Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-04-22
The Debt Question and State Politics.

AS not only the selection Of q United
States Senator, but the control of the Vlr-
ginia State government for four years 10
bound mp in the result of the next election,
it is to be expected that the wits of the
leaders Of the rival parties will be taxed TO
their utmost to devise the scheme of policy
which shall appear to commend itself as
most likely to command popular approval.
It is reported that the Malone organization
is more pleased than otherwise ut the deci-
sion of he Supreme Court, as it Is held to
give them an additional chance to enuncl-
ate some doctrine which will strike the
nopular sentiment. General Malone left
here for Petersburg yesterday Immediately
after the rendering Of the decision, and Will
at once begin to lay his plans for the future.
Whether he will wait for some definite init
nation of what policy the democratic lead
ers propose to adopt, or whether he Will
boldly proclaim in advance some novel line
of action and force his Anniversaries on the
defensive, will in all probability soon be de-
veloped. He has big stake TO play ior-
his own reelection to the Senate and the
setting of his friends in authority over the
| Common we altb He has to encounter the
| detection of Gov. Cameron and his clan, and
| the indifference Of his colleague, Senator
! Riddieberger, and the measure OF this adj
| verse influence is yet to be decided. Those
who are close to him affect to regard it as OF
| little consequence, and assert that its only
effect will be to spur Malone up to more
supreme effort. They assert that from the
very inception of the organization Of which
he is the acknowledged head he has been
| It + hao n
| the Young men who attached themselves to
| his fortunes owe more TO him than he does
to them, ard that they will miss him much
more than be will miss them Be this as it
NAV, the prospect is that the ensuing cam
uaipu in Virginia will be rs desperately
| fpug as any previous one in the political
annals of tina! State and the democrats will
find in General Mahone an opponent whom
| it NAV re quire the straining OF every nerve
| to overcome. The necessity of taking the
federal patronage away from Malone aud
lodging it in their own hands Us soon as It
can possibly be done seems so urgen! To the
democratic leaders that, it is said, they are
unanimous in preferring an imperative re-
quest TO the President and his Cabinet to
this effect. As suggested above, the dec
sion of the Supreme Court has not been
| unwelcome TO General Malone, but it has
I been hailed with many misgivings by prom
inent Virginia democrats, who have ex-
pressed themselves to-day as regarding it as
very unfortunate that the debt question
should be reopened But it will be we'll for
these gentlemen to look the situation fairly
in the face. The debt question in Virginia
will never be closed finally until the State
does Justice to its creditors. No matter
how many elections may be carried on the
cry of repudatiug the public obligations,
and no matter how much the stalute-books
OF the State are encountered with skilfully
drawn readjusting legislation, the public
creditors will never relax their demand for
that which is due to them 80 long as they
can have access to court Of last resort. If
Gov Cameron should call an extra session
of the Legislature, the democrats, who have
an overwhelming ma GRITTY in that body,
would be compelled to show their hands at
once, and the attitude assumed by them
would naturally by adopted az the party
tactics for the campaign. As Gov. Came
ron and Gen. Malone do not run together,
the views of the latter as to the propriety OF
canvassing the Legislature will not be con.
sidered. A proposition was thrown out here
to day in quarters known to be friendly to
General Malone, but whether with his sane
ton or otherwise is unknown, that Virginia
should accept without further bubble the
dictum of the Supreme Court, make appl-
cation to Congress Tor an appropriation of
SIS, 600, 900 in consideration of the forcible
suudering Of West Virginia from the mother
State, and the appropriation of this sum
when obtained to the payment of the debt.
In support of this appeal to Congress it is
proposed to adduce the cession by Virginia
to the general government of the Northwest
Territory without any compensation
| Fash. Cor. Baltic. Sun.