The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-05
The state Debt-A Timely Warming.

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Start not, Mr.. Editor, nor allow n cold
SILVER TO creep over you as you behold this
caption or glance at the signature which is
hereto appended. do not propose 10 dis
cuss the phases Of the debt question which
for six years have burthened the column,
OF the public press and 50 angrily agitated
the popular mind. That fight Is ended.
and however widely honest men NAV have
differed in the past as TO the morale Of the
abstract question Of readjustment. and
men honest and otherwise have contended
over The side-issues that sprung up
around it. one single question we have
now to deal with, and il is this: that a vast
majority Of the people Of Virginia are fix
eddy determined In their purpose that the
series Of measures adopted jy the one pGrtv
and accepted By the other shall be the final
settlement Of thus Uered question.
You struck the master chord. Mr.. Ed
itor, when, few days ago, YOU wrote that
this settlement could not be disturbed
without dishonor, and that the Democratic
party would be doubly damned should
they attempt to undo il. May this continue
to be the burthen Of your song when your
potent influence shall be brought TO bear
upon this winters legislation. But may
be allowed TO suggest that the will OF the
people demands (even ii the Lynchburg
platform does not pledge thereto) that you
90 somewhat further than the mere acqui-
escence in these measures Of adjustment
However much you may abhOr its parent
age or doubt the Legitimacy OF its concep-
ton, your party has adopted this offspring
OF its opponents, and you cannot allow it to
drop still-bOrn. nor yet die OF hamilton
but you must, il needs be, lick the cub into
comely shape. and give it power and
yigor and life. II the measures enacted
are found TO fall short OF accomplishing the
end aimed at, the incoming Legislature
must amend them or give additional legis-
lation. The prosperity OF the State, the
continued ascendancy Of your party. and,
| do not hesitate TO say, the interest Of the
creditor. demand that the settlement shall
be perfected at this session OF the Legisla-
ture. IL that Legislature be wise, they
will doubly lock this Pandora's box and
throw the KEY away. To leave il open and
hope to combat the ills which issue from it
were an act OF the yerest madness. a single
amendment to one OF the acts Of the last
Legislature will, i'm my opinion. be sulli-
cient to make the Riddleberger settlement
effective, and TO this the attention OF the
incoming Legislature will be called in due
time. II you wish 10 giyea piece Of whole
some advice to our newly-elcCted law
makers, urge them TO carry out promptly.
fully, and faithfullythe pledge OF the lynch
burg platform i'm regard 10 the state debt.
The only lCdy 10 get rid Of reddjUStmem IL
Virginia is TO reGdjuSt. To whatever
causes you may attribute your unexpected
and unprecedented victory OF the 9th of
November, you are too astute and care
full an observer OF passing events not TO
know that Readjuster defeat was not due
TO the abandonment OF the opinions for
merry held by that potential class OF white
Nirginians who in the late election changed
their party relations; but that the belief
that the debt question was no longer IN
issue between the contendng parties car
ried over thousands who helped TO swell
your victorious host, whilst doubt as 10
the sincerity OF the Lynchburg pledge
alone deferred thousands OF others from
following their example. REIMBURSEMENT
per Sc is as popular to-day as 1t was in 70
or 'S2, and is far better understood 10y the
masses OF the people. Party leaders may
rise and fall, but the deep-seated conviction
in the popular mind that the assumed debt
Oh ' lIBlIlh II iOl OUIN Dul
unjust will for years TO come rally mem
beers sufficient seriously to disturb the re-
lations OF parties divided upon issues OF
Federal politics. This loiak | give to
Democratic politicians; and here is 4 nod
to the bondholder: Your interests were
safer in the hands OF the Reidiuster Legis-
lature than they will be ii the people Of
Virginia ever get hold OF this question
again. Reimbursement, sayoring even OF the
"forcible," is better than reputation!
And. now, in conclusion, a word rs TO the
interests of the Commonwealth. When
the Legislature meets the reports OF the
Treasurer will show that on October LIST
there was little over one and half mill
lions in the Treasury, but that OF the Sec
ond Auditor will inform YOU that there
hangs over this sum, like a vulture over
the fold, two millions one hundred and
seventy-seven thousand past-due and UNI
paid taX-receiyable cOupons-to say no.
thing OF brood OF half million to be
Matched out January /, 1884. The Riddle
berger measures up TO recent date have
served somewhat TO guard the fold. but
unless "Coupon-killer No. " can be
dressed up 70 serve more effectively as a
scare-crOw an empty Treasury and 1 starry
ing State government await the meeting OF
the next biennial session OF the General
Assembly.
A READJUsTER AND NOTHING MORE.