Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-02-19

ton among the nations of the earth
which Virginia would inevitably suffer?
We have the fearful example of Missis-
sippi before US. In 1910 the Governor OF
that State, q native of this State, I re-
gret to say, in time of high party ex-
element, recommended that the bonds
of the State in the hands of her creditors
should no longer be acknowledged as
binding upon her-should be dishonor-
ed, should be repudiated. His recon-
mendation, in an evil hour, was needed
and adopted. ''FdciLe deScensus aver1i.u
The way to the internal regions is easy !;
and the way to reputation is just as
easy if public men Will keep up the agi-
tation and press the people with specious
arguments and declarations Of their in
ability to pay and of theiniquity and in
justice of the debts on account of which
they must be taxed. But what will be
the final result? Disgrace and ruin must
follow. Look at Mississippi. She has
become by-word among the CONNER
cial nations of the earth. Her sons land
she has many noble ones) cannot go to
the great cities of this or the other con-
tinent and engage the attention of men
of capital to any enterprise, however
promising, within her borders. She is
Stunned as if she were a very leper.--
We have heard but recently that one of
the prominent men of Mississippi, gifted
and accomplished, and honored wher-
ever he is known, upon being urged to
go to Europe in the interest of some
great scheme for the benefit of the South,
mournfully declined, saying that it
would be useless for a Mississippian to
| go abroad, that no one would listen to
the appeals from the repudiating State.
thirty Weight years ago she committed
| thus wrong, and she yet bears the mark
| of shame upon her brow. The credit of
a State, when once defaced, can never
be restored. I read the utterances of the
great statesman of South Carolina on
this subject. Ny friend from Amelia
has always honored him, and will, 1 am
sure, respect any of his opinions.
Mr.. Calhoun on one occasion said:
II pledge myself that South Carolina
will pay punctually every dollar she
owes, should it take the last cent, without
iDquiring whether it was spent wisely OF
| foolishly. Should in this be by posi-
bility mistaken should she tarnish her
unsullied honor, and bring discredit on
our common country, by refusing to re-
deem her plighted faith (Which I hold
impossible,) deep as is my devotion to
her, and mother as she is to me, I would
disown her."
| Whether we propose to repudiate or
not, let US remember that the eyes of the
world are now upon Virginia; that her
every act will be closely scrutinized, and
that we must by our acts here give re-
rewed assurance of her fidelity to all
the glorious traditions of her past his
tory. In after years, if any of us should
feel that we had done anything to bring
reproach upon her fair name it would
be better for US that we had never been
born. The gentleman from Shenandoah,
lin his able opening of this discussion, in
very graphic terms depicted the poverty
of Virginia, and said that after the war
she was left only with her soil, and that
drenched with the blood Of her best sons.
Sir, this makes this land the more sa-
cred and dear to us chan ever. Virginia
gave her noblest sons to perish in de-
fence of her honor the whole face of the
Commonwealth is sacred with the graves
of those who laid down their lives for
her. Let us feel that we are drawn
nearer to her. that she is dearer to US in
her hours of trial and distress, and that
we must stand together in upholding
that honor for the maintenance of which
our fathers and brothers have died. 1t
has been said that the flag of Virginia
bears upon it ''the proudest motto that
ever blazed upon q warriors shield or a
nations arms )" let us rally around and
bear aloft that flag, on which shall be
inscribed beneath this motto in letters of
living light these other words, ''Vir-
ginia, faithful and true to all her obliga.
Etionsn