Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-26
suNpAY.............JULY 90, 1885
The Attornev-Generalship

with the Dispatch In advocating inc
nomination Of an able lawyer as the
Democratic candidate for Attorney
General. After stating our position as
set forth in our article Of the 18th
touching this question, the Journal
says:
ave consider the question thus
raised eminently pertinent to the sltua-
ton. If there was ever a time ~ the
history of Virginia when she needed an
Acknowledgement well versed in the
principles Of sound, constitutional Juris-
prudence, so peN rersed therein that he
might not only be able to hold his own
with counsel in the courts, but TO COM
msnd the respect Of the judges com
posing those courts, that time IS me
present.
"Such ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Virginia
has been wont to have in the days
sgone, and certainly when questions OF
such grave importance confront her
such an one she should have now.
The gravest Of all questions, questions
concerning the very existence OF our
State institutions. indeed the autonomy
Of the State itself, will occupy the at
tention and demand the best abilities
of our next Attorney General, and
these considerations imperatiyely de-
mand that none but man Of legal
ability of the highest order should be
nominated and elected to this high po-
siiior.
"we believe that the Democrats Of
Virginia fully understand the require
ments which they are to meet in this
instance, and that understanding them
they v i'll meet them. Give us, gentle
men Of the Convention, lawyer for
this position, who will be capable Of
properly representing the position OF
Virginia people on this great question
of finance before the courts, of sustain
irg their interests in every question in
volyed therein, and Of letting the world
know the true equities Of the case. Nir-
GINA has many such men-tske them
from what section you will-men whose
legal abilities place them fully abreast
of those from any other section Of the
Union. That we will have good and
worthy candidate for the position Of At
torney- General we do not doubt. All
that we wish to do is to join with our
learned brother of the Dispatch, and
insist that the attorney-generalship $50
very important at this time) shall not
be oyerslaughed in the race for the gu
beInatorial nomination.
The Journal does not put the case
bit too strongly, and we commend its
utterances to the consideration OF the
Convention. Nearly all the counties
in the State have elected their delegates
to the Convention, and the proceedings
Of the various county meetings show
that there is but one sentiment in the
party in regard to the debt settlement
and that is, that it must be made a
fnality. The question of making this
an accomplished fact, of rendering
the eleventh amendment operative, Of
maintaining the rights guaranteed to
the State by the Constitution, of pre-
venting Virginia from being crushed
Of managing cur own finances, of check
ing the bondholders in a course which
il they are not checked in will entail
additional burdens upon the people
the question Of all this, we Say-rests
upon nominating proper man for Attor-
ney-General. Let the Convention in
its wisdom recognize this, and not only
will the Democrats strengthen their
hold upon the people, to the end that
the victory Of the party will be all the
more complete in the fall elections, but
the State will be certain to win in the
fight against the bondholders, and to
bring judge-made law to shame and
confusion. Nay, more the nomi-
nation Of proper man for
Attorney General man who can
meet the great demands Of the hour
not only involves the strengthening of the
hold of the Democrats upon the people
of the State, but the Strengthening Of
their hold upon the people Of the entire
country. A victory for Virginia against
the bondholders would be victory for
all the States. The coercion Of Virgins
would but open the way for the coercion
Of any and every other State. Our de-
tractors and their cry of reputation to
the contrary Notwithstanding, these
facts must sooner or later be recognized
throughout the country, and the course
of Virginia be justified and applauded
by all patriotic men. 0fcourse the en-
tire ticket must be selected witha view
TO making the victory in the fall as
complete as possible. What we wish
to enforce in what We have said above
is that in nominating a man for Attor,
ney-General at this particular crisis tn,
Convention will have to look not only
to the fall election, but further beyond
il than ever convention looked beyond
an election before. In the person Of
the nominee for Attorney-General
there should be added to popu.
arity intellectual power, to power
discretion, to discretion legal learning,
and to legal learning indefatigsble
energy and intense patriotism. We
have in Virginia scores OF men that
come up to this standard, and il the Con-
veotion is marked by calmness and de-
liberation, as there is every reason to
believe it will be, and II ample time is
taken for interchange Of views and
opinions, there can be no excuse for
mistake.