Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-01-26
Senator J0hnstoR's Reply 10
Gen. MahOnes Recent
Manifesto.
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER.
January II, 1881.

January II, 1881.
The late address. of the State Com
mittee ofthe Readjusters ia Virginia
and the published interview OF Genera,
Mahane, Its chairman, have attrscted
attention, and while they do not seem
10 have produced the effect hoped for
they nevertheless invite a reply. ]
propose to put 10 an answer on behalf
of nv State and people, brief and
temperate, and shall vouch the record
for all I say. And before going into
details it 10 proper that should give
sketch of events reaching back 10 the
formation of the Alexandra Constltu,
lion, as it was called. The State o.
West Virginia having been formed,
Francis Fl. Pierpoint, whs claimed 70
be Governor Of Virginia. removed his
headquarters to Alexandria. There o
convention was held tor the nominal
purpose OF adopting constitution ior
Virginia. in which but few counties
were represented. This body made
what is known as the Alexandra Con
stitution, and when the surrender TOOK
place, Pierpoint moved bag and bag
gave over 10 Richmond, took possession
vi the public buildings. and proceeded
to ect as Governor over all Virginia.
When bis reign was oyer the carpet
bag government Of Fl. II. Wells was
inaugurated, and it renamed until II
wss superseded by military rule. 10
1867 an election was held for delegates
tn form q convention, which BODY was
largely Republican. 1t met 10 Rich
moDd in December, 1867. and formed
the Constitution now in force IN VIZ
pinia altered much. however, by sew
ara, amendments. The schedule ac-
companying it required that 1t shouio
be submitted 10 a vote of the people,
but this was not done TIL the summer OF
1869. The Constitution was adopted
Except some DISTINGUISHING clauses
which were stricken oui), and the first
Legislature under it assembled IN DC
tober, 1869. The military, however,
remained 10 control, and it was not un-
i'll January, 1870, that the State was
admitted 10 representation in Congress
and the government turned over 10 lie
own tfficers elected by the people, IN
der a constitution also ratified by them.
From The surrender to 1870 the people
lad little TO do except 10 obey carpet
baggers and generals, and may be truly
said 10 have had no hand in their own
government. 1t is only since January,
1870. that the people of the State car
be held responsible for the conduct OF
its tffairs. and they must be Judged BY
what lheJ have done since that time
and by tie circumstances, troubles, dit
hculties, and embarrassment under
which it was done.
When The war was ever, by some
means or other the hope WAS engen-
dered in the people OF Virginia that
there would be rush both Of capital
and population to the State-that lands
would be in demand and would readily
sell at high prices, and industries and
business would speedily revive. The
currency was at Its most redundant
period also. 40 that 10 Virginia It was
the era Of inflated currencies and in
fated hopes likewise. But their ex-
pe:tations were not realised. Con-
gre.s contracted the currency, and not
much capital uor many settlers reached
our territory. II is true the carpet
Dagger Was abroad there as we'll as
elsewhere in the South, but he was
never any thing but a curse wherever
he went. In addition to these troubles,
a stay law had been passed by the Vlr-
ginia Secession Convention, which pre-
vented the collection OF debts, aud which
renamed in force till the yeal 1870
When it was repealed at last, it let
vast food Of debt, with great aceumu-
lalion OF interest, upon the people all
ut once. There had not been time
since the surrender to accumulate much
personal property. Horses, cattle,
sheep, and hogs take time to grow, and
90 when the people were called upon
~ pay their debts, in many cases
doubled by inIerest, they had nothing
10 do it with in many cases except land
and there Was . great deal more OF Thai
10 the market than could be sold. There
could be but one result-mush loss,
much bankruptcy, much poverty
Nevertheless. when the people did III
1870 obtain control Of their own govern
Dent. they addressed themselves brave
ly 10 the work efrebuilding the State.-
Not only individual property had been
lost, but the State assets bad been
either lost or wasted. The separation
Of West Virginia produced difficult
problem as 10 the Slale debt. The
Constitution of West Virginia had this
provision-yiz:
IAN equitable proportion Of the pub.
lie debt OF the Commonwealth OF Vir-
GINA prior ~ tue LIST DAY OF January,
ls6l, shall be assumed by this Stale,
and The legislature shall ascertain the
same as soon as may be practicable,
and provide Tor the liquidation thereof
BY sisklng fund sufficient 10 pay the
accruing interest and redeem the primer
pal within thirLy-iour years.
And the Constitution Of Virginia had
this clause viz:
"The General Assembly shall pro-
vide By law Tor adjusting with the Stale
vi " est Virginia the proportion OF the
public debt OF Virginia and West Vir-
GINA, and shall PROV ide that su:n sum
q, shall be received from West Vir-
giuia shall bs applied 10 the payment
OF the public debt OF the State"
The Legislature OF Virginia, desiring
to execute these provisions OF both
Constitutions, passed joint resolution
rendering arbitration 10 West Virginia.
This failed; however, and an actual
settlement between the two States
seemed difficult 10 obtain. The Legls-
lature OF Virginia set aside (~ilh The
consent OF tie creditors, as witnessed
by the haste with which thev accepted
the provisions OF the funding bill oil
1871 one third Of the debt 70 West VU-
sinia, declaring al the same time thai
Virginia was trustee tor the creditors
pud would pay them whatever sum
West Virginia paid her.
What situation did the Legislature
which met 10 October. 1869, under the
new Constitution, end itselfin
In governments that baye been 10
regular operation for years, with all The
machinery IN good order, with The