The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-18
Timely Suggestions from Dlsfin-
EuiShcd yirGinian.

To the Editors of The Dispatch:
Every citizen of Virginia who is con-
cerncd Tor the material prosperity, political
welfare, and the good name of his State,
must be panied and alarmed at the cXhibi
tons made in the General Assembly upon
the subject of the public debt. The COM
monwealth. assuming to be the judge Of the
crtent of her obligation and the time and
manner of discharging it, had by the most
solemn acts Of three consecutive Legisla-
lures decided and declared that Virginia was
rishtfully bound for two-thirds in amount,
and had provided for the discharge Of this
two-tbiIds in thirty-lour years by the provi-
siOns of the funding bill. A large majority
of the creditors accepted this decision Of
Virginia, made in her own case, and bound
themselves to abide by the terms of the con-
tract which Virginia dictated and rendered.
Virgipia's own court of highest and
last resort has adjudged that this contract
and settlement is binding and irrepealable.
Thus stands the case. Yet representatives
of the people, chosen to guard and promote
their welfare, are proclaiming and counsel
ling legislative schemes to evade and resist
this decision of Virginia's Supreme Court
are contending for the power and the pro-
priety of legislative resistance to its enforce
meut, and are threatening and advocating
popular revolution as fit and efficient pro-
cess to accomplish this resistance, i'll case
they cannot achieve their purposes by less
violent means. Surely this is a political cri-
sis which should bring all enlightened and
true Viginians to the rescue of her imper-
ilIed fortunes and fame The first reflection
which forces itself in view is to in
quire what IL the great public eXiSen-
cy which invokes and justities these
violent and revolutionary dongs. To this
pertinent and pressing inquiry an answer is
given by the leaders Of this proposed revolu-
ton. In the Senate of Virginia on last
Thursday it was declared that the execution
Of the funding act would neccssitate an iu-
crease of State taxes from fifty to scventy-fiye
cents on the one hundred dollars; that tho
people of Virginia had determined that they
would not submit to this increment, and that
il it was imposed the sovereign power OF the
people would exert itself even TO the extent
of revolution to prevent its enforcement
Is such declaration Us this to be taken as the
true exponent of the calm judgment, good
sense, and patriotism Of the people of Viz
ginia? If it be SO, then, truly, have they lis.
tened to false teaching, TO their own undo
ing ! But who that knows the people of Viz
gina can believe such declarations? Those
members of the Legislature who are plead
ing for the maintenance Of the public faith,
the preservation of the public credit, for the
enforcement of obedience to law, and for the
very salvation of the Government itself, are
arraigncd as guilty Of driving the people to
political suicide. Aud this aspersiOn Is cast
by representatives who are teaching the peo-
pie TO- violate the plishted faith of the State,
discredit and disregard the solemn mandate
of their Supreme Court, and to fly to popular
revolution to avoid twenty-five per centum
increase of taxation. Now, what Is the
measure of this new burden Of taxation if
imposed2 There are not fifty men to a
county in Virginia who are assessed with
$4,000 of taxable property, and therefore
not fifty who would pay $50 OF increased
taxes under such increased rate. There are
not 100 men TO a county who are assessed
with $1,000 of property, or who would pay
$3.50 OF increased burden under the new
rate; and aine-tenHss Of the Taxpayers Of