The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-24
Communication.
For the VALLEY VIRGINIA.

For the VALLEY VIRGINIAN.l
I avail myself of the commendable liberality
of the VIRGINIAN to call attention to the early
position of the Republican party of Virgins
upon the debt question. Those who so siren
uously oppose the union of that party with the
Readjusters in the coming State canvass seem
to assume that it requires some compromise Of
principle to do so.
1t IS susceptible OF easy proof that this is moi
true. The Republican party stands committed
by the resolutions of its State convention OIL
1871 to the same policy substantially that is
now urged by the Readusters. l clip from
the files of the Richmond State Journal (the
leading organ of the party in the State, at that
time) the following:
STATE POLICY
No honest deny that the tendency of the
Legislature of the past year in Virginia has
depress all the material interests of the people.
Taxation has been increased almost beyond the
limits Of human endurance, and the Democratic
Legislature with its twothrds majority, has passed
oppressive and unnecessary laws, among which the
ions taxation on the property Of the State Will be
double what 1t is now, not less than dollar
every hundred. Worse STILL because it is unneces-
sary, they have compelled the people of Virginia to
raise money, either by sacrificing their property,
products or by paying an enormous rate Of
to pay these by the day of Septem-
Der, 1871 forfeit five per cent, while now
officially informed by the Treasurer Of the State
that the money so collected Is not needed until Jan
uary and JULY 1872 and is lying in the banks of the
city of Richmond drawing only four per inter-
est presenting the astonishing spectacle of State
forcing Its citizens to loan wealthy corporations
more than million dollars at the low rate of four
per cent, per annum, while at the time, under
this extraordinary combination of circumstances,
our citizens are thus compelled to borrow their
money at the rate of twelve per cent. per annum.
The passage of such acts In Virginia by Demo-
cratic Legislature Is only in keeping with Demo-
cratic legislation wherever that party obtains power
as exempl1fed by that great leading Democratic
organization Of the United States-the Tammany
ring of New York.
s'Resobued, That we are opposed to levying upon
citizens any further tax than is necessary to
strictly economical administration of the gov
eminent, and demand that Representatives in
the Legislature shall do all in their power allevi
ate to the greatest extent possible the burdens Of
the people, and to decrease the expenses of the
State.
The convention which adopted this platform
was the first that assembled after the passage
of the Funding act. 1t was certainly equal in
numbers and intelligence to any one of that
party that ever met. The circumstances at
tending the funding of the State debt were
ened the people. The Richmond Journal,
which l then edited, few months previous
had led the way in denouncing the bill, expos
ing its fraudulent character, its impracticabili-
ty and its ruinous tendency. Leading Repub-
lcan politicians denounced my course but the
convention unanimously invited me to address
it and adopted the above expression, substan-
TALLY as prepared by me- Senator John F.
Lewis was present and warmly advocated
these views. No State convention has ever
repealed these resolutions. They stand to day
as the platform of the party upon the debt
question and they fairly represent the views
Of most Republicans who have solid interests
in Virginia. The professional politicians ofthe
party never approved this action. AS class
they had interests outside of and antagonistic
to the people. But none of them ever dared
to bring their views to the test of vote on
the spot.
The State Journal began the fight on the
Funding bill in June, 1871 and continued 1t
until was compelled by i'll health to retire
from its editorial management four years after.
An attempt was made in 1874 in the State
convention of Lynchburg to pass a vote of
censure on the Journal for its course, and to sub
stitute the National Republican, then the organ
of the Funders, but now upon the other side.
This proposition was promptly voted down
by an overwhelming majority. Mr.. Brooks,
then editor of the Republican, who was pres
ent, said to me afterwards, 81 see that the
Journal has the people with it but the politicians
don't like It," In the session of the Legislature
of 1872 the votes of both parties disclose this
gap between the people and the machine poll
ticians
The resolution to repeal the coupon clause
of the Funding law, vetoed by the governor,
was passed over his head by two-thirds vote
An analysis shows that the great body of the
Republicans voted for repeal. The original
large vote for the bill in 1871 by Republicans
is not to be urged against this view The sub
ject had not been before the people at that time
That legislature met under peculiar circum-
stances. 1t was the first after the restoration
of the State to the Union. Everything was in
confusion. Ignorance, bigotry and intolerance
prevailed largely everywhere. Intelligent con-
structive legislation was impossible in such a
body. The unsettled condition made it the
easy prey of shrewd and cunning SPECTATORS
The State was siezed bodily, so to speak, and,
the Funding bill rammed down its throat
Those who should have been the guardians Of
its interests were made to surrender Virginia
to be plundered Some were blinded by false
lights, or led away by false pretexts, Others
were bribed to sell their constituents. The
State can only be compared to man, set upon
by ruffians, stunned and bewildered and com
PEELED to sign deed of his entire property
To repudiate such deed would offend nc
principle of justice. Neither the people of the
State nor any party in it can be held moral
ly responsible for passing the funding act. II
was the work of individuals who must justify
their action as they can. This much is sure
| however, that the Republican party was first
to put itself against the bill after its passage in
| its convention of 1871. Its leaders may have
gone back upon this utterance but am conf
dent that the body of its members still stanc
| by it. The Readjuster movement proposes te
unite all citizens upon this distinctive policy
in State affairs.
I lmpeach no mans honestly of purpose
who differs with me as to the details OF fund
| 4 Iah@ D,,tfI o1rrI,0 CHI q
| together. Names are of no consequence
State interests should not be mixed with Ma
tiona1 politics at this time The practical worl
is now to overthrow the audacious and malig
nant combination that has held possession 0
the State for years past, that has neglected it
material interests, diverted the School fun(
from it's sacred work, kept alive sectional ant
race prejudices and sold Virginia to Wal
street as the Ancient Romans sold conquered
provinces to the publicans ior share OF tn
revenue which they wrung with merclles
greed from the helpless people. No progress
is possible for the State till the Bourbon rul
is broken. Specific measures are of less con
sequence than the infusion of new spirit int
the administration of affairs 1t cannot b
doubted that in this the Readjuster and he
publican agree. No man owns the movement
1t is not Malone party or Wickham party
1t is grand uprising of the people to asseI
rights and redress wrongs and restore Virgin
to the ranks of the progressive States, wher
she stood century ago. Republicans. VIII =
are true to the principles of their party In II
early and better days are Readjusters and Ke
adjusters are Republicans, in State policy. B
cordial union they can redeem the State an
put her half a century ahead during the mex
:, LNo years. 1t will be time enough then 9
p resume the contest tor supremacy in I'd
Nation. The debt question we all know
only the merest disguise to cover the repulsiIv
features of Bourbonism Hatred of populf
education and popular liberty and of the nj
J tional jurisdiction lie close beneath.
! The friends of the schools of industrial an
, intellectual development, of civilized progress
] of true national life, Of immigration, of peac
: liberty, tolerance and good will must strii
hands and march to victory under one panne