The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-18
R.e,adinstars r.ea.ehlna IDlshonesty:

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81 s ,,;ustsrs reaohing Dishonest Y:
.rha co 3 aud insidlous argument con
SANITY addressed by MASSEY ana ot 2 J.
ssenarocues to the ignorance ana, pfe!uacs
- ,,,e colored people that they should no'
-, S., Il nav any portion OF the public debi,
3s,s.s,,se they were slaves when the dep,
xas created, and therefore are irrespon'
>s,n,e for it's existence, would be entitled %
lust as much force and respect u addfessea
"a the thousands OF foreigners ana north.
ern men who have become citizens o. y
Virginia long years since the deo. was :. eo J.
tracted. Portions Of our debt were, createu
moro than City years ago, and AL o. Y some 9
t,a,e before our civil war began. no"
m.nv thousands OF useful Germans, Irish.
italians. an d citizens Of other. nationaiitfes'
have immigrated to Virginia since thai
time? aud how many thousands OF 2Engish
and northern people have made this Ole
State their permanent home and themselves
useful citizens ever since the close OF the
war? None OF these people had anything
more to do with the creation OF the State
debt than did the colored people OF fo c,'E
wears ago, or the new generation lus'
born, and are under no more obligation 70
help to pay it. But suppose MASSEY 4 ana %
the blatant demagogues OF forcible read
iustment were to address such dtshones'
and degrading arguments and appears 70
the PASSIONS and sel6shness OF that large,
most respectable, and useful class OF
our reople, how would they receive
the insulting overture? Would they fee
complimented BY such an appeal to tneli
cupidity and mcanness, and claim exemp'
ton from the equal burdens OF taxation
borne by all other citizens for the support
OF the honor and credit Of their govern
ment because they did not help to create
tbems Would they claim for themselves
and property the equal protection OF the
laws, and yet refuse to contribute anything
TO their support and enforcement9 Would
they live in our land and under our ng-
tree. and still claim exemption from the OBJ
legations which all good citizens in oil
climes and countries in the world, both IN
times Of peace and war, owe to the place OF
their habitation! Or course not.
And yet this MASSEY sentiment is as in
famous, and the insult OF his argument Is
as gross. when addressed to the colored
people, who are to the manner born, as
they would be if addressed by the same
class OF political tramps to all the respecta-
BILE inhabitants OF Virginia who happened
not to be citizens amongst US at the time OF
the creation Of our State debt. Such
sentiment, If practiced, would utterly cor
rupt all civil society and destroy all legal
government in the world. 1t is the agra
rian and communistic sentiment OF the Re-
adjusters everywhere, though some OF the
less bold conceal 1t, and il that bad gang
get possession OF our government next
winter such destructive doctrines will be
speedily put into disgracefu and runous
operation.
Let all OF our honest people, both black
and white, remember and ponder that the
debt of Virginia was not created for the
special use and benefit Of the generation just
passed away, nor for the use of any particu.
lar class OF our people. 1t was created for
the whole Commonwealth and for the gene
ration now living, and those that are to fol-;
low. In fact, they who borrowed and
expended the money have least enjoy
ed its advantages and its blessings. With
it they constructed our railroads, canals,
and turnpikes; they built and endowed
our universities and colleges and asy-
lums; and they erected monuments to
our mighty dead, and then passed away
from the stage of active life, leaving all the
immense and lasting advantages and bless
'ings OF their patriotic work to be enjoyed
by their children now living and their chill
dren's children. Can we live an honest
people and enjoy these blessings now strewn
in proiusion around us, and yet ignore or
repudiate the debt by which they were
secured, and dishonor our forefathers, who
had the forecast and energy to leave US
these enduring monuments Of their wisdom
and State pride9
It is impossible. We must protect the
debt OF our forefathers, or we must cease,
as an honest people, to enjoy any OF the ad-
yantages OF our works Of internal improve
ment, or any Of our institutions OF learn
ing and charity, and at least be honest
enough to turn them over to our swlndled
creditors as the last remaining assets OF
bankrupt and dishonored people.
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