The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-04-26
TAE SITUATION.
old girl,

The debt of the state of Virginia and the
means that have been resorted to for its pay
lnent or reimbursement have attracted the at
tention and challenged the criticism of the
people of the United States more by reason
of the political affiliations, among Influential
parties, that have grown out Of the debt than
Oh account of the debt itself. That a full
understanding of this matter may be arrived
at, we will state that, at the beginning of the
civil war, Virginia owed a debt OF about
SIC, 100000. One-ffth of the creditors lived
in Europe, two-titths in Virginia, and the
others in other states of the Union. After
the political reconstruction of Virginia, which
succeeded the close of the war, her creditors
began to clamor for action upon the part of
the state looking to the final payment OF the
debt. The matter was not, however, taken
up until 1868. At that time, those whom
Mr.. Malone and the republicans are pleased
to call BOurbons, were prohibited by federal
power from taking part in any legislation in
the state, either municipal, state or congress
sIonal. The state was virtually in the hands
of carpet-oaggers aud negroes. The first
thing they did was to apportion Sis, 000,0 200
of the debt to West Virginia, "a state as our
readers will remember, that was called into
existence by the civil war. West Virginia
refused to pay this amount bnt was willing
more. For several years refunding acts
were passed by the stale legislature which
were repealed by a subsequent one, and one
was declared unconstitutional. Then came
the Malone fight. de claims that 80 per
cent, or $l5, 100000 of the debt which was
Although that state repudiates S14,000,000 of
it, Malone holds that creditors must look to
that state for the amount.
He also desires to compel the creditors of
old Virginia 10 accept 60 per cent. of the res
idue, that is, $24, 600, 1000 as the full value of
their claims. This is Senator. Mahone's plan
of 'r~eadjustment," or more properly speak
ing, reputation. He proposes the state shall
repudiate $21 100000 of her Indebtedness Oh
the ground that the debt was contracted dur
ing "slavery times"
Now let us see whether the people of Vir-
ginia sustain him in this reputation scheme.
He boasts he was sent to the senate as a rep
reese ntative of his constituents, and dramat-
ically placing his hand upon his heart, de-
elares that the spirit of Virginia inspires hlm.
In 1879 the Malone regulators had So out of
the 40 members of the legislature. excIu-
sive OF their republican allies, which mum
bered 26 members. Malone was elected to
the United States senate by this Legislature.
Twenty-one of the six republicans joined the
IS readiusters to effect it, In 1879 the read
ulster vote represented about 40 per cent. OF
the population. But last fall it dwindled
down to 31,527 votes in a poll of 211,615 oil
in other words represented Is per cent. OF
the population. This falling of of the read.
just ment vote was due to two causes. First
the prepayment of poll tax as a qualification
for voting was required in 1880. This re
quirement shut out a large number of negro
votes that bad always been cast in favor o
reputation. The sc ,ond cause existed in the
fact that the better class of Virginians foresee
ing the disgrace that would attach to thei