Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-14

with fixed and legalized deb. of some six Or
seven millions OF dollars, besides floating debt OF
nearly half million more, the whole of The latter
sum borrowed from lime 10 time TO defray the or
binary expenses OF the Government and other LA
bii,ies OF your Stale Legislature. Whilst istrr:
that neither you nor myself have had any agencyin
creating this debt and all OF its embarrassing re-
suits We, the fact presented itself 10 no questionable
shape that as citizens Of the Commonwealth, We
were all equally bound for the honest discharge
of The whole of It's liabilities and rs trust equal
IL resolved come what might, that even the breath
OF suspicion should not Tor moment, taInl>h The
character OF our State. We found your credit rs
a Commonwealth, impaired; your State Bon's
and other securities something like 80 per cent
below par; your resources enfeebled, and the anx-
ious enquiry, both at home and abroad, as to what
would be the action OF your Legislature, 10 sus-
tain and redeem the credit Of the Old Dominion
1t was TO Inc, painful enquiry for, whilst there
was a sure and certain remedy vet knew il could
not be applied however cautiously administer
ed, without swelling that gulf OF individual in
debledness which so distressingly peryaded each
and every portion Of the State; yet, painful as it
was | believed in common with those TO whom
the responsibility OF doing something attached,
that the season for temporlZlns had passed-tha,
then or never was the time 10 strike for the saliva
lion Of the credit OF the State, and 10 place her, il
possible, above the necessity OF begging an ephe-
neral and mental subsistence from The creatures
ofhcr own creation.
The success and policy OF the means devised
have succeeded beyond the most sansuine pIetic-
lions and anlicipations OF its friends. The whole
of this floating debt has been discharged-the Gre
dit of your Commonwealth never occupying
more elevated and enviable position-your State
Stocks above par, and surplus IN your lreasu-
rs of more than 100000. And how has tins
been accomplished! Simply BY the determine
lion of YOUR Representatives 10 keep you no lo.
ger in ignorance OF vour true conditon-to say
10 you. that YOU were III debt beyond the means
OF relief except by a resort 10 a general increase
of taxation. and the abandonment OF all further
schemes of expenditure until released from this
burden OF Indebtedness.
True, this bill had lis enemes-but, in spite ot
all opposition, il became the law Of The land
and. be il said 10 the credi, OF the sovereign peo
plc OF this Commonwealth, that, neither oppO>-
ion vilupcralion, nor pcrver>ion OF its merits,
could induce them 10 reject The proi,cred remedy,
or ioin in the inglorous effort Of heaping iniamy
on the measure, and of exciting popular indig-
nation and disrust against al who dared adyo-
cate It.
Ii gratifying 10 me TO he enabled 10 commr-
nica,e this improved condition in line financial
credi, and resources of vour Commonwealth: vet
should be wanting in candor, am communicate
but half if failed 10 apprize yoii, that new
schemes of expenditure more than sufficient 10
absorb every dollar that can be wrung rom u:
hard earnings of the people, are now in progress;
and | see but little 10 inspire me with the hor,
that they can lie arrested. II this fear should t.
realized, all that | can say, is ha; il will be =
wanton departure from The original design OF The
TAX bill TWO wears since imposed upon you. !.
4 tiat fl,h f,,t1.n
~ debt was paid OF, sinking fund shon!l te
SET apart, which should slowly but eventually
absorb every vcsige Of the public debt Should
this understanding not be complied with, shall
have no difficulty in coming 10 tie CONCLUSION,
,ha, shall be fully justified in advocating
Il further reduction of your taxes. ] wouli
invoke no captous opposition 10 The development
OF The resources OF The CONFERENCE.-The. woui
not. il | could, enkinGle The flames 81 leaIou,y
in Tie bosoms oi one section 81 the State against
another. Nv object is not 10 withhold justice
from any portion OF lis citizens, but 10 warn ypG
III time, il can, against the dangers OF a return
10 that loose system Of Legislation, which in =
train may beget bccgary, discomfort, ana al II
the other humilialng consequences which ha,c
been visited upon some of our sister States, aud
ultimately defeat the objects which lis patrons dc.
sire 10 accomplish.
have been thus explicit. perhaps tedious. III
closing The latter branch OF This communication !;
il 50, must plead as my apology The importance
of lis consideration 10 each and all OF Won, wl-
Their examined in pccuniary aspect, or as ulti-
ma,ely affecting your morals as people
In conclusion, accept my grateful acknow!eis-
menls for all Of your past evidences OF respect
confidence and friendship. II Shall have failed
nredecmins every pledge, and fulfilling your ex
pcctations in The discharge Of my representative
duties attribute il, be>eech you, 10 no want Of
:. disposition 10 have done all that you coui
have desired, hui 10 those errors OF Judgment ~
cidcn, 10 the human mind, and from which The
most inialibe of our race cannot always hope 10
be exempt-With> emotions OF grateful ienen-
blance for each and every mark OF your valued
confidence and support, tender 10 YOU my warn..
e., wishes FOR your health prosperity and hap
pines.
| am frllow-eitiZens,
Your friend and obi scrvi.
JOHN X. TAYLOR
Richmond, Jan 10, 1915.