Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-10-16
From the Abingdon VirginiaB.
COMMUNICATED.

ANAA nv @ADAhENSA nj ihlNAs
COMMUNICATED.
SALTvILIE. Va. Oct. 10Th 1877
Mr., G. w. WARD JR. Editor.
Sir: Noticing in your issue of the
20 of September, a call upon me to
answer the interogations heretofore
propounded to Mes.rs. j. G. Porter>
field and 1. A. Morley, by Many
Voters, upon the public debt and
free school questions, 1 beg to
submit the following answers:
l, | am now, and always have been
opposed to the funding bill. Because
it is oppressive and unfare. Being
unequal in It's bearings, preferring
Que class of debts over another of
equal dignity; ruinous to the people
ard deeply humiliating to the digni-
ty of n sovereign States, intercepting
its revenues between the pockets Of
it's taxpayers. and the vaults of its
treasury.
2. l am opposed to paying the
public debt in full, as ascertained by
the funding bill. While 1 hold to
the opinion that the U. s. Govern
ment having emancipated our slaves,
and divided our territory, ought of
all right, and according to all prece-
dents Of civilized warfare, assumed
our liabilities; yet l would be will
ling, as a compromise measure to
pay part Of the actual cash value
of the public debt of the State Of Va.
based upon the territory and proper
ty left us and turn Mr.. Bondholder
over to the tender mercies Of West
Virginia and the United States Gov
eminent for the balance.
3. l am in favor of readjustment
Of the entire public debt, believing
that the "peeler" should receive the
same legal dignity as the 'consop
debt. | would take such prompt and
necessary steps as would bring about
a meeting with all authorized COM
mittee representing tue bondholders,
a committee Of equal numbers com,
posed Of the Senate and House Of
Delegates, and if | we're a member
of that committee / would adhere
very cloGcly 10 the views set forth in
my answers TO your second question
4. | believe that the funding bill
to be unconstitutional because the
constitution plainly provides that the
money levied, collected and set aside
for public free school purposes shall
be used for such "eGclUSiUely,'
whilst the coupon, the creature of the
bill, intercepts and Gobbles up this
identical money on its way to the
treasury, and therefore I think vio-
lates the spirit and intent of the
constitution and furthermore, |
think the position that a set of ad,
venturers could barter away without
remedy the sovereign rights of
sovereign people, is altogether uu-
tenable, and unreasonable since the
constitution, expressly declares that :
THAT form of government is the
best which is capable of producing
the greatest degree of happiness and
safety and is most efectually secured
against maladministration. (of which
We have had the greatest abundance)
and when it shall be found inadequate
or contrary to the purposes, a ma
jority of the community, hath an
indubitable inalienable, and indies
feasible right to reform, alter, or
abolish it, in such manner as shall
be judged most conducive to the
public veal"
5, | do not, Only consider the
State of Virginia liable for that part
of the anti-war debt Indicated in
my answer to the second question. -
But if this view of the subject should
be incorrect | hold to the opinion
that the State cannot be held liable
for compounded, and doubly COM
pounded interest, that accumulated
on the bonds, during the war out side
the confederate lines, nor ought she
to be for the interest on those inside
the line.
G. According to the second Audi>
TORS report the total debt is $685.
904.S43. SO. There is upon it inter-
est due aud unpaid to the amount of
So 2S3. 6l0.l9 making in round NUM-
bers debt and interest S4l. 900, 600 ;
adding to this West Virginia third of
$4,000. 900 with interest from July
LIST III. You have SOL, 10000 as
the debt of the Stale.
7. / would: as soon as failed to
compromise or readjust | would CONS
mence a war on the funding bill, that
is to say, l would be for any, and all
legal legislation that would render
the bill imperative. and nOn-efiect,
and would positively refuse to au>
thorize levy to pay the debt. inter-
est, or any part of the same.
8. Fully answered in the foregoing
8, am; for | believe that the ed
ucation Of the masses is the sure road
to a higher civilization aud a greater
Notwithstanding society, reduce
ing our criminal expenses and prepar-
. ...y-,, ,tt;ya,, fnP tha avarciga Of