Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-10-23
To the Voters of Virginia.

FELLOW CITIZENS For weeks past
| have been urged in person, by calls
through the public press, and through
public meetings of my fellow citzens
in different sections of this Common
wealth to announce myself a candi-
date for the Office of LIEUT.. GOVERN
OK of Virginia. The necessity which
has driven the people in self defence,
and in defence Of the sacred right of
maintaining their principles free from
the tyranny of denunciation, is too
well understood to need comment
1t is enough to say, that GEN. JAS. A.
WALKER, who received the unanimous
nomination of the Convention at
Richmond, August 8th, 1877, has ia
ken positions for himself outside Of
and in my opinion, unwarranted by
any fair construction of the platform
adopted by the Convention which
nominated him-positions which, if
carried into effect, can but result in
ruin to the best interests Of the peO-
pie and state--positions which are re-
pugnant and Justly offensive to every
voter whether for or against an cquit-
able readjustment of the public debt
as ascertained by the unconstitutional
and oppressive "Funding Bill" The
Constitution solemnly dediCates a
large fund to the education of the
children of the Commonwealth. The
Funding Bill" diverts it from its
laudable purpose and in this it is I'M
constitutional and oppressive. The
constitutional obligation, sacredly tc
apply the fund set apart for thatpur
pose, to the education of those who
must shape the future of Virginia, ant
sustain her good name, is as high anc
sacred as any other.
Yet Gen. Walker, even in his Rich
mond speech, is reported as saying
"If our revenues are insufficient t
meet all other demands, then the los
must fall on The Sth0OI fYR2 or on thu
holders of bonds with no coupon
receivable for taxes for there is NJ
where else for it to fall. " | say fel
low citizens, that the constitution
declares, in terms too plain to ADM
of doubt, that--"The General Assem-
bly, shall a6bB" the school fund t,
the purpose for which it is dedicated
The General Assembly has by tn
funding bill" violently wrenched
from that destiny, and left the poo
children to grow up in ignorance !
Again Gen, Walker says in his Rich
mond speech, too plainly to be mis-
understood, that in the event our reyt
nues are insufficient to pay each clas
of our creditors their interest in full
that the taxes should be increased t
meet the deficiency. Yet the plation
adopted by the Convention whic
nominated Gen. Walker declares, thl
all just and honorable means shout
be used to bring about san aGJHStme,
of the Obligations of the Common
wealth which aGiU b17Rg The payment (
interest Hf0R eur entire fH2cbtcaRc
aoihiM the resources Of tie State, deri'
ed from the present rate Qf tarat'oR
Nowhere in the party platform is thel
any authority, in any event. for II
Creasing our taxes. On the CONTRARY
the platform declares that the Con
yention "views with concern and an
iey" our financial difficulties and Il
increasing weight of debt, and urg'
adjustment and not increase Of taxes
! accept that platform, and belieyir
that duty demands it, announce m
self candidate for the Office of LIE
TENANT GOVERNOR of Virginia, an
IN doing so appeal to the people,
assert at the polls, that sovereign Po,
er which resides in them, to strlI
down wrong, whether found in hil
places or low, and erect in its ste,
'De standard Of right
There is in the people that inhere