The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-02-03
Senator Johnston's Reply.

Senator Johnstons Reply.
We publish on the first page Of the VIR-
to-day the reply Of Hon. ]. w.
to the statements contained in the
Washington interview" with Gen. Ma
hone, given to our readers two weeks ago.
We do this In order to furnish the public |
with the line OF argument and collation. of |
facts relied upon by each Of the Democratic |
factions to sustain its appeals for popular
confidence and support, and not that we |
accept either of the papers as an accurate
and reliable presentation Of the facts and
condition of things. Gen. Mahone's as
sumption that the taxation cost to the peo-
pie Of Virginia is So 80! on every one hum
dred dollars of assessed values is as far from
the real truth, If not farther, than some of
the exploded figures adduced by Senator
Johnston. To reach this con clusionen.
Malone assumes as correct that the u, OO0,-
600 Of internal revenue nominally paid by
Virginia Is tax upon the industry of the
State, when there is not school boy who
ResocSA
does not know that this is not so. That
revenue is derived, In most part, from
whiskey andf' tobacco-two Virginia pro-
ducts-but it is paid by the consumer
whether he lives in Maine or California, and
only by the people Of Virginia, as volun-
tary imposition, in the degree that they use
tobacco and whiskey, or either. 1t cannot
legitimately be entered as part Of the tax
charge Of the State, and to so enter 1t is ev-
idence that there is no sound, just argument
to sustain the proposition that the prop
erty Of the State is not able to bear the bur-
den Of per cent. on the debt as recog-
nized by both the State and her creditors.
As to Senator Johnston's collstions and
statements, they are clumsily made, mac
curate In some instances. exhibit an absence
Of familiarity with the discussion OF the
question at issue, and the errors which have
heretofore mislead the people, and display
too much of the case lawyer to command
that confidence that 8 paper from him
should be entitled to. But 1t is with no
purpose to institute comparison between
the arrayments of these two prominent
citizens OF the State that we refer to the
subject which constitutes the burthen OF
their productions. We are satisfied that
neither of the parties they represent will be
able to finally and satisfactorily dispose Of
the matter, and that the duty will devolve
upon the Republicans to force q settlement
OF the debt question, or place both Of them
In the attitude Of seeking to deprive the
creditors OF their equitable rights and the
State Of her reputation. for fair and manly
dealing with her creditors. We propose to
notice briefly the party references OF Sena-
tor Johnston, and the sneers and slurs
which it has pleased him to cast upon Re-
publicans, corresponding as they do with
the prejudiced, If not malicious allegations
Of General Malone, in his address as
Chairman of the Re-adjuster State Com
mittee.
Mr.. Johnston's reference to carpet-bag
government is unfortunate, as the only
real, genuine carpet-bag government we
have ever had was that which was fastened
upon the people by the party he represents
In the person of Gov. Walker, to whom Is
due the funding bill Of 1871, and all Of its
direful consequences. His predecessor, Gov.
Wells, was military appointment and vas
succeeded by military governor, and to
this day it is claimed by many Of the most
sagacious and influential citizens OF the
State, that the best government Virginia
hoa hoI osp <ho hat for al
under military rule. 1t is true there was
something distasteful about the thought Of
military supremacy, but the practical oper-
alton of the government imposed lighter
burthens and far less annoyances than any
we have had since. Certainly we cannot
point to any exhibition Of craftsmanship
since that time to encourage US to believe
that the Democratic party has guarded the
rights and interests Of the people, or been
equal to the demands Of the State, In the
anomalous conditions which hedged about
her as the result of the war. The Funding
Bill of 1871 was the first prominent act that
signalized the administration of the Demo-
cratic party, and If that is to be taken as
one Of the happy results of the change in
the methods of government, that party L.
entitled to and must be awarded all the
credit for it. Nor is the fact that nearly
e12, 000, 600 Of assets, In stocks OF public
improvements have been squandered. and
which, IL properly handled, would have
constituted source Of large revenues, any
more to the advantage OF the people in
escaping from military rule. The wisdom
and craftsmanship Of Senator Johnston's
party were further illustrated, after having
pinioned the Funding Bill Of 1871 upon the
State, by failing to levy tax sufficient to
meet the obligations it had assumed, and
allowing interest to default at the rate OF
>eo0, 1000 to $500, 900 annually, until the
threat Of utter and irretrieyable reputation
and ruin compelled demand for read
justment of that measure, 80 as to save the
State government from absolute paralysis In
all Of its departments.
The Constitution that was passed by
Convention, majority Of the delegates In
which were Republicans, contained four
prominent provisions which should COM
mand The approval Of all intelligent and
patriotic men, and must constitute the
source Of the progress and power OF the
Commonwealth in an time to come. 1t, LIST,
recognizes that the Union is perpetual, and
that the National government is supreme.
End, it recognizes the validity Of the public
debt, and demands that it should be paid
Sd, It provides for the establishment and
perpetuation Of the Public Free School Sys-
TEN, and dedicates certain revenues per-
petually to it's support; and 4th, 1t inhibits
the credit of the State to all works Of inter-
nal improvement and the Legislature from
mourning any Indebtedness except, in con-
tingencies, for the support Of the State Cow
eminent.
These vital provisions, which will stand
out as monuments to the wisdom OF the
body that made them part OF the funda-
mental law of the State, were supplemented
by an equally important provision, viz
That the elective franchise attached to man.
hood and should not be abridged except for