The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-19

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The late address OF the State Committee
81 the Re&dInstelS IN Virginia, and the
nublishcd interview Of General Malone, It's
chairman, have attracted attention, and
wh,le they do not seem TO have produced the
feet hoped for, they nevertheless invite
reply. propose 10 put In an answer on
behalf OF my State and people, brief and
temperate. and shall voiicl The record TOT
ali saw. Aud before going into details II
Is nroper that should give a sketch OF
eveots reaching back to the formation OF
| the Alexandra Constitution. as u Wa'
called. The state Of West Virginia having
been formed, Francis II. Pierpoiut, VINO
claimed 10 be Governor OF virginia, re-
| moved his headquarters 10 Alexandra
There convention was held for the noml'
n,l purpose OF adopting constitution Tor
VIRGINIA. In which but few counties were
represented. This body made what Is known
~ the Alexandria Constitution, and when
the surrender took place, Pierpont moved
! h 30 and baggage over TO Richmond, TOOK
posscssion Of the public buildings, and pro-
cccded to act a. Governor over all virginia
when his reign was over the carprtbae
government OF II. II. Wells was inaugu
rated. and IL remained until IT was super
seeded by military rule. In 1857 an elect'cn
was held for delegates to form convention
which body was largely Republican. !,
met in Richmond i'm December, 1861, ana
formed the Constitution now IN force IN
Vireinia--altered much. however, by sew
eral amendments. The schedule accom-
panying It required that it should be sub
mit,ed 10 vote OF the people, but this was
NOT done till the summer OF 1869. Inc
Constitution wss adopted except some dis
franchising clauses. which were stricken
out). and the first Legislature under IL
assembled in October, 1869. The mill.
tary, however, remained in control, ana
it was not until January, 1870, that
the State was admitted to representa-
ton in Congress and the government
turned over TO its own officers elected by
the people. under constitution also ratiIled
by them. From the surrender to 1870 the
people had little 10 do except 10 obey car
net -bageers aud generals, and may be truly
said TO have had no hand in their own gov
eminent. II is only since January, 1910,
That The people OF the State be hud re-
sponsble for the conduct OF its affairs, ana
they must be Judged by what they have
done since that time and by the circum'
stances, troubles. difficulties, and emDai-
easements under which il was done.
When the war was over, by some means
or other the hope was engeudered 10 The
people Of Virginia that there would he Il
rush both of capital and population 10 the
State-that lands would be IN demand ana
would readily sell at high prices. and in-
dustrics aud business would speedily revive.
The currency was at its most redundant
period also. so that ia Virginia j! was the
era OF inflated curreucies and i,filed
homes likewise. But their expectations
were not reaiiZed. Congress contracted
the currency, and not much capital
nor many settlers reached our territory.
II il true the carpet-bsgger was abroad
there as well as elsewhere in the South. but
he was never anything but curse wherever
ne went. III addition 20 these troubles, a
STAY law had been passed by the virginia
Secession Convention, which prevented the
collection OF debts, and which renamed in
force till the year 1870. When it was re-
pealed at last, il let vast flood OF debt,
with great accumulation OF interest, upon
The people all Il. once. There had not been
time since the surrender to accumulate
much personel property. Horses, cattle,
sheep, and hogs take time 10 grow, and so
when the people were called upon 10 pay
their debts. in many cases doubled by In
terest, they had nothing to do it with i'll
many cases except land, and there was q
great deal more OF that in the market than
could be sold. There could be but one re-
sult-mucb loss, much bankruptcy, much
poverty. Nevertheless, when the people
did in 1870 obtain control OF their own
government, they addressed themselves
Dravely to the work of rebuilding the
state. No: only individual property bad
been lost, hut the State assets had leen
either lost o. wasted. The separation of
West Virginia produced difficult problem
as to the state debt. The Constitution Of
West Virginia had this provisiOn-yiz
can equitable proportion OF the public
debt OF the Commonwealth OF Virginia
prior 10 the lst day Of January, 1861, shall
he assumed by this State, and the Leeisla-
turc shall ascertain the same as soon rs may
be practicable, aud provide for the llquida.
ton thereof by sinking fund sufficient to
pay tue accruing interest and redeem the
principal within thirty.four years"
And the Constitution of Virginia had this
clause-yiz.:
"The General Assembly shall provide ny
law for adjusting with the State OF West
Virginia the proportion OF the public debt OF
Virginia aud West Virginia, and shall pro-
vide that such sum os shall he received from
West Virginia shall be applied to the pay
ment OF the public debt OF the State"
The Legislature OF Virginia, desiring TO
execute these provisions Of both C0nstitu-
lions, passed a joint resolution rendering
arbitratIon to West Virginia. This failed,
however, and an actual settlement between
the two States seemed difficult to obtain.
The Legislature OF Virginia set aside with
the consent OF the creditors, as witnessed
by the haste with which they accepted the
provisions OF The funding bill OF 1871 one
third OF the debt to West Virginia, de-
clarug at the same time that Virginia was
trustee for the creditors, and would pay
them whatever sum West Virginia paid her.
What situation did the Legislature which
met in October, 1869, under the new Con-
slitulion, find itself in?
In governments that have been in regular
operation for years, with all the machinery
in good order. with the records OF the past
from wear TO year to guide them, IL is easy
enough to estimate both receipts and eX-
penditures. PREY ious assessments OF pro-
perry and previous receipts into the Trea-
Sury enable them to say what can be
reasonably expected in the way Of reve-
nue.. So the past expenditures furnish
also a guide. But Virginia had none
of these things She had been through
four years OF war and nearly six OF recon-
struction. Much of her property was de-
stroyed, and there was no adequate stand.
ard bv which TO value what was left. The
Legislature had to conform the laws OF the
State to the new order OF things, and nobody
could say how long this would require. The
cUmmon-s school system had to be put into
operation, schooi-houses built, teachers pro.
cured and paid. Everything was coaiectu-
raj. and il is not TO be wondered at that re-