The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-06
lFor the Dispa'Chl
TO the People and Their Central Com
tiaitfpcs.

To the People ana snetr schtr"' 'V'"'
nittees.
Having only the common interest Of all
GOOD citizens OF The State 10 its honor ana
welfare, | submit for your consideration The
suggestion that all questions as to what
would be fair settlement OF The puOhc
debt with its creditors be referred TO arbl'
tration. II is q mode Of settlement eclllnG
more and more iut0 favor and use Doth he'
tween States aud individuals. especially IN
matters Of account. "Blessed are the
peaccmakers," and OF these arc arbi'ialofs
of mems differences. They extract the
soreness ont OF controversy, withdraw II
from the domains Of the passions, and,
where competent and impartial, rarely iall
TO settle it TO the general content.
II ever there were questions peculi1riy III
for arbitration Il is those connected win me
public debt. They are many and complex,
and opinions respcc Ing them so various, 50
hardened ty collisions, so running more
and mere iu parry RUS, tbat there is danger
of The piaineSt principles OF Justice ana
good (iitb-n1y, even Of common arithme-
tic--bplng Io>t sight OF in the smoke anu
heat If tue conflict. Opinions as to what
Virginia owes vary from the t0ia' on hcr
books TO nothing. Some think she should
wltbstanding, the divulsi0n. and secession
from her Of West Virginia; some her pro
Dortionatc part ofV; some Sl0,0OO,0OO;
some $4,000 900; some S20,O00,OOO; some
$40, 900 coo; some none; aud then Tue
amount OF interest 10 be paid, and the rates
ana times OF payiu. these varying amounts
Of both principal and interest, are so va
rjously estimated, aud her ability to pay
also the suffice, OF so much difference OF
0pjnion, as TO make a fair adjustment by
and within the Safe almost imprac,icable,
and satisfactory one Impossible. There
are good aud we!l-iutentioned men holding
ALI these varieties OF opinion-eycn Tue
worst of tbem-whc, think what they niny IN
Other respects, agree at lelst in this, that
they want to do. above all, what is right.
Even among those who favor total rcpu-
diatiOn are many honest men. They nave
been told that this State docs not owe any
debt: then that she is not able TO pay 1t
then that they are not liable fer il; and they
believe il, blinded and misled by those they
trust and who know better. Yet many such
would not knowingly do wrong. Among
intelligent people, too, is much difference oil
opinion a. TO what We really owe aud ought
TO provide for. who yet all are aiming to 40
right. | am satisfied If all who agree IN
wanting TO do right could be brought 10 acl
tooether they would constitute Il large aud
controlling majority Of the voters OF the
State. Iii in case then like this, OF infinite
dyersltIes OF opinion, affecting not only Inc
credit and character, but, while they con-
tjnue. inflcliug incaicuIabe injury also on
every Interest and individua, in the state,
and when q satisfactory solution OF lhese
differences seems hopeless to expect from
ertN.. 81
any agency WITHIN, why snouiu not
all who before all else wish to 40 what
Is right unite for that end only In
making it a condition OF Their sup
port Of any candidate for office TINT he
will vote for referring the whole question
as TO what Virginia should !ustly pay
her creditors Qhey conScntIng) TO the ar
bllrltion Of fair and competent men
If they would so unite. it would open a
simple, Just, and easy way out OF our trou-
bles. Once united i'll the purpose, there
would be no difficulties iu the way not OF
effecting il not easily suTmOuutabc. Ii all
VINO agree primarily in the desire 10 do
what is right aud unable 10 determine
among Themselves what that j., aud hence
willing to leave it to an impartial tribunal
to decide, would Of themselves make
gleement with them in tbat an absO-
Lure condition Of their support Of any
candidate, tue obi,ct might be reached;
but nIuch better. and more surely through
the recommendation OF their conventions
or committees Gle ily defining il and offer
ing some specific mode Of obtaining 1t.
The creating OF such a tribunal as IS Sug-
gfsled could offer no difficulty. WHAT, for
instance, simpler Than (aiter obtaining the
concurrence Of the creditors, which, pre-
sumo, would lie readily accorded) 10 ask OF
TIE Governors OF our neighbor States, Mary
l3ud, NORTH Carolina, and Kentucky Tor re-
mOter ones, IL preferred), TO select each
man OF uudoubied character and cOmpe-
tency TO come ID Richmond, Investigate
| everything there necessary to fair ADJUST
ment, weigh all the circumstances and con-
sideratioDs justly belonging to the subject,
and say what, IN their opinion, would be
right, fair, and reasonable settle
ment between the State and IFS creditors.
| When The United States, Great Britain, and
| Otber Governments have often seen il bit 10
| refer their differences to such commissions,
| foregoing the exercise, for peace aud har-
mOny, OF their undisputed right to refuse
all compromise and stand on their sovereign
| viii, do not see that Virginia would dis
| palage her Importance (while she would
| eXalt Der claim 10 a character for justice
aud fair dealing) by adopting a similar
course.
OF course these steps could not be taken
| without some time and trouble; but none,
| In my view OF the value of the end to be at
| tanned, To weigh feather in the scale. Null
| iiply these difficulties tenfold, and OF what
account are they against prolonged internal
| discussions, disssti, fed creditors, mock.
| Ing world, iudelibe shame, and ruined
credit-the almost inevitable results Of any
| adjustment ever yet proposed, OF as be-
| lieve possible under existing conditions by
State agencies. We cannot afford these aud
| less intestine feuds aud discords.
RaStscus e1pectat dun defuot omniS."
A CITIZEN.