The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-03

Our contemporary OF the Norfolk Ledger
is mistaken in it's inference that we desire
to abandon the creditors. other than those
secured in their debt under the funding bills
of 1871 and 1879. We were arguing that
the $23. 900, 900 thus secured were past re-
adjustment, unless the holders of that Dor
ton of the debt should consent to modi-
fication of their claims. Our object was to
show that there could be no change in the
character of that debt either by the plan of
the Riddleberger BiIl-the Re-adjusters,
faith or that of the Barbour Bill, which
the Funders seem to lean to. To the funded
debt and the unfunded debt we would do
even-handed justice and place them upon
equally as high ground as either of the 9TH
er classes of debt. We have distinctly
stated that we could not agree with either
the Funders or Re-adjustcrs, in their prop
ositions, as announced in the Riddleberger
Bill, and as intimated in the recent address
of Maj. Koiner, in behalf of the Democratic
State Central Committee.
The Ledger should first define it's own
position and declare what the party it sus-
tains proposes to do, as it respects the debt.
| Will it face an increase in the rate of taxa
ton, on the present assessment, sufficient
to meet the interest on the debt as it now
stands, support the State government and
maintain the schools? Or will it ignore the
debt question entirely-a question it re-
CARDS as of paramount importance-and
turn the Issue of the canvass upon subordi-
nate propositions, as it states, affecting civil
polity? Before it upbraids the VIRGINIAN
for what it assumes we will do, let it be
sure that the beam has been pulled from its
own eye.
AS to the eofored voters, we assure the
Ledger that there are rights and interests
which they regard as of much more impor-
lance than holding Office The great mass
of them know that they are not qualified
by education for the duties of responsible
official position, and give themselves very
little concern about that. What they want
is the assurance of protection in the rights
the Constitution intended they should have
and that they shall not be made the subject
OF unfriendly legislation and assault be-
cause they are negroes and are unlettered
from no fault of theirs, however. AS we
view 1t, those who are making this inces-
SAINT, bitter and unchristian war upon the
rights of the negro, are assuming a grave
moral responsibility, and will find in the
end that it is not profitable. The question
OF mis- manhood rights is deliberately thrust
upon him, and because he chooses defen-
sive policy, it is customary to arraign him
and those who stand by the literal meaning
OF the laws and constitution, as raising the
race issues and assailing the civilization OF
the white man. Let genuine, earnest,
self-reliant christian civilization be eXem-
plified in dealing with the political and per.
sonal rights OF the negro, utterly abandon
all the fuss and fustian about negro domi-
nation, in state where the white educated
class largely predominates, and the negro
will become one of the most conservative
elements, because he naturally aspires to
intelligence and virtue.
Nothing could be more harmful to the
State of Virginia or more injurious to the
material growth of the Common wealth,
than the revival of the race issue in our
State politics. The canvass of 1873 was a
stain upon civilization, and to repeat it
now. when we are just entering upon a
career of much promise, would throw us
back decade. Give to the negro the rights
the Constitution designed he should have
strike from the statute books the brutaliz-
ing legislation enacted for his punishm ent
and degradation, and it will be found that
an important step has been made in his i'm
provement, a kindlier feeling inspired in
both races. and the best interests OF the
State subserved.