The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-03-06
Attention, Vlrginlans.
RICHMOND, February 20, 1879.

RICHMOND, February &c, 1873
To the Editors of The State:
shall appreciate and ever feel greatful to you
for the publication of this note and the enclosed
article, embracing as it does the substance OF my
remarks on Offering preamble and resolutions
looking to the restoration of old Virginia and the
settlement OF her debt, as substitute for the
resolutions reported by the committee to the
convention OF Re-adiusters on the evening OF the
boosted champions Of the free school system, in
order that the people may decide intelligently on
these resolutions as far as it was in their power
to do, and III this way have proved the fallacy Of
J. AUGUSTUS NICHE.
P. Washington City papers. Nalley Virgimtav
and Charlottesville Chronicle will please publish
this article, and oblige JA. NJ.
MR.. PREsIDENT-I hold in my hands a preamble
and resolutions relative to the ''Old Dominion
Of State policy. which desire to offer to this
convention as a substitute for the resolutions
sttute assure the convention that am actuated
by the noblest OF motives-a desire to see the
Virginia of our ancestors the State which gave
birth to a Washington, Jefferson a Madison, a
Clay, a Lee, Jackson, and hosts OF other distin-
gufshed men-restored to the. sisterhood of
States, and moreover assure this convention
that this step is taken in the spirit of harmony
and with sincere desire to give sufficient
strength to readjusting party Organized upon
proper basis to enable it to triumph over all OF
its enemies.
The difference, however, between my plan of
committee is this: The committee is willing to
let the "Old Dominion slide and admits the le-
gal liability of this State for of the debt
OF the old State but insists upon shaving the debt
heavily accOont OF the equities of the case and
the poverty Of the debtor. claim that this Vir-
ginia, If constitutionally State, is not legally
bound for single dollar OF old Virginia's in
debtedness, and that the unauthorized assump-
ton of this debt by her Legislature Ia judiciary
body would not bind her, as there was no con-
Sideration.
Under these circumstances desire to see the
ra Of n a n fhp drcf T,Iap
and the settlement of her debt basis satisfac-
tory to the creditors as we'll as the old State, af
forwards.
In consequence of q recent decision of the Su-
preme Court OF the United States, in the
Tered to IN the resolutions shall offer am sat
gress creating West Virginia war measure I'M
constitutional, null and void, when this question
is properly presented to it.
In that event no sane man will claim that the
Funding Bill passed by the Legislature of this
these circumstances will not this large body OF
Virginians endorse my proposition looking to the
restoration of the old State, and thereby cover
to do it. prove themselves to be 1.-THE degenerate
sons Of noble sires:' II the leaders of this new
the old mother Of us all to perish by neglect, it
will sound the death kne j OF their political hopes,
as the act of matricide (no matter how brought
about is crime neither tolerated by the laws of
God or man.
The decree has gone forth from an everything
Providence that the Old Dominion shall be re-
stored in defiance of any opposition here or else
where. Should an adverse decision be rendered |
here tonight. and this convention properly rep |
resent the great body of our people, the old State
after her restoration, will doubtless exclaim !: |
Better had died thousand deaths than lived |
to witness such desertion the part of my chill |
dren in the days of my affection No, shall live |
to honor the few who watched over me in sick |
ness who secured the services OF skillful physi-
cians-that learned and honorable body, the Su- |
preme Court of the United States-who rescued |
me from the throes of DEATH"
In order to get this question before said court |
my plan is to secure one or more bonds issued by
the Old Dominion and assign them to sovereign !
State, whose authorities favor this inquiry, |
which State could sue the Old Dominion i'll said |
court.
Some gentlemen, who are opposed to the res |
toration Of the Old Dominion, claim that said |
court decided the question of the constitutional |
ity of the act creating West Virginia when this
Virginia sued West Virginia for tho recovery ct
Berkeley and Jefferson counties. This is dis
proved by the fact that this Virginia recognized
her sovereign State in bringing said suit.
Some gentlemen also claim that decision by
this court, at this late day, declaring the act in
question unconstitutional would be unfair, even
though the equities of the case justified such |
decision at an earlier day. This is refuted by the |
fact that it is not the province of court to insti
tute suits, but to decide them whenever called |
upon, governed only by their oaths and the testi
monY.
now offer my substitute for the resolutions
reported by the committee, and move that my |
resolutions be submitted, separately, for the con-
OF the convention.