCITEMENT
gave WV before the consuming demand OF
Che States veal. Whatever may have been
the views of departments or their individual
members. the Government OF the State Of
VIRGINIA stood firm to her ancient faith and
renown. There was no man AMI no body OF
men among them. as far as / know, who
was secretly or openly in favor OF repudia..
ton, and who did not spurn 1t as he would
a stigma upon his private reputation. Whilst
there were In the beginning differences OF
opinion with regard to points OF greater or
less importance, arising in the debt ques-
ton. growing out Of profound principles OF
law and policy. no one ever fntimated that
for any reason Virginia would or ought to
repudiate a just de BIT. And finally the
Government decided that the debt was just,
and its obligations unimpaired. Noexeuse
for its non payment was or can be urged
save inability, result ing from causes which
the State could not control and in the des-
truction of assets on which the debt was
contracted and its future discharge was
based.
Just here arose another vast difficulty
After the contraction of the debt, after in :
deed, the destruction of the assets, the State.
by and under new organic law, assumed
an additio uni burden, which required, and
might continue 10 require, immense expen-
dIure. The destruction OF the property
was grieYous blow to the States prosper
itv. The accumulations of centuries were
swept away, and often not one stone lett
upon another to tell the story OF spot
where wealth and refinement had hourished.
The soil. often all that remained to the owner,
and which had beef in cultivation for many
generations. was brought into competition
with the virgin soil of new country. by
continental lines of railway. Bat, far more
serious than these, society was disorganized
and chaos prevailed in the whole Industrial
and labor system; and the most far sighted
and sagacious could find no clew with which
to guide us out of darkness that could al
most be felt. BY the supreme power OF the
Federal arms those who had hitherto d-
rected the destinles OF the State were dis
franchised, and those who had been slaves,
and their ancestors for centuries were exalt-
ed into citizenship. The like Of this has
never before occurred in history.
When the Convention met to frame the
Constitution under which we now live, they
saw that the public free school system .spre
vailed in one form or another In almost
every civilized country in the would, and
they, doubt not, thought, .to,taor., 1t
ought to be established in Virginia. Where
so many enlightened men had been forbid
to vote, and SO many ignorant men, lately
trusts of freemen, they regarded, and prop
erly, intelligence and honesty as the sine
qua non of the success of republican forms
of government, as they have ever been re-
garded and urgently inculcated by those
who have reflected profoundly, or have OBJ
served or experienced their workings. They,
therefore, made
THE PUBLIC FREE.sCHOoL SYSTEM
a part of the organic law, Notwithstanding
the impoverished condition of the people,
thinking, have no doubt, that 1t would be
easier for them to rise clad with Its armor
than to fight unarmed the many foes that
brset the paths of ignorance and dishonesty.
And whilst they provided thus, according
to their best judgment, for the future in
telligence of the citizen, they over and over
again provided for the payment OF the law
full Indebtedness of the State, believing that
with these provisions tending TO secure
knowledge and integrity to the citizen be
could overcome the waste OF the war, and
restore and preserve the ancient power and
glory of the Commonwealth.
1t is not my business to discuss the merits
or dement's OF the general public free-school
system. Those who framed the Constitu-
tion. nd the people by whom twas adopted,
determined that it should prevail in Viz
ginia those who hold Office are bound to
support it, as they are bound to support
every other provision of that Constitution.
Not that the Constitution of the State OF
Virginia is supreme, and by its fiat disposes
OF all rights. 1t is not supreme III morals,
over Justice, to man who recognizes his
obligations to God. It is not supreme in law
as long as we are under the Constitution OF
the Urited States-and in the assumption
of office, whilst we take no formal cath to
support the former, we do the latter. But
office is not obligatory on any one. am no!
a believer in ''higher law" TO a man clothed
with the responsibilities Of office; nor have
any faith in oaths taken with mental re-
servation. Aud We're OF opinion that
could not conscier tiously carry out the pro
visions of the instrument was sworn to
support, would resign my office, SO that II
might be filled by one who could.
Entertaining these views, there has been
no time since assumed the duties OF the
Executive that have faltered or hesitateo
to do whatever lay in my power to make the
public free-school system what the Constitu-
ton and the laws intended it to be. AS eX-
officio the president of the Board OF Educa-
ton, have given my best efforts to crown II
with success, and to make the system render
to the present and future OF the Common
wealth everything that IFS most enthusiastic
admirers and supporters claim for lC or cOu't