The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-13

were self collecting. The courts had de-
creed that the State had,to receive them for
all dues, not excepting the school tax, al
though the Constitution dedicated certain
revenues to the schools before the funding
bill of 1871 was passed. The result was
that a deficit annually occurred OF from
$500, 900 to 100000, until it now reaches
81, 600, 600; the school fund was arrested
by the coupons before it reached the treas
ury the schools were thus deprived Of
their support diminished in numbers, grew
in unpopularity, and were absolutely threat
ened with destruction.
while these things were going on. the
most fragrant abuses were being practiced
In the offices having direct control of the
revenues. The treasurer was discovered to
be defaulter the Sinking Fund agent
was in like category; and the grossest
carelessness and mismanagement peryaded
all the departments of the government AS
a consequence the credit of the State was
so impaired that the banks of Richmond
would not make loan of 100000 to meet
current expenses. The asylums, TOO, were
languishing and crippled because there were
no funds to meet their demands, except
what the management OF these institutions
borrowed upon their private credit. or had
been advanced by the local banks, through
charitable considerations.
This xas the condition of public affairs
under the management of the Conservative
| Democratic party, when the Re-adjus-
| tiers were placed in control of the Legisla-
| ture, and changed the various basement Of
| ticers. Since then there has been mar.
velous improvement. Defaulting treasurers
and clerks have been made to pay up; the
schools have been supplied with means Of
support, their numbers and attendance
doubled our charitable institutions served
with the means of healthy and successful
operation the credit of the Common
wealth restored, and general feeling Of
satisfaction inspired with the people.
We mention these matters to show the
people of the State the use and abuse o.
power from which they have suffered under
the rule of the Conservative Democratic
party, and to ask them whether it is thei
purpose to aga in entrust with the manage
ment Of these offices party that has mani
tested such utter incapacity or ndispositior
to deal justly nth the great interests o
the Commonwealth 1t is the peoples BIZ
siness after all. They have to meet all the
inefficient. They constitute the State. and
il they can bear the kind of government
they received from the Democratic Con
sentative party when it was in power, why
we can. 1t is our duty to expose to the PEG
pie the shortcomings of the party. ant
to point out to them where they have beer
wronged and outraged, and it is theirs t,
determine what they are going to do about it
They have the admin istratiOn of the tw.
Democratic factions before them, and it i
for them to decide which they will entrus
with future power.
In what we have sa id we do not wish t,
be understood as favoring the Riddleberge
Bill. We stand by the Courts, and Will,
the legislation the Courts have investe.
with contract sanctity is the work of thi
reckless. incompetent party, the Courts ar
not to blame for entering their judgmen
when case is brought before them. Tn
fault is with the ruthless partizan spiri
| kt.o I, h.
!, fearful cost to the people. Had not TIL
, legislation noticed passed into adjudcate
questions. then there would be both RICH
, and duty in demanding that all of it be an
nulled and the equity of the case consid
cred. But no people is safe in assaultin
the judiciary of Commonwealth or Of tn
nation. 1t is there where our rights of pei
son and property are deposited and as tn
bulwark of our liberties the courts must b
, sustained.
! 1t is to direct the attenti on of the peopl
! to the party which has Imposed so man
burdens upon then-which has so pros
tituted the power conferred upon is, and t
II put the question to them in all cando
whether they intend to repose their conf
dence in it again. that we have commente
upon the legislative career of the Demo
cratic Conservative party. and opened up
theme for popular reflection. For tn
present we leaye the matter with the peo
pie, whom it more directly concerns. TO
them to return verdict OF guilty or no
guilty as the evidence may justify.