Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-03-10
Gov. HOlIidays's Veto Message
Press Comments,

as far as they have come to hand,
are warm in their praise of Gov
Holidays message vetoing the
Riddleberger State debt bill. The
Commonwealth, a debt-paying pa
per recently started in Richmond
by Mr.. VIM. l.. Royal, a promi-
nent lawyer, says:
"Gov. Holidays message is one
of the noblest state papers ever pub
lished in America: 1t has the ring
of the old-time statesman's docu-
ment, and will bring joy and pride
to the heart Of every true Yirgi-
MAN, wherever he may be. The
paltry shifts and snams Of rcpudia-
ton shrivel up like dry grass in the
fire before his robust and manly
proclamations of right and duty.
We would not feel as the repudia-
tors who listened to it yesterday in
the State felt for all the money that
the State owes, The Governors
remarks upon the title Of the bill
are simply inimitabIe. There is
cutting sarcasm in them that must
make It's inventor wish he had
never heard of it; and his sugges-
ton that the constitution requires
the purpose Of the bill to lie ex-
pressed in its title is worthy Of
Sheridan. We are glad the Gov
ernor has placed his veto upon the
broad general principles which d.
vide. right from wrong, rather than
on narrow technical constructions
of constitutional law. Constitu-
tons can never bind men to DO that
which is wrong. Honest men want
no constitutions 70 bad them to DO
that which is right. Ii we owe this
debt we should pay it, and we be-
lleve that there is virtue enough in
the people of Virginia to make them
do their duty about this, as about
all other matters.
The Richmond Dispatch says:
"Gov, Holidays veto message
is so short, sharp and decisive that
every man will read 1t for himself.
We must say, however, that it cuts
like a Damascue blade, or the
sword of Saladin. The Governor
all due respect to the
GeAeral Assembly as a coordinate
department Of the government; yet
he lays bare the manifold sins
committed by that body in the pas
sage Of this Objectionable measure
"a bill which, as he plainly shows,
is unconstitutional even in It's title.
The Governors calm words OF hon
est, candid counsel will reach the
hearts Of the people at home, II they
TAIL TO control the acts OF the men |
who are miscalled their representa-
lives. The people will profit by |
The wise words OF their chosen Gov
,rnOr' They will ponder his adj
vice, and act upon it whenever here
after the opportunity to DO 50 may
DC afforded to them. They will
the regulators from the
public councils
The Richmond Wing, reviews
he message in a two and half
olumn editorial, which concludes
S follows:
"But enough, The veto is an
rrogant defiance of the will of the
'eople, a contemptuous overriding
f the Legislature, and a fragrant
ppression of the State. The veto
an injury of incalculabIe magni- !
ade, and madly proyokes and pre-.
ipitates the issue Of reputation.
lot content with the veto, the a
Governor has added insult TO III i
Try by his accompanying message.
10 man can read it without shame n
lat a Governor of Virginia should {
e so lost to all sense Of propriety,
} forgetful o. lis own dignity and
what is due to tie representa-
yes Of Virginians, as to address 50
'ntemptuous and contemplate Y
per to Virginia Legislature and \
{ it 60 forth to the world" u
The Richmond State says: f. :.
The Mccullough bill is not re- III
aled, nor can it be, and the read
Sters find themselves powerless
move a peg in advance in their a.
t scheme Of readjustment or re-
.diation. 1t is useless to ask
lat they will do next, for they Sh
n simply do nothing next. They il.
t to the end of their tether, and a Z
1st wait two whole years before J1
cy have even a prospect of doing ,
ything, and by that time readiust- I'M
mt, with its threatened alterna- tn
'e-repudiation-will be so dead On
at the last trump would not re- thu thu
rect it from the tomb in which sol
C contempt and Indignation of the a.
ople will have buried it. The nc
ing, in its wrath, threatens alb ne
lutte reputation. Well, let US
IKE the next State canvass on CT
at plain issue, if it will live so W
lg. We prefer an open and un-
'gnlsed fight to a covet and con-
aled one in ambush and under I
? false banner of readjustment. TED
It Reputation on your banners re- re-
once, let the skull and cross bar
mes be plainly visible and indi p po.
a uour frt1a ,,,ro4,oo1 l. Pm