Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-02-05
From "The State" January 3Oth.J
DR.. Curry's Address.
A PROFOUND AND ELOQUENT ARGU.
MENT FOR LAW AND MORALS,

A PROFOUND AND ELOQUENT ARGU.
MENT FOR LAW AND MORALS,
Rev. J. L. M. Curry, D. D., deliver
ed an address last night on the "Moral
Obligations of individuals and Sta.es tc
Pay their Debts" to one of the most re-
fined, intellectual. and cultivated audi
ences that ever assembled in Mozart
Hall. The house W packed, and ma
ny persons were turned away. Among
the audience were prominent divines,
lawyers, and business men. The Gov
ernor and large number of legislators
were also present.
DIR. Curry went into the philosophy
of law, touching upon the relationship
between the human law and the Divine
law, and the value of laws as operating
upon mems conduct.
The address was replete with apho-
rlsms and logic, and we only wish we
had space to publish 1t in tuil.
The speaker said as laws were the
educators OF the public conscience a
State could rot too sedulously avoid
everything of Questionable propriety.
When q government acted dishonOrably
the corruption infiltrated through every
fibre OF society. Public crimes were
more noxious in their influence than
crimes committed by individuals. Be
cause OF this reflex influence govern
ments should, if possible, have higher
standard of honor than private persons.
The decentralization SO prevalent in
han L 1tt.in ri " fls.f,
traced, III part, to the influence of vi
clous legislation.
A very easy transition, then, was
from these general and undisputed
principles to the question of Virginia.
Indebtedness. TO pay our debt was not
a question of legislative casuistry or ex-
Pediency. The debt was not contracted
under the pressure Of the war, nor by a
Radical or carpet bag government, but
by Virginia, when she boosted the high
est civilization on the continent. There
was no pretence of fraud or want of con-
sideration. The abolition of slavery.
the losses from the war, the partition of
the State, did not release from the legal
or moral obligation TO pay, and every
department OF government-the legis-
lative: judicial, and executive-had,
since the war, recognized its validity
OF the disastrous effects OF Reputation
upon the material interests of the State
gloomy picture was drawn.
The first steps taken by nations, as
they emerge from barOarlsm, is to de.
fine and establish the rights of prop
erty. When they are violated and
contracts are impaired no motives for
Industry beyond securing a bare sub
slstence. There is no difference in NOR
ais, or in the results IpGn labor and
wealth, of interference with the rights
OF property by Individual wrong and
the strong anu oppressive hand Of gov
eminent: Not to pay our debts will
stop Immigration OF valuable scitizens,
arrest the flow of capital, depreciate the
price of lands, and lessen our ability to
produce AND 70 pay. IT the State edu-
cate the people to avoid honest indebt-
edness She may expect in return to be
cheated, and the decentralization will be
seen i'll the failure to pay private debts,
in evaded taxes, diminished assess
ments, and less confidence between man
and man. The speaker Was emphatic
III the declaration that while ca pital was
timid and sensitive, it could generally
take care OF itself. Laborers were more
Interested than capitalists in the rIght
solution OF this paramount question,
ana in the preservation of the bonds of
integrity and good faith.
The speaker said that by birth he
was not a Virginian, but had sought to
win citizenship by training the young
ia principles vital to their we'll being
and by Installing sense OF the duty OF
the education Of all classes in university,
colleges and publicschooIs. For census.
or for poll lax a man may be called a
Irrespective of chara ctsr, OF
loyalty, or honesty but Q srus analysis
iemapds sQ;;lataiGS more ahd better for
than mere inhabitancy or
The accideiit of birth. To be Virgin
ian is to have the spirit of a Virginia.n
: to be assimilated to Ter genius, TO
honor her history, I'd love her tradi=
[lohs, to- be true to her honor. There
might be- bodily presence. a natal bond
and moral discord and alisnap. |
Of heart. If affinity with the inm,,,t
life OF the land, WILLINGNESS to make
sacrifices fnr - her honor. pride in tho-a
immortal pages which record the strug
giles for and triuinpls OF, civil and relI
gious liberty, quick beating pulse at
the mention OF imperisnable names aud
AiSCoilC HeluSi anu u CODVlcLlOu Llat
with wise laws, stainless. name, dev vel
oped industries. sustained schools aud
of learning, a brighter dia-
dem of glory will crown her than ever
rested on nations brow-if these
things make a Wirginian, he CLAIMED
the proud designation, and had come,
with filial love and devotion, to say
earnestly il might be, but not unkindly,
what in his heart he deemed Of vital
import to the Commonwealth He ask
ed whether any native Virginian could
hesitate to Join him-an adopted SON
in the prayer that God would forbid that
the insignia of Virginia's sovereignty
should ever be used to evade the obiiga,,
ton of an honest debt, should ever be-
tainted with d!shonor, shoiifd ever be
affixed to q Legislative lie.