Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-10-19
To the Voters Of
ROCKTE CHAM.

respectfully announce myself cam
didatc to represent the county of Rock
ingham in the next General Assembly of
Virginia. In making this announce
ment, it is proper that l should state
my views upon the most promine ques-
tions now before the people.
LIST I am and always have been oppos
ted to that clause OF the Constitution a.
loving interest at the rate Of Il per cent.
per annum. Ours is an agricultural
State, and the lower the rate of interest
the better for the people. Experience
has proven beyond question, that the II
per cent clause of the Constitution only
benefits the capitalist, while it depreca-
ties the value of real estate, aud tends to
the general injury of the State and the
impoverishmelt of its people. L shall
therefore endeavor, at the earliest
possible period; TO procure an amend
ment of the Constitution of the State pro-
hibiting the exaction of II per cent. in
terest, and the passage Of law reducing
the rate of interest to at least six per
cent. which is as much as any agricu ltur-
al people can pay.
I'd. [ shall favor a reduction of the
State government in all its branches.
legislative, executive and judicial; and,
as far as possible, reduction in the
number of salaried officials in various
townships, for whose payment the people,
are taxed at time when they are Ill
able to bear it.-Econonay, and not re-
pudiatio,, is the remedy for the evil now
upon US.
Sd. When Twas one of your represen-
tatives heretofore, I voted against the
act of consolidation, by which the States
interest in railroads was virtually givea
away 10 railroad corporations, instead of
being sold to the highest bidder. The
last Legislature passed several acts of
that character, by which the State has
lost several millions Of dollars. in the
surrender to railroads Of her stock in
them. | shall oppose all such legislation
as 10 iquitous, if not unconstitutional.
4th. While I have always advocated
and voted for all such meas ures of relief
to the people as were constitutional, yet
| cannot favor the new tangled idea of
reputation. The State debt was crea-
ted before the war, for the purpose of
building oar railroads, canals, turnpikee,
University, Lunatic Asylums. Inst itute
for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, and
other public institutions, and is held to
a great extend by idows and orphans.
1t cannot be pudiated, even if the peo-
pie desired it. The Constitution of the
U. States declares that No STATE SHALL
PASS A LAW IMPAIRING TIE OBLIGATION OF
CONTRACTS. and the judicial power Of the
United States is adequate to the substantl-
al enforcement of that provision. even if
there is no remedy in the State courts,
under the provisions of chapter 46 of the
Code of Virginia.
The advocates of reputation assert the
vain pretext that the present State of
Virginia is a new State, and not bound
by the obligations incurred before the
war This argument does not require
an answer. 1t has been settled by all
the departments of the government, and
by the Supreme Cour. of the United
States, that the State is the same that
existed before the war; and in the
recent case State of Virginia against
West Virginia, involving the st tus of
the coun ties of Jefferson and Berkeley,
the Supreme Court of the U. States ex-
pressly decided that the State of West
Virginia was lawfully erected by the con-
sent of the State of Virginia.
1t is claimed however, that under the
18th amendment to the Constitution of
the United States, there is no power to
enforce the collection of debts against the
State. That article is as follows:
s'The judicial power Of the United
States shall not be construed to extend
to any suit in law or equity commenced
or prosecuted against one of the United
States by citizens of another State, or by
citizens or subjects of any foreign state ;"
By the I'd Sec. of Art. Sd of the
Cons titution of the United States, the
courts of the United States have jurisdic-
ton of all cases in (which the United
States shall be a party-to controversies
between two or more States-and to
controversies between a'state and for
eign state.7
I The bonds of the State arc held to a
great extent by citizens of the Northern
States and European nitons. 1t is a
fundameu tai principal of the law of ma
tons that state or nation is bound to
protect its citizens and to ASSERT their
rights. A failure or refusal ON the part
of a state to pay its debt due to citizens
of foreign stateis a just cause for war;
and to avoid that. ana enforce the pay
ment of the debt of Virginia, it could
OILY be necessary for Great Britain, or
the United States, or any State of the
IJn,on 10 take 10 the bonds held by