Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-05-25
PUBLIC SPEAKING At ABB
INGDON.

There MAS a very large attend
auce Of people at County Court
yesterday at Abingdon. Speeches
were made by Col. FuIkerson, Mr..
Longley, Gov. McMuIlin, and by
Captain Prttyjohn, who announced
himself candidate for the Legis-
laturc.
Col. Fulkerscn commenced at
noon his speech TO a fall house and
wss listened to with marked and
earnest attention for an hour and a
half and then closed, as he said,
leaving untouched many points on
the debt question.
Col. FulllcrsOu's Speech.
The speaker commenced Ivy re-
hearbiug the prominent changes made
since his fret election II the House
OF Delegates. On the subject Of usurv
the rate OF interest had been reduced
from l. per cent to six. The cities
Clamored for u and even more, but
the country demanded six, because no
agricultural people could stand n
greater rate than that. The scarcity
Of currency produced the tight money
market, not the new and reduced rate.
rho court system had been changed.
Instead of having 10 spend twelve
terms at the Court House the people
had 10 spend only three, Business
had been thrown into the Circuit
Courts and the pay of County Judges
which had been at an average of 81 .OGl
was reduced - 500. In response to a
question from Mr., Joshua BOardwine,
lac stated that the salary Of the Circuit
Judges had not been Increased
Moe the County Judges could
now practice in the Circuit Courts aud
make more money than they did be-
fore the reduction oftheir ralaries
Ia 1870 Gov. Walker had recon-
mendcd an increase in the assessment
iI order 20 raise tie whole interest on
the public debt.
The lands were assessed at p high
price. The stay laws were in force.
Aftorward the the stay laws were re-
realed. A great deal OF land was
thrown OH The market and lands went
down migration and capital failed
TO come into the State and relieve the
people. Old debts went to judgment,
and executions were issued. Then
camo Re-asscSsment. The Governor
had caused il to appear that there was
more property in the State than prior
To tho war aud Acknowledgement, to-
wit: More than $50 millions of dol.
lars.
The Township system had been
sbolirhcd. That system had been ex-
pensivc. He had never seen any good
come 81 il. II divided the sdministIa-
lion of the county affairs. Now we
have one administration forthe county.
The Legislature had refused Ia raise
taxes. he had opposed the incr1 aSe
~ taxation, for as long as we did this
there WIS no hope Of a compromise
with the bondhOldsr. IF We had
raised the rate, the boRdhOlder would
never have agreed 10 take less. To
raise the tax was only 10 feed tho
hondhn!dcr aud make REIMBURSEMENT
impossible.
The Public Debt was the next and
the greatest question. From 1891 up
10 the war ms public deOt HAD been
created Up 70 that period it:was the
intention 10 pay this whole debt IN
good r6ith. II nothing uuuEUel had
happened this would have been done,
and wnu.d now do. Bat war was
forced Upon Virginia. There was 10
way tu escape Il.
Those y 10 contracted that debt are
nearly all gone. / sec few, il any, OF
them before me. Virginia was dis
ineInbered. Onc-third OF hcr terrific
~ aud population have been cut of.
Slave property TO the amount OF more
than 60 millions has been destroyed.
Under duress the people Of the State
ratified emancipation without a dol
lar II compensation. This Is the way
you did one class uf your creditors
The State repudiaied their claims
Nuur Ftate Bank notes and your Bank
aud Railrnad stocks went the same
way. This H. not all. The very pick
gud flower 81 our population were
sa.r,Gs.I. an these wore In past the
i.si- oi the debt and all are lost. ]
gp-fiIacs think tlat heaven viii Uc
q refuge .ainst al hut one persecution.
D lYnlllu!Jsr should meet suy oil
IL Gliuws there be would punch q
e,Ypf,.,n ~ him aud demand his money
op ~. su "pPyttd To paying TIE
gii4f. - lea, dtbD
GHNsa.e .5di i9isi though -! ihis