Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-08
The Virginia Readjusters.

read busters, held in Richmond last week,
Colonel William +. Cameron of Petersburg
was nominated for governor and Hon. John
+. Lewis for acknowledgement. The lat
ter was Union man during the rebellion,
afterwards United States senator, and has
been identified with the republican party of
that state. The speech of General Malone
before the convention is given in another col.
umn. The platform approves of the terms
of the Riddleberger bill for settling the state
debt question, recognizes the obligation OF
the party to support free schools and the
charitable institutions of the state, asserts
its adherence to the constitutional require
ments of equal and uniform taxation OF
property, reasserts that the paramount obi
CATION of the various works of internal
improvement is to the people of the state,
and demands the protection of the people and
the industries of the state against inimical
discrimination in the matter Of rates, facili-
ties and connections. Politically, the read
justers hold the right to free ballot to be
the right preservatve Of all rights" opposes
the capitation tax restriction upon the
suffrage, but advocates its collection for the
benefit Of the public schools. The sixth
and final resolution is as follows: d" The re-
adjusters congratulate the whole people Of
Virginia on the progress Of the past few
years in developing mineral resources and
promoting manufacturing enterprises in the
state, and they declare their purpose to aid
these great and growing industries by all
proper and essential legislation, state and
federal. To this end they will continue
their efforts in behalf Of more cordial and
fraternsl relations betyeen the SECTION and
states, and especially for that concord and
harmony which will make the country to
know how earnestly and sincerely Virginia
invites all men into her borders as visitors,
or to become citizens, without fear of social
or political ostracism; that every man, from
whatever section or country, shall enjoy the
fullest freedom of thought, speech, politics
and religion, and that the state which first
formulated these as fundamental in free
government is yet the citadel for their exer-
else aud protection" As between the read
justers and funders, the policy of the for
mer, in regard to the payment of the state
debt, is the more business-like, since they
claim to be willing to pay every dollar of
Virginia's honest debt, and are willing TO
vote the money to do it. The latter recog-
nize larger sum than the former as the
debt of the state, but make no movement to
raise the money TO pay it. In the case Of
an insolvent debtor, practical business men
regard him as the more honorable man who
on fair showing, proves that he is able to
pay only seventy-fve cents on the dollar and
pays it, than he who, admitting his obliga-
ton and willingness to pay one hundred
cents on the dollar of his indebtedness,
neither pays anything, nor takes any steps
to pay anything. And this is substantially
the relative position of the readjusters and
funders in Virginia. The standard of finan-
cial morality among the northern states is
higher than that of either Of these parties.
Time, and her magnificent resources, will
enable the Old Dominion to pay every dol
lar of her debt as fully and as equitably as
the general government can pay the national
debt Honest people will believe this till
they are shown by indisputable proof that
the contrary is in any measure true; and
we believe the prevalence, and ultimately
the triumph, of the political doctrines advo.
Gated by the readjusters will bring with it
that clearer view and practice Of the su.
preme sanctity of financial obligations that
will yet insure to Virginia an honorable
record among the states in the treatment of
her debts. Politically, General Mahone's
speech and the platform of the readjusters
contain nothing to which republicans can
seriously object, and much which they can
heartily endorse. The victory of the party
in the campaign now opening in Virginia
will be substantially the success Of repub-
lican principles. The proceedings of the
convention were enthusiastic and harmoni-
Gus, though personal ambitions for the first
place on the ticket were holly pressed-evi.
dence in the minds of many that the party
has more than a fighting chance to win the
election next fall.