The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-30
Letter from w. D.. Royal. Esq.
W HIIE NILTHVN 'IhINUl'f
GREENBRIER COUNTY, w. VA,
July 28, 1881,

July 20, lcol'
10 the Editors Of the Dispatch:
Though have removed my residence TO
New York, / can never be Indifferent to
what the people Of Virginia may think OF
me. This will serve as a preface to this
letter.
l find myself quoted by Readiusters Of
the State debt for platform OF cOmpro.
mise. To all who care TO know my opinion
| wish TO say that IL were the Convention
| would adopt a platform committing the
State TO the payment Of every dollar OF her
debt, and would include in 1t the third
which West Virginia ought TO, but will not,
pay. II | were a member OF the ConveD-
ton would vote for this, and would not
vote for anything short OF it.
III tue Convention will not adopt this
platform, then l hope it Will adopt one
utterly ignoring the public debt. hope
no race Of compromise or competition VIII
be run with the Mahoneites. Nothing, In
nv Judgment, could be more disgraceful-
nothing more fatally injurious to Virginia
than the spectacle OF competing bids for the
lowest scale Of population. II the State
must repudiate, lei her do it like man; II
may use the expression, let her go the
whole hog.
II the Convention will not adopt plat
form calling for the payment Of the debt,
then can imagine square and honest men
gong for one which should call upon the
people 10 send members 10 the Legislature
without regard to their views upon the
public debt. In other words, / can
understand how they would be willing
to vote for persons who favored an
out and out reputation OF the public
debt, provided they were opposed to seeing
the State gOveTnmen; pass into the bands OF
General Malone and his gang. While |
could not as q member OF the Convention
vote for any such platform. | can imagine
conscientious men willing to see one adopt
ed which permitted each county TO send a
member Of the Legislature who was a repu-
diatOr, provided only he was determined to
preserve the State from negro rule under
the guse OF "rCSOiusl
When | state this | am confronted with
the question, e" But would not your Gov
ernor be compelled to veto any repudiating
BILL? / do not see that he would. Ii
the people Of Virginia are determined to
repudiate their debt it is not within the
power Of a Governor to prevent it, nor is
he called upon TO make the attempt. He
should not give his appreciation TO any mea-
sure OF reputation adopted by them. But
they may work their will without ms
giving his assent TO a bill, or vetoing
il either. The Constitution provides that
unless a bill is returned by the Governor
within a certain number Of DAYS it becomes
law. With my views OF the States obIiga-
ton to pay her debt TO the last fathing, yet
II were the candidate OF the Conservative
party | would not veto any repudiating bill
PISSED by the Legislature to be elected this
fall, while would not give my appreciation
to it. This whole debtqueston has been
fully discussed before the people now until
all understand it. Il, fully understanding
il, they choose TO elect a repudiating Legs
lature, would not interpoSe myself as an
obstacle 10 the execution OF thelT will.
While, as citizen, could never be MADE
to cooperate in measure OF reputation,
vet, as the Governor, ! should feel
myself compelled to respect the will
Of my constituents. | do not see
why the EXTREMIST Debt-Payer that
YOU may nominate may not plant
himself upon platform ignoring the debt
and cOnfnng discussion to the question OF
honesty and decency in the government OF
the State.
After all, however, mark that l would
not vote for such platform II ] were
member Of the Convention. | would vote
every time for a platform calling upon the
State to pay every dollar OF her debt, and
would not vote for anything short Of il.
WILLIAM l.. royal.