The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-08-25
A Glance at the Canvass.


repeal of the capitation tax restriction upon
he voting privilege; the repeal of the
law, and the modification of
The petty-larceny law, SO as to conform to
she pledge Of the people of Virginia, when
to representation in Congress I'M
der the Constitution of 1869, are involved
In the FIRST proposition we have suggested.
1t requires no argument to explain these to
the people. 1t is known that they are in
of the spirit and intent Of the
to the national constitution
and the constitution as it came from the
Convention Of 1868, and ratified by
the people at the polls in 1869. There is
mott fair-minded man in the State who
does not know that the DISTINGUISHING pro-
visions we have referred to are in conflict
with the purpose of the Federal and State
Constitutions, and in violation of the un-
which prevailed with the peo-
pie Of Virginia when the Constitution was
adopted. Intelligent and pronounced DEM
ocrats have so declared to US, and expressed
the belief that it was the duty Of the State
to restore the Constitution to its original
guarantees and the people to their plighted
faith, but that it would not do now, and
In this contest, to favor the proposition.
It is not out of place to call the attention
Of the Conservative Democrats to the fact
that the troubles which have sprung up in
their party and the division which has been
effected, are the results of the legislative
devices to abridge the rights of the citizen,
and to hamper the voting privilege with re-
strictions and conditions that the original
Constitution of the State did not contem-
plate. Agitation must continue until these
wrongs are righted. Other questions Of
vital Importance will be made subordinate,
until the demands of the understanding of
1869 are recognized, and the spirit and pur-
pose OF the amend ments to the Constitu-
ton practically enjoyed. Evasive assur-
ances will not answer. The pledge must
porated into the laws and constitution when
Virginia resumed her representative rela-
tions to the Union, shall be restored, and
the petty devices to effect Acknowledgement
for partizan ends sponged out.
The debt question is not practically in the
controversy. II it were there is no formu-
lation Of views in either of the platforms OF
the Democratic party, that Republicans
could endorse. The Riddleberger bill is so
utterly devoid of fairness-so palpably in
conflict with legal and legislative sanctions,
and so outrageous in some of its PROPOSE
tions, that no one who desires to do justice
alike to the State and her creditors, could,
for an instant, tolerate it. The tendency
OF the measure, with its repudiating pro-
vision, and the insidious designs which Turk
through almost its entire structure, is to de-
moralize and debauch public sentiment, and
bring upon the State such stigma that no
repentance hereafter could ever atone for.
After virtually repudiati2g $4,000. 900 OF
the recognized capitalized debt, and giving
the amount it recognizes, it deliberately de-
clares that one-half of the interest on this
must be repudiated. because, it is assumed,
the people are not able to pay more. And
this. in the face Of the exposed fact, that
the assessments OF values have been DELHI
erately reduced rs per cent, to sustain the
plea of poverty which is thus put up. That
is, % per cent. of the values of the State
have been concealed, in order to justify the
demand of this bill, that one-half of the legal
interest charge on the amount OF the debt
the Re-adjusters recognize must be repu-
dated. The courts too must be circum-
vented in their decisions upon the constitu-
tionaiity of the tax-receivable coupon, by
certificates, to be placed in the hands Of the
taxpayers at so cents on the dollar, and by
them into the Treasury at 100 cents on the
dollar. in order to destroy the value of the
tax-receivable coupons and the force of the
DEGREES of the courts.
We can conceive OF no legislative enactment
that would comprehend more reprehensible
provisions than are embraced in the Riddle.
berger bill-that would more directly ap-
peal to the worst phase of human nature,
or which would do more to perpetuate a
policy of distrust as to the purpose of the
people. There is no possible settlement OF
the question at issue. in this bill, and should
approve 1t, the Courts would soon place
the seal Of their disapprobation upon it.
We cannot look to the other faction OF
the Democratic party with any better assur-
ance of right action in this matter. The
high sounding platitudes of the platform Of
the Democratic Conservatives about the
honor of the Commonwealth, AMI the i'm
precautions invoked upon any proposition
to infiict the stigma of reputation upon
the good name of the State, do not cores
pond with the time-serving and temporiz-
ing conclusion reached that the rate of tax
alton, whatever the necessities of the situa-
ton. cannot be increased. The pledge OF
rhis faction is given to this policy, which
involves possible reputation, and made
to conform to the demand that the creditor
must relinquish one-hah of his legal interest
claim.
Practically there is no proposition or no
party in the field to reflect the views OF the
Republicans OF the State or Nation upon
the obligations of government, and the
oaly issues for them to consider are those
we have referred to as comprehended in the
eapitation tax restriction, the whipping
post, and the election of Legislature
which will deem it part Of its duty to re-
arrange the Congressional districts SO as to
give the Republicans their proper represen-
tation in the halls of Congress. The pri- |
mary consideration, therefore, with the
of Virginia, in this contest, is /
10 work for as formidable representation in 4
he Legislature as it is possible to secure. If
organization is observed and full vote brought |
nut, they can command and hold the bal |
lnce Of power as between the representa-
ives of the two Democratic factions, and en-
orce justice On all the questions we have
aastily presented. We have objects to &C.
and we csAsst afford to be sensi-
i've or thin-skinned as to hsae means to ac-
omplish them when we are eonfE0pted with
he tactics ct both the Democratic factions
hey will scrnple at nothing to encompass
be ends bhey have in view. Let Republic
ans avail Of their necessities and embar
aasments to work out salMary reforms in