Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-15
THE STATE DEBT.
LYNDON. ENGLAND, Nov. 30th, 1856.

LONDON, England, Nov 3Oth, 1885.
To the editor of the die. ondria Ga=ette
Sir II enclose copy Of u letter which I
have addressed to the E2wly elected Gov
ernor of Virginia. If you approve, would
YOU do me the favor of inserting it in the
Alexandria GAZETTE?
gladly,take this opportunity Of thanking
you for your courageous championship OF
the cause Of Justice and can only wish that
the editors of some Of the other journals OF
Virginia were disposed to regard the debt
question from the same high standpoint as
yourself.
enclose my card and remain your obedi-
emit servant. JAMES ?. COOPER.
P. S. Copies of enclosed letter also sent
to the President Of the United States,
Messrs. Hamilton & Co., and Hon. w. l..
Royal.
LONDON, England, Nov. 30sh, 1885.
To the Hon. Ftzhugh Lee:
ri beg respectfully TO submit the tol'
lowing questions to your consideration:
l. Do you think that fraud uuder any Cir.
cumstances, is justifable?
9. What opinion does the honest portion
of the world hold of a State that advocates
a fraud?
3. Would you, as a private individual /,
stoop to do what the State Of Virginia is
now doing-i. Q. breaking its promises and
evading the law-scts, for which any man
would be Internationally condemned?
T. Is it not fact that Virginia can easily
pay the interest on her present debt, which
as is notorious, represents composition
forced on her creditors some years ago?
s. Does it not seem degrading spectacle
to see rich and prosperous State, dragged
from court to court by its creditors, with its
promissory notes in their hands, like COM
mon debtor, and having to accept decisions
which practically amount to on order to pay
what it promises?
g. What amount OF harm do you think is
done to commercial honor and morality Icy
the example Of Virginia, and does it no!
strike you that those who are responsible
for the present state of things have serious
account to answer? Does it not seem tha!
the stern words of the Judge, who pronoun-
ced sentence on Ferdinand Ward in the le-
cent trial. should be applied, with tenfold
force. TO the State of Virginia?
7. What chance do you suppose Virginia
has now, or will have, in the future, OF
borrowing single penny in any commercial
centre in the world, and does it not seem
likely that, even if the State should succeed
in robbiDg its creditors of The money due to
them, it will be fatal obstacle to It's future
development?
S. What do you think will be The verdict
of posterity on such men as Messrs. Malone
and Riddleberger? Is it not evident tha;,
through the acts of such INSCRIPTIONS poliIi.
clans as these, Virginia has lost her prestige
in her own country, and has furnished her
good name and honor in the eyes CT the
world
o. Doyou not feel that any onein the nigh
position TO which you have been elected has
an account to render TO even higher trbn-
nal than pos,erity but, taking it on the
lower ground, would it not be better to lei
your name 60 down to future generations Is
the Governor who made stand against
fraud and dishonesty, and who was true to
the traditions of the party he sprang from
inasmuch as he was Il debt payer" and
therefore an honorable man? not a go call
ed "Readjuster,n which is mere enphe-
mism for one who justilies robbery and ad-
vocstes defiance OF The law.
TO- Can you put forward one single honest
argument which can Justify Virginia in
refusing to pay her debt?
II. Does it not make the position assumed
by Virginia appear still more shameful,
when one sees small and struggling States
which are in great financial difficulties,
honestly endeavoring to pay their debts and
so making their name respected by all,
whilst the credit of Virginia who openly
boats of hesurplus in her treasury, is every
where byword and reproach? And lastly !:
- Suppose-that you had been induced
like the writer of these lines, by firm be-
lief in the honor and integrity of the great
American Republic, to entrust your fortune
to the State of Virginia, and, that you now
found yourself deprived of your income,
through the State refusing to pay you what
it soemnly promised and is fully able to
perform, and that yourself and family were
compelled to submit to privation in couse-
quence-would you quietly acquiesce in
the spoliation, and utter no appear or pro-
test against the conduct of the despoiler?
I have the honor to be your obedient
servant, JAMES L. COOPER.