Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-10-01
W AsH1NoToN, Sept. 10th, y


HERALD which contains sentiments,
that should be regarded by every true
conservative of Virginia. This was
written at the solicitation Of Virginlans
here and 1 earnestly request that you
publish the same in the columns OF the
Shenandoah HERALD.
Respectfully,
D.F. SPIKER
WASHINGTON, D. c. Sept. II, 10
EDS. HERALD:
1t Is usually very quiet here
during the Summer months, and partic'
ularly so at this time when The more
exciting scenes in the States have at
tracted the heads Of Departments,
itnerant politicians and newspaper
representatiYes-those ubiquitous scav-
encers-who contribute so much ofAhe
on dit that makes up the esprit OF life tc
the average WashingtOnian. The
hotels, (iu whose lobbles the great por-
ton of all public matters are devised
forwarded or defeatcd) have now only
occasional celebrities to make glad the
local interviewer" This calm Is
only the lull before the political conflict
about to take place in some OF the
States.
I have been struck with the fact, IN
my observation of the preparation :oT
the coming presidential campaign thai
there is apparently lsss individual par
steamship than has characterized Amer
can politics for years. As an ethical
proposition ltshould argue favoratly
for improvement in the ideas of republi-
can government; but, unfortunately
the partisan idea is represented in sue
cess-the idea of availability rather than
indivldualty-the great Commissary
rather than the General.
Virginia politics are frequently dis
cusscd in connection with other states,
by those who professionally watch the
political kaleidoscope and l, myself,
have been noting the course Of events
in connection with the debt question,
which is in reality the great question
involving the greatest interest to the
old State. l am sorry 10 notice from
tie tone of the press and reports of the
hastings discussions that there should
be involved so much personal bitter
ness Of feeling between the two wings
of the Conservative party of the State,
for question of so grave importance
should be discussed in moderation. And
it sometimes seems to me that those
who address the people upon this ques-
ton should deal with it as a simple pro-
position, and diyest themselves OF a
degree of pedantry that has characteriz-
ed many, and state simply the facts
without confounding with the musty
array Of judicial interventicns and abso-
Lutte legislation.
1t appears to me that the main ques'
ton is simply stated in the two PROPOSE
tons: |. Does Virginia owe the debt:
.. Can she pay the debt as funded?
The first proposition is not denied in
the face Of the concurrent history Of
legislation, and judicial acknowledge
ment Of the debt. The debt began in
1920. and in 1888 the Slate began her
great schemes of acknowledgements,
which forced her into the money mar
kets of the country as borrower with
unlimited credit which the prestige
OF her fair honor had secured to her.
At the same time her legislature made
ample provision for the security Of her
creditors, and pledged the faith Of
the State 10 provide sufficient funds,
and for that purpose q. e. The payment
of the debt) to levy adequate taxes"
The debt has been acknowledged under
three different ConStitutions-those Of
1850, 1864 and 1869, and under the
present Constitution the Legislature
has on three separate occasions enacted
laws to fund and pay the debt-the
Funding Act Of 1871, the Bocock-Fo
Ter bill of 1873, and the McCulloch bill
oilsT9; and no political party n the
State denies that she is bound for the
debt-evcn the MOsart Hall wing Of the
Conservatives, under the leadership o.
Gen. Mahone-the great reiundlne
Apostle, promised their cooperation tC
secure the sanction of the people to
settlement OF the debt upon the basis O.
s32,977, 090.O2 of principal, the pre-
cise amount of debt which the McCullocf
bill assumes.
The debt was contracted Tor puOli'
improvements, and Virginia has thirty
four millions worth Of these improve
ments within her own border-and aitel
deducting onesthlrd Of the amount o
the debt for West Virginia to assume
the McCulloch bill funds Virginia's deb
nj an amount of more than one million
less than the pro rata between The
States.
The simple statement OF the condi'
tons ofthc debt is sufficient to establish
the first proposition. The second pro-
position is yet partly enigmatical, bu
it is believed by the best Informed, ant
stated from statistical research, that tho
present rate of Taxation will meet al
the demands for the settlement OF Tho
debt under the McCulloch scheme. I
Il is probable, and we have high authorl'
ty-no less than that Of the Legislature
itself that proposed and consumated the
McCulloch scheme with singular unani'
IL. co. 1o.I;avino, that the debt can nc