Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-12-21
From Richmond,

! RICHMOND, Dee. 30--The theme Of interest
and of conversation is still the Debt question,
upon which change Of sentiment is manifest
in both branches of the Legislature and the
impression, that obtained f)r some tiulc, tina.
tho January interest would not b.. paid is being
dispcllcd.
The Senate had under consideration again to.
! day the House joint resolution to suspend the
funding of the debt, and IL the House the resp
luton to stop the raymcn. Of the January in.
teres, was being discussed.
1t was determined, i'll the ncuate, that
vote on the resolution suspendpg the opera
tons Of ;hc Funding Bill should te taken, if
not before, at - clock tonight.
! Mr. Thomas having withdrawn bic RESOLUTION
requesting certain information Of the Auditor
in reference TO the amount in the treasury, the
amount necessary 10 meet the interest, &c.
Mr.. Anderson. NJ Pittsyivania> submitted
preamble and resolutions of L like nature, cali
ing upon the Auditor Tor estimates OF the
amount now in the treasury; the aggregate sum
likely to be received On account Of arrearascs
Of all taxes for the years 1870 and iSIl the
amount to be probably received from license8
anu other sources Ut revenue previous 10 the
LIST Of July, 1872; what amount will be- required
! of July, 1872; and to DAY the interest on the
public debt in JANUARY aud July ISL, aud
what. in his opinion. will be the deficit 10 the
Treasury On lst OF July, 1872.
The Senate Was addressed by Mcsara. t0ch
ran, OF Augusta, and Ilerndon Of Frederlcks-
burg, in opposition to the passage OF the House
resolution. The former c0ntended that the
credit Of Virginia was matter of affection as
well IS Of sentiment and material consequence,
+. and the passage OF the resolution would entail
consequences of the most serious character upon
future generations. He commended that al
though the Funding bill, i'll his Judgment, was
Imperfect. yet nothing better had been pro
posed. and rs to carrying out its provisions. nc
lnaiutained that it con!d be done without fur
,her expressing the people. Reviewing the rc-
! port OF the Auditor. nv demonstrated that that
| officer had made some mistakes. aud had not
anticinatcd that more than 81 50U,UnJ would
bc IN the treasury on the lst of January, ln,2.
! whereas the amount would be in exces, several
:, hundred Thousand, but that according 10 that
officers own statement We wOntd not only Dc
ahlr 10 pay the interest Tor 1872, but. by il re-
vision Of the revenue system. making thu rail-
railroads contribute their proper share 10 the
expenses OF the government. anu by practr-
ing economy We would BE- able to continue tn:
' payment of the interest for the future. The
result Of the coupon SYSTEM. the speaker 3ald,
bad been grossly exaggerated the coupons not
being 80 much sought for rs had been repre-
sented Of the $l2,0Wi,UU of bonds beld III
i Virginia, S7,'NHLnO0 mad been funded in the
old fashion certificates Of debt, and not in cnu-
pom bonds, and, OF the fprci en- bondhndels, S,
or Ni per cent Of their bonds had been funded
i'll upon bonds. From these facts he argued
tia, 10 excessive amount. OF coupons would be
in circulation. and that there was no probability
of the wheels Of government being locked .nr.
&. concluded by an eloquent appeal 70 the Sen
ate 10 inferpnse and save the credit, honor auC!
Integrity If thu State, and promised that the
future would show their wisdom and postar!ty
bless them.
: Mr.. Herpdun, III one of his hest efforts.
: bcsought the Seuate 10 defeat the passage ut
the resolution, regarding it lis All act Of repu-
diatpn, aud one that would forever reflect dis
honor upon the Commonwealth. Will h.
was not one of those who thought that it would
be necessary to impose additional taxation To
, meet the States indebtedness. yet he believed
the people would willingly. if necessary, en-
durc increased burdens rather than by any act
;. seemingly repudiate their just and honorable
obiigatious lie considered the resolution rash
and unwisc, and contended that it had been
clearly shown that for two or three years at
least the interest could be paid without ilcreas-
ing the taxes At the conclusion OF his remark
the Senate took recess until = 0 clock TO-
night.
In the Senate, to-day, during the morning
hour, the House bill to amend the charter OF
the town Of Leesburg was referred.
The House bill amending the act directing
the sale of the Statcs interest in the internal
improvement companies WAS reported from the
: Committee Oh Finance without amendment.
\ resolution was adopted calling for lnior-
nation rs to what steps have been taken; what
correspondence has passed between the Execu-
tiyes Of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina
z and Tennessee: what documents have been OBJ
tanned, and what information has been recey-
: ed, and acts performed, for the purpose OF as
pertaining and defining the boundary lines be-
tween the State of Virginia and the States OF
, MARYLAND, North Carolina and Tennessee.
} The following resolutions OF inquiry were III
a troduced: As to amending the code in regard
to the duties and privileges Of members Of the
General Assembly, as to the proprlety Of pro
viding for the codi6cation Of the laws Of Fir
ginia; as to amending the act passed July 18th.
r 1870, incorporating the Potomac and Manas-
: sas Railroad company; and as to providing by
law, that in prosecutions for assault and battery
! the accused may be examined as witness.
: At the night session the resolution TO dis
continue the Issue OF DondS required 10 De N
! sued by the act for funding the public debt.
being the unfinished business of the morning
) was taken up---the pending question being on
agreeing to the amendment proposed by .Nr.
, kirkpatrick to the alnendment of Mr.Thomss.
as follows:
, ResolreJ, That by this action the General
: Assembly does not mean to Indicate any pur'
rose. or desire. to repudiate or unnecessarily
delay the payment Of the public: debt. ,
Mr.. Jobnaon. Of Accomac, in a speech Of
about an hour, made very forcible and eo-
ouent argument 10 opposition to the resolution.
Stevens, of Sussex, followed Mr. johnson on
the other side Of the question.
Mr.. Connaly discussed the merits of the res
t outiou az ii came from the House, and ex-
: pressed hs earnest disapproval OF it.
Messrs. Patterson, Rue. and Roller cnuc!u'
ded the discussion, all Of them speaking IN IA
yor of the resolution.