The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-20
WEDNESDAY EvENrG, DEC. 20, 1877.
THE FUNDING BILL IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY,.

w EDNESDAf ENENl'G, lfEC. ~, 1871. |
THE FUNDING BILL in THE GENERAL
a. ASSEMBLY,. |
Auditor Taylor gives, us with commend |
able accuracy and entire fidelity, the fol-
lowing financial resume: The interest to |
be paid under The Funding Biz in 1872
is 81 100000.
The expenses Of the State government for
the same period aciN be 81 100000, making
for ordinary expenses 100000 TO be
raised By taxation.
Amount that can possibly be realized
from taxation, under the present rate of
assessment. for tho same period is 81 $780,
257.s2, leaving deficit of 81, l43,742.ls
If the interest on the public debt is paid
on the first Of January next, there will
then remain in the Treasury only $685.
Ssl.33, to apply upon the above deficit; SO
that, after all, there will still remain I'M
provided for 1902 900. as
Bad and starslng as this exhibit is,
graver question still arises, and that is, what
will this General Assembly do? The ac-
ton already taken by that honorable body
in relation to the Funding Bill, has already
given great satisfaction /; but it is SO far
short of what is yet to be done as hardly to
relieve in any degree the universal public
anxiety. fsa sis4
That body of representative men, stand
ing as it does at this moment, between the
people on the one side, and bondholders
and bondbrokers and their advocates on
the other, is the great centre upon which
public attention is now fixed. The slight
est intimation, hint, or suggestion as to the
side upon which its powerful voice will be
heard, excites the deepest interest and is
watched for with painful solicitude.
1t is useless to disguise the fact that the
wolf is at the door, and that the Governor,
who ought to be the enemy of the wolf
and the guardian of the people, not only
does know it, but believes the people
to be prosperous, contented and happy.
1t is, therefore, idle to expect help, counte-
nance or assistance from that quarter in the
present extremity. Adequate relief can
only be secured by the combined action of
ttco-thirtls majority of both Houses of the
Assembly. No matter how deep and in
tolerable the public distress, or how ear
nest a faithful majority of the Assembly
may be to relieve it, the veto--that relic OF
absolutism, which has seldom been exer-
cised by a Virginia Executive, and is often
mischievous, and always anti-Republcan-
will be unsparingly used to defeat the pub
lie will, and silence the cry of public dis.
tress.
The overwhelming vote which every
measure Of relief has thus far received ii
2 the General Assembly, not only awakens
the liveliest hopes, but ought to be decisive
of a great victory for the people, over theil
deadly enemies, the money-changers anc
bond-brokers.
Arrayed as the Governor is in oppos
ton to the people, upon the question Of the
Funding Bill, las is shown by his message
he ought not to have any considerable
power for evil, but we cannot forget that
Charles the. Fourth, though a veal
Prince, was able in five years com
pletely to reverse, undo and ovcrturn al
of the good which it had taken three cen
turtles of statesmen to accomplish for Spain
and we are apprehensive it may be in the
power of the band Of mercenaries who's
views are reflected in the message, to re
duce the Legislative majority below the
necessary two-thirds vote.
The public anxiety is increased when tn
friends of the people hear, as they maj
daily hear, III the streets Of Richmond
statements made by those who are compe
tent to judge and familiar with the subject
that after the votes already taken, and thu
popular camor that is almost universal, j
is still certain, assured and inevitable fac
that the iniquitous Funding Bill will be OK
ecuted to the last line, syllable and letter
and that the presence, use and active EN-
ployment of two hundred thousand dollars
with the members of the Legislature is tn,
convincing argument finally to be relied
upon.
We tell the gentlemen of that hon
orable body, that it is solemn fact
that mercenaries and hirelings are counting
upon their ability to control enough votes
either to defeat the relief measures entire
or to reduce the majority in favor Of them
to less than two-thirds of the votes Of the
entire body, thus putting the people anc
= their estates at the mercy Of theveto.
Not only so, but as a faithful, public
journal we are bound to inform you thai
these same plotters boldly assert that the
decisive votes already cast were given not
as an hon est expression or indication o.
your final action, but only for the purpos,
of making the fate of the Funding Bill ap
pear desperate, SO that the fund for lobby
purposes may be made the larger.
These are the means to be resorted to
and these the instrumentalties relied upon,
first, to debauch tho peoples representa-
-@tw ndf ~ nd rob u