The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-08-30
the debt. Be Just before you are generous.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Youns's speech,

| Az The conclusion or Mr.. 1ounS 5 speech,
| S. BROWN ALLEN
said +: Before the resolution is adopted, |
would like to ask Gen. Echols what he pro-
poses to do, should the creditors refuse to
readiust, as they have done time and again !?
Gen. eEchols, who had RETIRED was re-
called, and Mr.. Allen repeated his question.
Gen. Echols-I would like to ask the gen.
tleman what he would do? (Cheers.)
Mr.. Allen would repeal the tax receiv-
able feature of the Funding Bill. (Chcers.)
Now let Gen. Eclols answer with equal
frankness.
| Gen. Echols-I had understood that Mr..
Allen had said last Court day that he would
be in favor of paying the whole debt, if it
could not be amicably adjusted. AS for my
self, have not looked to such contingency,
for am satisfied that if all effort was made
in q business way, it would prove success
full. But in the event of an unfavorablc an
could do, for the Supreme Court Of Appeals
of Virginia, the highest tribunal known to
us, has decided the Funding Bill to be con-
tract, and the State cannot relieve herself of
the debt. For that very reason an adjust
ment must be made outside OF the courts, for
no legislative enactment can avoid the opera
ton OF the Funding Bill.
! Mr.. Allen-I came here to-day expecting
to participate cordially in this meeting, and
do endorse and expect to support the
l oe +Lo
But other questions have been raised. When
| business man finds that through series OF
years his expenses annually exceed his in
come, he knows that if some remedy is not
| applied, ruin must result. Every man in
the State is as much interested in her condi-
1 ton as il it was his individual affair, and
when we see her liabilities accruing every
year, we know that it must end in readjust-
ment, reputation, or revolution. From
every section of the State appeals for read.
justment are being made. The men who
are making them have been denounced as
repudiationists. but the shafts OF that de-
nunciation have fallen to the ground, or re-
turned to plague those who hurled them.
liz luCl CItIlStCu Ill tlC CttuSC dIC u W
their native State, and are earnest and con-
scieutious in their belief that relief is within
| the grasp of the people. They know that
this question must be settled in business
way-settled fairly and honestly.
You have heard much of a satisfactory
adjustment. What does it mean? 1t means
nothing is intended for nothing but a cloak
| to hide the infamous Funding Bill. If the
creditors are not satisfied now, when they
have everything, do you suppose they would
favor the repeal Of the Funding Bill? There
is another kind of adjustment called hon.
| orable ''-that is what we want. An adjust
ment based upon the principles of right, of
justice to each-an adjustment that will re-
lieve the debtor and dispel TIE cloud of I'M
certainty from the path of the creditor; and
lastly, there is " compulsory" adjustment.
If that means that the tax receivable coupon
feature of the Funding Bill is to be repealed,
I plead doubly, doubly guilty to the charge.
We are told that this piece of legislation is
fixed and any efforts to assail il would prove
futile. It may or may not be true. If the
policy Of adjustment is so improbable, why
are its advocates deemed so formidable, and
why have they been met with such storm
of denunciation? You know that the de-
mand is just one-that the plan is feasible
that the act of no one legislature can dis
arm its successor and bind the people with
chains Of steel for generations to come.
At this point Mr.. Allen was interrupted
by the Sheriff, the Judge having signified
his intention of converting the Court.
The resolution was then put to the meet
ing, and when call for the ayes and noes
was made, some half dozen voices answered
in the affirmative and three or four said
"no." The chairman decided the resolu-
ton passed, and the meeting adjourned.