The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-15
Forewarned is to be Forearmed.

Forewarned is to be Forearmed.
We publish elsewhere the statement of
a scheme to bring about plan OF settle
ment of the West Virginia portion of the
State debt of Virginia, as we find it in
the New York Times of the 9th. While
Virginia will inJerpose no obstacles to
prevent the creditors from collecting that
portion of the debt which she does not, in
equity, owe, and will never pay, she will
assume no responsibility in the premises.
The sword cut from her one third of her
territory-and that the richest portion Of
the Old Commonwealth-and one-third of
her people. 1t was done without her con-
sent, .connivance or justification. She
has made no effort to undo the wrong.
but patiently submitted to il. She has
only said that inasmucn as one-third of
her domain and resources were taken from
her by power she was unable to resist,
that one-third of the debt, created as much
for that discovered territory and people as
for the present Virginia, should 60 with
1T. and that the creditors must look to this
new autonomy for the payment of that
third. Her people will tolerate no COM
plications in any scheme to effect q set
ment. They have as much as they can do
to provide for the two-thirds of the debt
assumed. This they propose to do, in
deed, have now done. Their duty, in con-
science, stops right here. If spectators
and brokers can devise and carry through a
plan to extract from West Virginia the
amount she is justly due, well and good
That is their business and not ours. Vir.
ginia will never, under any circumstances.
assume any responsibility or contract any
costs to effect the object in view, and this
might as well be understood fist as last
Had there never been division of the State,
effected through arbitrary and unjust
means, there would, in all probability, new
er have been any controversy over the
debt. AS the present Virginia was not an
affirmative party to that political crime, it
having been consummated under circum-
stances which she could neither modify nor
control, the parties most directly interested
must settle the matter among themselves,
without her direct participancy in the pro-
cesses to it. The calm judgment of his
tory will pronounce the "rape' the most
mOnstrous Offense tina, was ever committed
against sovereign State, and whoever may
suffer by it, besides Virginia, it will not
be her fault. If the measure of her re-
sentiment had been guaged by the magni-
tule OF the wrong perpetr ated against her,
she would have wiped out all vestige of the
debt that carried with it remembrance
and memento Of the once proud Old Com
monwealth, with her territory reaching
from the Ohio to the sea. Her grand his.
tOry-her munificent donations to the ma.
tiOn in territory, in craftsmanship, in war
riors, could not stay the spoilers cruel
hand. Torn in twain and swept from bor-
der to border by the desolation of war, and
afterwards the prey Of Shylocks and blood
suckers, she still remained true to herself
and her trad itions. and now presents a just
computation of her obligations, which she
is prepared to meet to the last cent, that
cannot be ASA lied in equity. Her duty to
herself and not others called for this. She
has protfered to pay her just proper
ton, and those who may expect more
must look elsewhere for their gratifi.
cation.
There is one sentence in the article from
the Times which it would be we'll enough to
cons fdor ocnoo;ollp in oonnaot;o x,,,.h +bo
recent announcement that twelve thousand
pounds sterling-equal to $60,000-have
been raised by the foreign bondholders to
test the consequences Of the decision of the
Supreme Court to Virginia bonds. That
sentence reads: 1.-The most singular fact
of the whole scheme is that which Is ne
cessary part-the education of the people of
the Virginias up to.a point which will make
them willing to pay their just debts. and
elect legislators soho wiU take such steps as
aciU result IN thas m,ucA.to-be desired result. !"
That is, if we read the evidences before us
Alright, these sixty thousand dollars are to
be placed in the hands of the Bourbons of
Virginia, or so much of it as may be neces-
S1sAy w pASiA Pun POcOS w 0tO suCu III ClCCt-
ing the next Legislature as the first step to
defeating the present settlement of the Vir-
GINA debt. Both States are included, and
the fact is not recognized that Virginia has
already provided for two.thirds of the debt
as her equitable share, in form that is forth
fled by the highest judicial tribunal of the
land. This money is to be used to further
agitate the question-to undo what has
been done, through the election OF Legis-
lature in sympathy with Bourbon methods
and Bourbon ends. The issue will not
be directly made against the decision OF the
Supreme Court and the debt as formulated
in the Riddleberger bill. That would be
fatal, for the verdict of the people has been
thrice rendered as to one point at least. Sim
ulated acquiesceDce in the present arrange
ment will be proclaimed, and an assumed
concern for what the Bourbons call "our
Civilizations war of races-be pushed
to the front. Under this inspiration, and
by the bondholders'm money, the fight will
be made, and if successful, then the first step
will have been taken to educate the peo-
pie up to paying their just debts"
TO be warned Is to be forearmed. Let
the Liberals in Virginia not solace them.
selves with the reflection that their strug.
giles are over. They have accomplished
much, but there is stubborn conf let before
them, and they should relax none of their
efforts or organization. Not only is the
debt settlement threatened, but Bourbon
success would be blow at the public
schools and revulsion to the progressive
influences which have of late set in motion
the forces to which Virginia must look for
advancement in all the relations that go
to make up great and prosperous Com
monwealth.
II anything further were needed to JUS
tify the suspicion we have advanced in the
paragraph above it may be found in anoth-
er article taken from the same issue of the
Times. relating to the recent decision ofthe
Supreme Court. 1t will be seen from IL
that the effort will be made to starve the
treasury by means of inju notions against
officers collecting taxes In money, after the
coupons have been rendered and refused.
These injunction proceedings are to be pro-
vided for by the bondholders, as it is an
n0unaaA hot ho 1,ff 70 h<ndhf,l.