National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-27
vIRGINIA'S PROGRESS
UNDER THE READJusrERs' RULE.
Hon. J. II. Van Auken, Of Petersburg, Tells What
Kind or Factor the Old Dominion Is In
National Politles-DeEendorrs
Fallaeies Exposed.

tiles, dwelt at length on Virginia as pohucai iee-
tor in national politics. lie said
The eyes Of the nation are to-day turned toward
Virginia. sho Is an important factor In national
politics What she has done in the cause OF liberal
progress, what she Is going to do in the coming
canvass. and what she Is going to do in 1881 arc
queries heard on every hand. Virginia has been
grossly misreprosented by the Bourbons, OF both
Democratic and Republican antecedents. She has
for so many years that the memory Of man run
meth not TO the contrary, been ruled by the white
handed kid gloved Broubon aristocracy through
their court. house rings and lawyers. These Bour-
bons held nearly ono half the population in abb
soluto slavery, and all the honest yoomanry OF thu
other half-those who had TO labor In any calling
for n living, those who could not boast OF blue
blood in their voins-thoy hold In supreme con-
tempt.
II was the Bourbon Democracy that against the
wishes Of the masses OF her people, plunged Vir-
ynia into bloody cruel, hopeless war; war
TINT reached to every home and hearthstone OF
the commonwealth; that covered her beautiful
hilsides and valleys with graves: that sent mis-
cry, mourning, and want broadcast oil over the
land. II was the Bourbon Democracy that con-
traced the gigantic debt that has since the war
hung over her like pail paralyzing every busi.
ness, every industry; 1t Is the Bourbon Democracy
that has refused to pay this debt. Under their
rule what WINS the condition OF the old State down
to 1879 when the Readjusters obtained control Of
the legislature? Virginia has natural resources
second TO no other State in the Union; but her
mountains of coal and iron had slept unb rolen
neo erea mo, nIst morningi ne. rivers ana
that ought TO have echoed to the music OF mill
lions OF spindles, ran unyexcd to the sea. Her
sedge grass, the peace of desolation regnant
almost everywhere. As a poet puts IL, she Is COW
cred
with lonely pastures wild and drear,
with lonely houses far apart,
With here and there lonely steer
Yoked TO ancient twowheefed cart.
Why, her young daughters, Indiana, Illinois,
Ohio &c.--rliiis OF the womb Of The old motherA-
had nearly doubly outstrlppod her in population,
and more Than donbly in wealth and material pros.
perl,y. with debt piled up mountain high, IN.
creasing ut the rate of $4,000 arrears of Interest
per annunl. unprovdcd for; rushing on tho rock
ofrepudiatlon at railroad speed with the schools
closed, teachers clamorlng for their money. the
coupon feature of the Walker funding bill OF 1871
the whole school system fit subject fort coroners
Jury; with tho cross roads justices running their
DISTINGUISHING mills unchecked; with the shrieks
ofluckless captivcs-chained TO the whipping-post
daily vexing the ear of heaven as the defending
lash cut into their quivering flesh brutalizng the
nobler. instincts ofopcrators and beholders; with
ballot. box stuf1ing intimidation. and fraud per-
petrated unblusllngly and unpunshed. such Is
iaint picture, feeby drawn, of Virginia under tho
rule OF her best people (O."
UNDER HEADJUsTER RULE.
Now let us turn to another and a more agreeable
picture. In 1879 General Malone, child OF the
pcople--boasting no blue blood" in his veins
and cordially hated by the sham aristocracy because
ofthis-led revolt against BOurbonism and sue.
ceeded i'm capiurIng me Legislature and in twelve
months time the schools had more thnn doubled
in number teachers were paid, pupils were in
support OF schools than doubled and Sl25, 0OC
OF The amount which the school fund had been
robbed was restored.
THE EFPRC1s oP COALITION.
Last fall the contest was renewed, and a coali.
ton Of the Republican party with the Readjuster
was effected, and it swept the State, clecting the
branches Of the Legislature. Now what Is the re.
suit? The LEGISLATURE OF 1879 elected General
Malone 70 the United states Senate. He was true TO
his liberal instincts, aud voicing the wishes OF
those who sent him there, he has steadily antag.
onizcd Bourbonism and supported the National
Adm1,inistratlon. The last Les;lature elected Mr.
Bourbonism. 1t also abolished the whipping post
repealed the capitaiion tax restriction on suffrage
settled the debt question on basis Of 500 600 600
with per cent. interest in such manner that
II has already stood u test before Bourbon court
ofappeals recognized the judiciary of the State
putting in Liberal county and hustin2s court
Judges who have heretofore controlled all elec.
lions absolutely by appointing oil registrars and
judges Of elections, and who generally disobeyed
the law, legislating out the old Bourbon court o.
Appeals and pIitng n s,d shelr places d Liberals,
normal school for the colored people; has paid the
borrowed money of the asylnms and all theii
debt OF the State exclusiveo of outstanding coupons
which are provided for In the debt bill, and in the
Pi! 70 Sn haS
dreamed of; her doors are opened and oil are bid
10 enter with all rights assured; the spirit of
caste, and sectionaism is rapidly dying out; NOR,
capital has come into the State within the pas
three years 10 be invested in railroads, mines
and manufactures than ever before In any two
decades in VirginiaS history.
LINCOLN AND MALONE.
General Malone had the brain to conceive ant
the will, the courage, and the nerve TO execute
the grandest revolution that has taken plac
AnnDnutIDN
along down the corridors of time side by sid
with that of the martyred Lincoln: The latte
broken the Bourbon. letters that bound tn
white men, and taught them that they too ar
fee. All honor to the brave leader all homo
10 the brave followers who together have achieves
such grand results.
pEzISDoRF's CHARGE OF REPUTATION.
Mr.. Dezendorf some weeks since from this plat
form denounced the Rendjusters as repudaionists
Well, This Is grave charge and Crates harshy OF
thc ears of Republicans who have believed that tn
brightest jewel In the crown Of tho Republican
nation made in the darkest hour Of her history.
BOURBON FUNDING BILL OF 1866
Vow let us see about this reputation. In 1856
what Is known as the Baldwin legislature con
vened in Richmond, BY order OF Andrew johnson
70 take some steps TO renew the states relation
with the Union, During iw sitting 1t passed
funding bill refundlng the debt of the State, cap
itulzing the arrears OF interest accruing durlni
The war and Up TO- date TO show how little hi
and before edjourning appointed a commission Il
negotiate for the return of West Virginia. In 1856
an election was held, at which a new constitution
was adopted and new legislature elected TIL
debt question was not on element of discussion II
that canvass Discussion was confined entirely 4
Two obnoxious clauses in the constitution, whicl
President Grant had given permission to vote TO
rngainstseparately. The constitution was adopted
with these clauses "expurgated."
BOURBON FUNDING BILL OF 1871
This legislature on the recommendation of tn
carpet.b bag governor, Gilbert G. Walker, passed
new funding bill on an assessed valuation Of ren
message to the general assembiy-6f nenrl
bsOOO0O,OVO although an assessment made the mex
year 81 showed the total yaluatlon to be only abou
all arrears Of interest, and swe!ied the debt 4
about So 100000: It set Off arbitrarily one third /
with tax .receivable coupons, bearing pc
cent interest payable semi;annually OF
1ns L Ssy o, Vas 'a aISS,yd ana J4ly IN
and when II convened IL repealed the act Of iS7
as TO the amount then administrations siO,0 10000
From that time down TO 1879, the bourbon legsla
ture has only made provision TO pay per cent OF
the funded $50 900, while of the unhlnded So
100000, bondholders have only received In all tina
ueYe
IcuLLocH BILL OF 1878
In the session Of ls77.'7s these gentlemen passed
another funding bill known as the MeCullOch bill
at which time they found s5,0O0OOO arrears OF in
teresl rom ls7l down. They rePudialed half Q
again one third to West Virginia and proposed o q
fund the debt, now over s32,0O0O00 In new bonds
running. forty years, with tax.receiyable coupons
paying per cent, for ten years per cent. 70
twenty years, and per cent. for ten years, max
lng an average OF per cent: for the whole time
Here was again u setting of to West Virginia o
sl5OOO00O. an absolute Reputation Of S2,5OO,OO
arrears Of interest, accrued from the pas
sage Of the funding bill Of 1871 and all tht
without seeing or consulting with a single eredi
tor making the bargain with Hugh McCulloch'
Hyndcate. and providing that no holder Of tn
'peeler debt Of $40 100000 could fund under thl
bill unless presenting for every dollar hi
"peoleTh bond represented two dollars o