Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-02-27
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.

| an act to provide for the payment and funding
of the public debt, +" being the unfinished bust
ness of yesterday, was taken up-the question
being on agreeing to the substitute proposed by
Mr.. Connally minority report for the substi.
tute by Mr.. Thomas for the bill.
Mr.. kirkpatrick made an exhaustive and
forcible argument of two hours duration in OPP
position to the bill and pending substitutes, and
in advocacy of the execution of all the provi-
sions Of the funding bill, which, he argued,
could be done without additional tax upon
lands. The coupon feature of the funding bill,
he contended, was irrepealable,
Mr.. Thomas made strong argument in fa-
vor of his substitute after which the Senate
adjourned until IL o'clock Monday.
HoUsE.-On motion of Mr.. Deneale, Mr.
Klddlebarger's bill to authorize the supervisors
OF certain counties to impose a tax on dogs was
taken up out of its order. e.
Mr.. P0ague moved to amend by adding Rock
bridge to the counties named in the BILL Agreed
to.
Mr.. Deneale moved to add Montgomery,
Henrico, Caroline, Rockingham, Tazewell, Am
herst, Prince William, Culpeper. Agreed. to.
Mr.. Bagwell moved to amend by adding 'sany
other county that chooses to avail itself Of the
benefit of this act. Lost ~
On motions seyeraly made Fauquier, Or
ange. Princess Anne, Smythe, Louisa, Albe-
marie, Stafford, Fluvanna, Spotsylvania, Alex
andria, Campbell and Bedford, were also add
ed to those named in the bill.
The counties originally named were Fred
erick, Shenandoah, Page, and Clarke.
Mr.. Turpln moved to make the tax not less
than fifteen cents nor more than thirty cents
per dog. Rejected.
Messrs. Hill and Anderson declared their op-
position to the bill because they believed it un-
constitutional.
The bill was then ordered to its engrossment
and third reading.
Mr.. Booker called up the question of privilege
in the case of the witness John W. jenkins,
charged with contumacy.
Mr.. Riddlebarger Offered resolution to dis
charge the witness from custody, and to dis
charge the special committee from the consid-
Grafton Of the subject of inquiry the al
legged bribery and corruption in connection with
the passage of the funding bill
Mr.. Wall asked that the question be divided,
which was done.
The question being upon agreeing to that
part of the resolution which discharges the
prisoner, it was agreed to-ayes, A; noes, %.
The second part of the res olution (discharg-
ing the committee) was then agreed to-ayes,
49, noes, SO
SENATE. Monday, Feb. I9.-House bill re-
pealing the section of the funding bill making
coupons receivable for taxes, being the unfnish
ed business of Saturday, was taken up.
Mr.. French spoke in favor of the bill and a.
gainst all the substitutes.
Mr. Greene advocated the adoption of the
minority report as substitute for the House
bill. At the conclusion of his remarks the
whole subject was passed by for the day.
HOUsE.-On motion of Mr. Riddlebarger,
the special order House bill for the distribu-
ton of the proceeds of the sale of the educa-
tional land scrip) was postponed until the next
special order (the assessment bill) is disposed
Of.
Senate bill for the assessment of taxes on per-
sons, property incomes, etc., was then taken
up and read by sections for amendment. Pend
ing its consideration the House adjourned.
SENATE.-Tuesday, Feb. 20.-House bill re-
pealing the provision of the funding bill making
coupons receivable for taxes, being the special
order of the day, was taken up
Mr.. Fitzpatrick spoke for an hour and half
in advocacy of the bill and against the propos-
ed substitutes
According to the resolution adopted Intro
duced by MIR. Taylor of Loudoun,) the Senate
will take vote on this question at l o'clock
tomorrow "Wednesday
Adjourned until ii o clock tomorrow.
HOUsE.-House bill authorizing the super
visors of certain counties to impose tax on
dogs was taken up, and on motion Of Mr.. Sut-
tie, Stafford county was stricken from the list
of counties named in the bill. 1t was then again
ordered to its engrossment and third reading.
On motion of Mr.. Lovenstein, the House
joint resolution asking Congress to make the
tax on tobacco uniform was taken up and pass
ed 1t was afterwards passed by the Senate.
Senate bill for the assessment OF taxes was
taken up, and discussed until adjournment.
Virginia in Danger.
From an article of the New York Observer,
under the above CAPTION we extract the follow
ing =
The great State of Virginia-one of the
grandest of the Union in extent and surface
aud climate and resources, lying between the
North and the South; one of the most natural
outlets from the valley of the Mississippi, and
from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic-is threat
ened with calamity greater than the destruc-
ton Of its fertile fields and the loss of its ma
terial resources, viz-the loss of its credit and
good name before the whole financial world
We regret to know that there is class of
persons In Virginia. and that there is a party
In the present Legislature, which do not have re-
gard to the honor the State; and who are, to
speak plainly, in favor of reputation. The
Legislature, at its present session, has voted to
repeal the measures by which the credit and
honor of the State were maintained, and it has
failed to become a law only by the veto of the
Governor, who has returned the bill to the
Legislature with his objections. 1t has not yet
received the requisite number of votes in order
to pass over the Governors veto, and we sim
cerely hope, for the interest of the State, for
its present and future good name, for its future
prosperity, and even for its ability to command
the elements of prosperity, that no such disas-
trous result may be reached.
Whatever present advantages may be derived
from casting off obligations to pay, there are
none that can compensate for departure
from the strctest line of rectitude in such trans
actions. A State, in all its monetary transac-
tions must be like Caesar wife-above suspic-
ion and without taint of wrong not merely
that its citizens and representatives may carry
with them always the consciousness of right,
but that it may be trusted in the time to come.
To have even the shadow of reputation rest
ing on its escutcheon, would be lasting dis
grace and bar to future credit In the pres
ent case, such course would be all the more
destitute of the shadow of justification, mas
much as the money for paying the interest is
already in the treasury, and only awaiting the
order for its payment
The State Debt.
In the Constitutional Convention of West
Virginia, now in session at Charleston, Ka-
nawha county, Mr.. Samuel Woods, of Barbour
county, proposed to omit from the new consti-
tuition the clause in the present one which re-
quires that State to pay its equitable share of
the debt OF Virginia. contracted before the d.