Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-10-17
[COMMUNICATED.l
address Of Col. Richardson to the Peepi.
Of Virginia. -ls.s4

.A4.e~s
10 the Voters Of Virginia SO
Fellow-Citizees, For weeks pastsI
have been urged in person, by calls
through the public press, and through
the public meetings Of my fellow-citi-.
zens in different sections of the Com
to announce myself a can
didate for the office of Lieutenant-Goy
ernor of Virginia, The necessity which
has driven the people IN self-defence,
and in defence of the sacred right OF
their principles free from
the tyranny Of denunciation, is too well
understood to need special comment.
1t is enough to say that Gen. James A.
Walker, who received the unanimous
nomination Of the Convention at Rich
mond, August Sth, 1877; has taken po-
sitlon for himself outside of, and in my
opinion, unwarranted by any fair con-
struction of the platform adopted by
the convention which nominated him
positions which, if carried into effect,
can but result in ruin to the best inter-
ests Of the people and State-positions
which are repugnant and justly often
siye to every voter whether for or
against an equitable readjustment Of the
public debt as ascertained by the uncon-
stitutional and oppressive Funding
bill. The constitution solemnly dedi-
Gates a large fund to the education OF
the children of the Commonwealth.
The Funding bill" diverts it from its
laudable purpose, and in this 1t is un-
constitutional and oppressive. The
constitutional obligation, sacredly to
apply the fund set apart for that pur-
pose, to the education of those who
must shape the future of Virginia and
sustain her good name is as high and
sacred as any other. Yet, Gen. Walk
er. even in his Richmond speech, is re-
ported as saying 'If our revenues
are insufficient to meet all other de-
mands, then the loss mast .faN on the
school fund or on the holders Of bonds
with no coupons receivable for taxes,
for there is nowhere else for it to fall. "
say, fellow citizens, that the constitn-
ton declares in terms too plain to admit
Of doubt, that ''the General Assembly
shall apply the school fund to the pur-
pose for which It is dedicated" The
General Assembly has by the Funding
bill !" violently wrenched it from that
destiny, and left the poor children to
grow up in ignorance.
Again, Gen. Walker says, in his
Richmond speech too plainly to be mis-
understood, that in the event our reye-
nues are insufficient to pay each class Of
our creditors their interest in full that
the taxes should be increased to meet
the deficiency. Yet the platform adopted
by the convention which nominated
Gen. Walker declares that all Just and
honorable means should be used to bring
about ian adjustment of the obligations
Of the Commonwealth which iciN bring
the payment of interest upon or entire
indebtedness mitEn the resources Of the
State derivea from the present rate Of
taration."
Now here in the party platform is
there any authority, in any event, fol
| irereosing our taxes. On the contrary.
the platform declares that the conyen-
ton ''views with concern and anxiety
our financial difficulties and the H.
creasing weight of debt, and urges ad-
justment, not increase Of taxes! I &C
cept that platform, and, believing that
duty demands it, I announce myself q
candidate for the Office Of Lieutenant.
Governor Of Virginia, and, in dong so.
l appeal to the people to assert at the
polls that sovereign power which re-
sides in them to strike down wrong.
whether found in high places Or low.
and erect in its stead the standard Of
right! There is in the people that IT,
herent sovereignty which can and will
wine ont the fraudulent FUNDING bill
do equal justice to ourselves, cur credi'
tors. and our educational and humane
institutions at the same time pre-
serve untarnished the honor Of Virginia
I shall at once enter actively upon the
canvas, and 1 hereby invite Gen. Walk
er to meet me IN the discussion Of the
questions at issue.
ROBERT A. RICHARDSON,
Marion, "a, Oct. II, 1877.