The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-01
Colonel Robert Beverly en- the state
.a4Ss3s8EsYEs.kff{fHTfm re SfypfE Uf leg:

lrronahc ss.aIiton speca'or.I
1t affords.us pleasure tosspublish the fol-
lowing, which Is the, SUBSTANCE OF lc.ter
written by Colonel Robert Beverly, OF Eau
>quier, to gentlemana OF AiDemarle, VINO
had written to Colonel Beverly Tor DIS views
the matter Of adjustment OF the State
debt, and in respect to the suggested re-
organization OF the Court iof Appeals In
order to secure majority OF that tElbiina!
against the funding bill. Colonel Beverly
is one OF the largest taxpayers In Virginia.
is for paying the State debt TO the iast oollar,
and thinks it can be done without increase
of taxation on the subjects now taAea' D.'t
he is for paying the DEBT and protecting the
honor and credit of Virginia! The letter
we give below: .: ~uf
1t is proper for me to premise by say
ing that I am not a candidate for the Office
OF Governor of Virginia, and beg leave to
state my reasons. ! do not desire the posi-
ton. because it would involve the neglect
OF nv large agricultural business, and no
one knows better than yourself what con-
slant attention that requires to. be success
full. Secondly, because my manner or lie
from INV Youth up has been most active,
entirely in, the country; and sedcntary
life in city would, / am sure, be injurious
to NV health. Yet am not lnsenslbIe to
the honor OF being Governor OF Virginia.
would consider it the highest that could be
bestowed upon me-iar greater than to be
President OF the United States. am not,
however, one of her citizens to whom Vlr-
einia is indebted. On the contrary, owe
all I am or have to my native state. so mas
it been with my forefathers for 200 years
past. Therefore, say that II my services
should be demanded will give them!eheer-
fully for what they arc WORTH. ;.ind >ja,.'
You ask my views OF the, Statet debt,
Establishments. &C.. II General Malone had
given any plan OF adjustment, it would GER
tainly be worthy OF the highest consider;-
ton. But as it requires the assent OF both
parties-the State and the bondholders-to
an adjustment, I see no possibility OF any
result in that direction short OF srepldla-
ton; and see no way by which ,repudla-
ton itself could be made. eifectual, except
as to the S10,000,000 OF iunfunded non-taX-
receivable debt, held mostly, us you say,
by widows and orphans, and also by the
literary and sinking funds. the repu-
diation OF which would be maniiesty
most unjust and dishonorablc, and ruin
Gus to the State itself. except perhaps
as to the sinking fund, which the State has
the power to do with as she pleaseS. 7 AS 10
the plan OF constitutional convention to
reconstruct the Court OF Appeals, so as to
set aside the validity Of the funding act, |
submit: That could this be done. regard
less OF the honor OF the State and OF the
binding obligation OF her contracts made
since the war, when her eyes uere or ou9htto
have been open, yet the courts OF the
United States will be open to the States
Il Nr,tf Il hoh ltyh oH m
invoke the aid OF Grant to again, recon-
struct the Supreme Court OF the United
States--this time for the benefit Of Virginia.
Il that possible: | think both impractical
ble-impossible OF accomplishment, ..,t,l
1t Is probable that the funding act was, as
YOU say, an "egregious error" y; but that
does not vitiatc the obligation Of the con-
tract morally or legally, since the law was
enacted by the legally reconstructed authori-
ties OF the State. ..., 7: II
The idea Of an adjustment OF the debt be-
tween the State and her creditors is very
popular one to the masses, who have not for
4 moment thought holo it is to be accom-
plishcd; nor have those who advocate it
given us any plan. Ifrankly state that it
would he very acceptable. to me il could
see any plan by which it could be hOnOrahIy
and legally effected; for i do not own one
dollar OF the State debt, and am II very large
taxpayer. But / see no practicable plan OF
adjustment short of paying the debt oohen
zee can. and state without any hesitation
that believe it can be done without IN
creasing the rate Of taxation, on the property
OF the State one mill. .,;,'..f FL:
Ave, I 60 farther, and state that be-
lieve, by making available and properly
outstanding all the resources Of the State,
and by practlcing the strictest economy in
the administration of the government, that
che public schools can be run, the necessary
expenses OF the government paid, and the
interest on the entire debt Qess that portion
set apart for West virginia. provided for,
without any additional burden on any por-
ton OF our citizens, and in less than five
wears the rate OF taxation be reduced to
forty cents, probably to thirty, on the one
hundred dollars worth Of property. The
details of the plan time and space do not
now permit me TO give. s.".,..s- ... 49,.
In conclusion. / respectfully ask: Is 1t
not most unfortunate that, without any REM
edy at hand. this questionTof sadjusl-
mcnt" should be started to agitate the
minds of the people, and that, too, when
the bounty OF providence has given lis more
resources than we, have had before or since