Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-12-05

Ci2llg 21 tIC arena VIII Ce ~ oLoacel, ouo wv
cbampiors 90 more powerful than those Who
have the matter now in hand.
T [ do not believe that there is any Gortlau
knot which caunot be cut or any problem SC
Intricate that it csnnct be solved by calm anu
Quiet LEGISLATION. However much the different
views NAV seem to eo1a;ct between the different
departmerts, or between members OF the same &C.
psrtment, l will not surrender my faith 10 tho
wisdom with which the Government has been
framed, and which | believe is equal to the 81
; luton of any problem that is likely to arise 10
our States experiences; indeed, | Hi!l 60 further,
and assert that it IL not TnoEe likely to be solved
rightly by reason Of the diverse views resulting
from the various sources from which the ludg.
ment is enlightened, each gathering know ledge
and wisdom from different stand, and each
under the same heavy weight OF responsibility.
These arc tho lessons which are taught py
the history Of governments like ours on this
continent and beyond The sea, aod which are
the outgrawth Of many egperImants and many
| failures. | think the rise, progress, and pres
ent status of this State DEBT question Is another
evidence of Its truth.
| 1t presents very GlHarent aspect from "nat
| it did twelve mooths ago. Elcn were angry
then and attributed difficulties TO the suhJeet'
which really sprang from their oEn. erroneous
or uncertain views. CT ulsspprshenslonS OF tne
views of othera The General Assembly met
after heated canvass, and the subject went
| before them ia chaotic form, and weeks aud
months we're spent in discussing points that
| Here. under broader light, regarded and treated
| IS prevalent or false.
| Uoon the Gcreral Assembly fell the duty OF
Investigation in all !ts bearlDg:; and dliigenlif
aud energeticaly it did it5 Work. believe Il
took in ED covered the whole field, ard lett
nolhiug, as tar as lay in It's power, uncecldeo.
And though the main question remMned un
settled With tie creditor, it would be q mistake
| to s2y that nothlog wGs accomplished. lne
arena Was cleared Of lrre!eraac!cs and the sub
iect stripped Of matters which had caused bit
ter controversy, and but oDo single lssu? lett
With which auy sGb:equ:nt legislative body
would have to cca!.
It will be easily recalled what those matters
were end how much trouble a5d controversy
they caused on the iIu:ti0sa sud ln the halls t
legislation.
It was decided that the debt was Just and
that the State ought to pay H.; and 40 douot
vas LIFT in the conclusion that it was iounded III
considerations thst demanded liz recognition.
Its assumption by the Federal Government,
upon the g;ou1d OF cur bang corquereu
nrQyincc, was 90: insisted Oh and 1 an sure
never will be, especially when thu co1re'at!Ve Is
admitted as equally truc-f We BE- conquered
province, our pIoncrty IS mortsasea ior inc
pavrnent Of the debt The resumption OF our
so7araisut2 a1d cur recognition by the Federal
Government disposed OF that point, aud tho
Legislature 50 treated It.
The back including toe iHar interest, was slso
fully discussed and acted Oh, AID decided 40
coraing to law and Justice, and as 1t had been
gayeral times batCrj decided by previous Leg
| i5latures.
But, p.oosbiy n1ts; impocta5t, the amount
Of the State debt wss thoroughly investigated
aud strictly a:cer.si1ed, 20 logger to ho &c
element Of Inaccurate renrcsentalon, or, VII
lu! MISREPRESENTATION. Nothing caused more
trouble than these ni!sreptes sntato1s or lnac'
cu.acies. Tho Ignorant, though honest and
Dst7otio cL'Hsp, WAS struck dumb aud ielt POI"
evIesa VIXEN it looked la9uataln high right in
the path of the States growth AID prosperity,
ard u.;crIy hopeless Of renewal By any strerglh
she had Or vas likely II the future to acquire:
The am2uat, happily, was aSccrtalocd, lxoG
and claary acknowledged, tbul c!cscg the
door upou the charge OF ary Wiiiul or attempt
ed repui!a!i)n of Gho principal q ilo ecbt.
This was important work, tuE il d!d not en-
brace cTcryttiog the GaGcral hss3m6lg did
Il rasseC bills Ct rcttcCchTc1t aGd reform.
wt;ch bacsmc a1d a:o now leW:. Il Used free
lg, and perhaps to TIC GFawos ct blood, the
nrucipg krito, and spared ~ department Of
The Goyornn5anl, ;ilas sloTiDg an earnest des.
| ire 70 c3Ilo to eorao eil-c.lv9 conclusion, &c"
rcduciay expenditures 10 lncr3Iy l7lnZ rates.
spul2 the surplus 20 ~ -: Obligations u-da:
| tho C0nstltntlou.
The first fiasrce bill that passed bjlh houses
| Of the General Assembly isl'ed 70 become a
| law, bac.us,, On conslltutionat otJ 'c'lo15, II
| Gil not receive the approval Of iho Executive.
! Aad tic pUth, Ir5e lcAool bill failed 1Jr simt-
| lar reasols. Ihc5a acts O: thc ExocutiV3 have
| si5c, been approved by the establishment 1t
similar principles by both the Court OF Appeals
| of the State a2d Tho Supreme Court CT the
Uuitci States
Alta subsenqcnt period o. the session the
| General Assembly plssel bill, By al almost
unanimous votc, which became law, and
which Was simply in the nature cl a proposl-
! ti5n to the c:etitGrs, end cjataGCd no element
Of f3rco.
Titus cut OF coaiu5ion. By the comparing aad
| friction Of cpihiJa cane order. Personal bit
| tcrnces rr;iuliee and excitement gave way
bcf,re the consuming doI1and OF the States
veal Whsev:. nay nave been the views Of
densr:meo;s CT their individual members, the
| Government Of the Slate OF Fl-gio!a stood finn
TO her ancient faith and rcnoTn. There vas
40 man aod nobody OF ueu among them, as far
az know, wac vas secretly CT oOeuly 10 favor
of rcpu lia.on, and wh2 DID not spurn it as he
would stigma upon his private reputation.
Whilst there ~erc il the beGioLiag ditf,roncos
of opinion with regard 10 pcia!s OF greater CT
less imp ortanca, ;lis!Dg 10 tic deb: question.
growing out Of profouad principles OF lew and
policy, no ore eVtr intimated that, fcr. any ro,
son, Virglria would CT ought to rapudia,e a ust
debt. And finally the Government decided
that the debt was jl5;, AID its obligation uolm'
paired. No excuse fer its uoa payment was Or
ever Gao be urged, si7ed lnablIy' resulting
from c,su;es which The State coui1 not control
and in the destruction OF assets ca which tho
deb. was conlraotct aud lis future discharge
was based. .c
The contraction CT the deb;, sttGr, indeed. the
destruction of the assets, tho State, by and 10.
dtr new organi; laH, assumed an additional
-L;,L r,,,iro3 and Tooht c7nfinuo Ia