Daily Republican., 1879-12-08
. NOTE,
The virginia Liberals.

be paid to the rlghts OF tne colored peo-
pie of Virginia, and this has been
brought about by the new departure OF
politics in that State, based upon the
State debt question. The Re-adjusters,
as they are called in that State, are
generally understood to be in favor Of
such legislation as will practically re-
pudiate the State debt, which amounts
to some 500 100000. Those opposed to
the Re-adjusters are the Debt-payers,
though even they are really so nearly
practically repudiationists that their
name is misnomer. The difference
between the two parties only consists in
the sum they propose to repudiate, SO
that so far as the moral Of either is con-
serned there is but little choice. Never
was fercer campaign waged between
the Republicans and Democrats than
marked the canvass between the Read
justsrs and the so called Debt payers of
Virginia. All at once the colored vote
OF the State arose into importance, each
party trying to get it exclusively, and
each promising that protection in their
rights which they had never before re-
seived. When the fierce battle was
over, each party claimed the victory,
but the advantage was on the side Of
the Re adjusters. The dark horse in
the result, however, wa, the twenty
four Republicans that were found to
have been elected, and who had it
in their power to throw their in
fuence on the side which would
show them the most favor. The Re-
publicars of Virginia had besn trodden
by the iron heel OF political despotism
nntil they had but few rights left
which the Democracy felt bound to re-
spect. Naturally they would all have
been on the side Of the debt-paysrs if
everything else had Ieen equal, but
the amount Of debt 10 be repudiated |
and the party to do the repudiating
was not the paramount question with
them. They wanted their liberties and
protection in the exercise Of the rights
guaranteed to them ty the amended
constitution, and they naturally |
thought now was the time to get them.
The Readjusters made the best offers
and to that party they allied themselves
in the organization Of the Legislature.
The first result of this combination was
the iecapitation Of two one-legged vet
Grams of the Confederate army from
Offices about the state House and the
installing Of colored men into their
places. This was but the beginning OF
the reforms promised to cement together
the Re-adjusters and the colored Re-
publicans of the State. For some two
years past we heard much about the
adoItio Of the Delaware plan in Vir-
Einia for the punishment Of petty fel-
ehies. For Every little offence color
cd man was arrested and sentenced to
receive Eve lashes on the back, which
punishment completely dis'ranchis-
cd him from forever thei after
voting in the State or enjoying
the emoluments Of office. This law was
passed when the Democratic party was
united, and since thsn:: the pillory and
the cat has been in active operation,
NO. Furnishing negroes 80 much for the
crimes they committed IS for the pur-
pose Of disfranchising them from voting.
But now the tide has turned in the
ether direction. So far a. State matters
are concerned there was no Democratic
party in Virginia during the last cam
paign. Party lines were completely
sbliterated and the Readjusters and
Debt payers in place Of the old political
parties stand facing each other in grim t
sullen defiance with the few Republi- {
cans elected to the Legislature, acting
for the present as dictators. In this
position they demand that the infamous i
DISTINGUISHING laws Of the State shall $
be repealed and that they could q
be protected in the enjoyment Of equal s
rights. The Debt-payers so scrupu- |
lousy honest about paying a part Of
the State debt could not SEQ what that c
had to do with the demand of the Re- 6
publicans for protection, and 50 refused 8
the offer. The Readjusters while net
- particular about paying off tho /
States indebtedness, readily acced- g
cd 10 the request Of the Reput- 7
licans for protection and the repeal
Of obnoxious and disorimin ating
laws, for the repeal Of which bills have Q
already been introduced in the Legis- '
lature. This is why the R. publicans '
have allied themselves to the Rsadjust- t
srs. They are making strike for lib '
erty which they could get no other way, n
and the enjoyment of liberty with ra- '
tional beings is of more consequence '
than the payment of every dollar Of a t
dsbt they had no hand in making.