The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-30
The Legislature.

Element of the State debt upon the basis
of the Riddleberger bill. This it has enacted
into law, and so far as the party and the
Legislature can make it so. it constitutes
final disposition of the aggravated and
harmful controversy that has attended its
consideration. 1t now passes from the do
main of popular assault and legislative dis
cussion, and will be relegated to the courts.if
further disturbance is to grow out OF it. 1t
is announced that to that tribunal 1t will go,
and its binding force tested in the crucial
of that last resort of controverted questions,
involving constitutional sanctions. With
out discussing the virtues OF this bill OF set
Element, or investigating its intrinsic mer-
its and equities. we assume that nothing
could be more unfortunate for the creditors
than to open the question again. AS an
equitable arrangement, it is defenslble al
the forum of justice and conscience, con-
sidered in its original relations to the cred
itors and the State, and independent of the
various funding bills and court decisions,
except as to the rate of interest. We think
it would have been better. not only for the |
present generation, but for the future. that
the interest charge should have been held
to the original stipulation. 1t would have
| been better for the people that they should
have submitted even to an increase OF tax
exactions to meet the aggregated interest OF
six per cent. upon the principal recognized
| in this bill, than to have pleaded an extreme
of poverty as Just iticaton for an arbitrary
| re luction to three per cent. Whatever bur-
| dens the recognition of six per cent. might
| have imposed. and however onerous they
might have been to the taxpayers, would
| have been more than counterbalanced In
the consciousness of having done exact JUS
tice, and given to the world an evidence OF
moral courage which would the better bar
monte with the historic character of our
State and people. But this point is past
controversy now. and we only allude to 1t
as expressive of our convictions before and
since the adoption of the measure of settle
ment. and as the views we entertain OF
the matter as question OF original right.
But this by no means is intended to en-
courage any steps or arrangements to dis
turb the settlement as enacted by the Leg
slature in obedience to the command of
the people and as rejecting their views. If
it should be carried to the courts, as is
threatened, and the determination there be
adverse to the constitutonality OF the Rid
dleberger.bill, it. would result in popular ag-
OF hos haf
rienced in Virginia. No Legislature could
ever be elected to enact laws to enforce any
arrangement which might be suggested.
that imposed greater obligations than this
bill provides. Whether right or wrong, the
people have reached the concus ion that the
they ought to pay, everything considered,
and this belief having received popular
sanction and been fastened into the consci-
BUSINESS of the people, they would resent
its disturbance with an energy and deter
mination far more expressive and aggres-
sive than that man Tested in past controver-
sizes. They are tired of the agitation and
any proposition to renew it. would arouse
a resentment that would break through the
restraints of reason and scout approaches
to deliberate, conservative consideration OF
the resurrected issue. The interests of the
State and the interests of the creditors are
therefore concerned in the acceptance of and
/, abidance by the conditions formulated in
the Riddleberger bill, as final and cOnclu-
sive determination of the State debt ques-
ton. The Legislature. as to this measure.
has crystalized popular judgment into law,
and it now stands as the expression of the
, people of Virginia on question which has
been the source of much aggravation, eX-
. element and Incorporate feeling, and is
} considered by them as final decree on the
t subject.
The fidelity of the Legislature to the
promise as to the Re-adjusters in this respect.
is followed by an equally decisive conclu-
sion as to the restriction upon the ballot, i'm
posed by the constitutional amendments
adopted in 1876. That enactment, resolved
4 the most glaring and indefensible acts OF
bad faith that was ever perpetrated by any
e party in any State or country. Its very
] enormity was the assurance that il
] would eventually revolt public sentiment
t and in the course of time destroy the power
that was so ruled by passion and prejudice
as to forfeit the solemn pledges that had beer
|, made and violate the constitutional sane
: tions the people, with singular unanimity
= had endorsed in the popular vote of 1862
Partizan necessities. distorted by the pref
: udces of race and the greed for indefinite
9 power, reckoned not for day of retribu
e ton, nor considered that an act so preg
' nant of moral turpitude must, from pro
l. cesses which stir the consciousness of the
: masses, bring about revulsion and a con
e domination commensurate with the natur,
of the offence committed. The Legislator,
e has responded to the returning popular
e sense of justice. and passed an act rescind
e ing the constitutional restriction upon tn,
: ballot, which is to be passed upon by thu
t people at the polls in November next, be
o fore it can become effective. That the pop
i, ular verdict will be to restore the freedom
of the ballot and remove this source of pc
e litical debauchery. we have not the shadow
L, of doubt.
In sympathy with this just leg islation, il
the repeal of the whipping-post law and the
sponging from the statute book OF th
e stigma upon our civilization. Public poll
r cy as well as the dictates of humanity de
: mand this, and the majority party will only
. reflect the better sentiment OF the State
when the law has been repealed and the
: code relieved of this barbarIous and crue
statute. which the conscience of the civil
l lied world condemns. The repeating &C
u has passed one branch of that body anC
probably before this issue of the VIRGINIAN
reaches it's readers. this christian work vii
have been fully contaminated.
We refer to these prom inent topics tt
. show that the Re-adjusters have beer
faithful to their promises to both elements
of the coalition. The demands of the Re-
: | adjusters have been met In the measure Of
settlement adopted as to the debt question.
The assurances to the Republicans have
. been carried out, in the repeal of the re.
striction upon the ballot. so far as legisla
tive authority could do so. and the progress