The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-23
Reconciliation in Sight.


Reputation in Sight.
A correspondent In Botetouft sends 10
ne the following note. Its contents do not
surprise us at all. On the contrary, they
proye that we were not In error when last
wear We said OF General LEES proposition
10 submit the McCuLLocu bill 70 the voters
that it would afford them an opportunity TO
vote for reputation, and they would avail
themselves Of 1t.
BoTgTouRT COUNTY. VA,l
February 20. 1880.
Editors of the Dispatch The Riddle
berger bill Is the general topic OF conversa-
tion here, and so Tar as present indicatioas
90 the people will endorse the same shooId
they be allowed TO vote upon II. we sup
ported the McCuIloch bill as q fair settle
r,ent In good faith, and would do so again,
for we believed II would work II II had
fair trial; but IL we can do better, and the
bondbolder will accept, we shall not con-
plain. We have become fully satisfied siuee
the last election that II two propositions
were Offer ed the voters OF this county-to
wit. $40, OOO, GOO and $4,000, SaC-and the
leading independents advocated the Iat-
Ter, the county would so vote; ana we
presuu,e IL Is so elsewhere throughout the
State. Hence the danger, II not msoness,
OF opposing the present plan
We heard il whispered few nights ego
that promineD at and infaentlal Rehclnster
official In this county has intimated III prl-
yate circles that James A. Frazer, Esq,
of Rockbridge, VIII be pushed for the Hon.
j. r. fuckers shoes. What does fais mean
Yours truly, SALISBURY.
We have had OCCASION to say more tnan
once that whenever question rs submitted
to the voters, they for ninc-tcntbs OF
tbem) conclude tba they haze as good q
right TO vote "Aye" as to cote Ono y;
and II they are asked in that maerer
whether they are willing to repudiate ahe
whole State debt and the whole national
debt, they VIII no doubt ans Ser sffiIma-
lively at the ballot-box. 1t Is for this reason
that we are opposed TO submitting such
questions to the popular vote. We ssven't
q douDt that the RIpDL BrgRGgR bill, or any
other reputation bill that cosSid be
framed.--eVen one, as we have sid, re-
pudiating the entire Stste debt, --would be
approved by the voters IL snbpStted to
them. But such questions engtS never
TO be submitted to the popular vote
certainly they ought Botio be sosubmited
in State such as Virginia, where more than
one third OF the voters are negroes, who are
much more anxious 10 antagosize the re-
spectacle White voters than &c pay honest
debts, or 10 pass honest laWs. The negroes
are as Indecent TO the fate Of the States
credit aud to tie obligasior Df State con-
% a:sa 90 bpr u allure EhqV have
but one governing motive, and that is az
unQuencbable thirst fer equality with the
whites. They will sacrifice VI other things
in the foolish pursuit. OF this unattain-
able object. They would vote Just as
readily 10 make the debt fifty mix
lions rs they wOxA to reduce it 20
nothing II they copld tbWteby secure the
object OF all their b9pes, wishes. and aspi-
rations. Nothing hut tbR sort OF rccOgni
tion will eVeg indpoe then ID side with the
property-helders. That recognition, it is
needless 90 add, they wial never receive.
Thereforeit is crime against civilized So
-ciety to submit to a community Of voters
such as we have ia Virginia any question
OF honor, honesty, or,m morality. The voters
are not cempetest 20 decide it correcdg.
All OF the negroes are disqualified ms we
have said above tboy me as well as by igno-
rance.
If, therefore, the partial Repudiationists
in the Legislature submit to the voters this
year their bill Mpadhtlng Sl4,000,00o OF
-our,State debt, the teal Regulators may
take heart Of the 2etend prepare to submit
twoyears hence bill repudiating the en-
tire debt. There is nc such thing as hasf-
way honesty. at as n sin to steal pin"
There is no dfferenoeiiu principle between
repudiating IA. 33ds Of the debt and repuGi-
atng it all.
But the vote Of the people would decide
nothing. This Is another end fatal objec-
tion to The policy Of submitting the bill to
the voters sor their apIRoval. The credit |
'Ors are the men whose consent is needed |
They are the men whe bold the coupons |
They are the men without whose consent |
ino,settleQsaut can be effected. They are |
not fools, either. They eaow beforehand |
what wiz be the resuf OF submitting |
to the voters the question whether a
or not. A man owning ten thousand |
dollars Of State cOnsols, heariEg 6 per |
cent. interest, and yielding to him annually |
six hundred doilaSs OF coupons, which he |
can pay his taxes&itb, is notaute such an
idiot as to exchange his old bonds for ten |
thousand dollars fsr new bonds for five |
thousand dollars, bearing per cent. inter-
est, thus reduciRg his principal by one half |
and bis interest hysrsree fourfas-or from
$500 10 $50. Where is the 5oudholder |
who would not soonerfght the ease through |
all the courts in the,csmmOnweaIth up to |
fheSnpreGe Court Of the United States and |
then lose >aA his bonds than sub9;t TO be
swindle6 IN the manner proposed out OF
more than hall OF hissiBst dues?
But how has Virginia fallen when it is
necessary 60 discuss s1eh a subjeeti Her
fallen condition is The .rssUlt OF a del ased
suffrage. HAD there been 40 negro votes in
virginia such q question as reputation
woulo never have been discussed in der
halls OF legislation.
-
MONEY WHICH Ought 10 BE VoryD