Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-10-14
The County Canvass.

TUESUAYs UCIVD1n LIZ
The County Canvass.
IT is noticeable that the three gentle
men recently called upon to announce
themselves as candidates for the Legis-
lature on the readjusters' platform, both
The two who consent to run and the one
who declines, declare in favor of giving
The McCulloch bill fair trial SO long as
It does not increase the taxes. Ifin the
position taken by these gentlemen, they
their party, that party or fac
lion is evidently weakening or yielding
ground, whether because the settlement
has become contract by the acceptance
of its terms in the funding of eight mill
lions of dollars of the public debt, or
whether they see the handwriting on
the wall and would escape from fall
ing house,-it does not appear.
But the question for each voter to con-
slider, is, can the two gentlemen who
agree to run on the platform indicated,
be trusted to carry out faithfully the
McCulloch bill settlement? Waving
the point, that in all deliberative bodies,
when bill is passed requiring the ap-
pointment of committee to carry out
its provisions, that committee shall be
composed of at least a majority of mem
beers favorable to those provisions, could
we depend upon those who opposed the
enactment of the McCulloch law to SO
shape legislation as to make it success
and thus prove that it aUas wise meas
ure and should have been passed in
spite of their opposition? The Barbour
bill, which never was or even professed
to be a settlement with the creditors, set
aside 10 cents for the public schools and
25 cents for the current expenses of the
government and left the residue of the
taxes to go to the State creditors. Who
believes that if that bill had become a
law there would have been such an
economy practiced in the making of APP
propriations by the legislature as to
leave one cent for the public creditors
Has not the sequel shown that those
members of the Legislature who advo-
Gated the Barbour Bill and reject the
McCulloch Bill, as class, deny the
moral and legal obligation of the State
to pay the debt in its entirety.
To the extent that any debt is reduced
without the consent of the creditor, to
that extent it is repudiated.
Every one believes that the McCul-
loch bill secures the best terms that the
State creditors would consent to, and
much better than some of the readjus-
tiers claimed and were willing to accept.
The conclusion is, therefore, inevita
BILE, that he who now rejects the McCul.
loch Bill is repudiator. Is the proud
old County of Augusta prepared to send
as her representatives to the Genera
Assembly of this great Commonwealth
men whose doctrines lead logically ant
necessarily to such a conclusion? W.
think not.
Let us rather elect men who advoca-
ted and voted for the passage of the Nc
Culloch bill, and whose wisdom in 81
doing would be verified by its success
and who would, therefore, by every con
sideration of policy as well as principle
wise and economical administration
of our affairs to carry out the provision
of that act. But let us look for mo
ment at the condition upon which thes
gentlemen are willing to try the McCul
loch Bill. Mr.. Van Lear advises "sub
mission" to the settlement, provided i
does not necessite an increase of on,
tares or rob the institutions of the STATE
to meet its requirements" Mr.. Aller
is more guarded. He says, 'sif in it,
practical operations it proves to bring
the debt within the reach of the revenue
derived from the existing rate of tdTa
ton Jour italics) I shall rejoice" &c.
But "if the present revenues are made
quate, &C., shall advocate its repeal
Now there will, during the coming
year, be reassessment of the lands thu
Commonwealth. Suppose there should
be reduction in the valuation of land'
made under that assessment, which
would necessitate an increase in the rat
of taxation in order to realize the presen
amount Of revenue, would not both
these gentlemen consider themselve
absolved from the obligation longer t
support this settlement, even thougl
the actual amount to be.paid by any indi
vidua] under diminished assessment
but increased rate, were no greater tina
before, and though the enhanced pric
of all farm products should make it easie
for him to pay then than it is at present
Mr.. Van Lear would not rob our char
liable institutions in order to pay al
honest debt, but Mr.. V. might be tempt
ed to vote extravagant appropriations t.
such objects just because he does not re
gard the ebt aforesaid as honest.
We therefore conclude that it woul'
not be safe to risk getting fair trial O
the McCulloch Bill from any membe
of the Mozart faction.
ALBEMARLE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
In the Albemarle Baptist Association
there are forty-one churches. Twenty
four ordained and four licentiate minis
tiers. Baptized during the year. 1913
received by letter 40, restored 13. dis
missed by letter 66, excluded SO, deceas
23-total members 4917. The nex1
meeting of the Association will be held
at the Corner Stone church, Am
herst county, Tuesday after the third
Sunday in August, 1880.
LUNATICS IN THE JAIL OF ROCKING
HAM.-On Monday of last week, Sam.
uel Swartz of Dayton, Rockingham, 2f
years of age, was adjudgeda lunatic and
confined in the Jail of that county. We
learn that there are now four lunatics
in the Rockingham county Jail await
;r~ into tho VUo,tor,>