Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-08-31

l.
whether the bondholders received more af-
ter long waiting than per cent nett on his
bond and he believed the holders would
them for per cent bonds if
there was guarantee of prompt payment.
THIS 100000 EXCESS
of expenditure over income so often allu-
ded to must be provided for, we must stop
a leak here and stop a leak there and deal
with the case exactly as we would if it was
our own private latter. Let the interest
of the Commonwealth be as dear to each
man as his own interests and let retrench
ment and reform be our watchwords.,
How was it to be done? The annual ex-
rense of the State now, with her dim inish-
territory was greater, far than in 1850
when our population and territory, was
one-third larger than it now is and still the
people have born it patiently, tho now the
time has seemed to come when something
must be done. The amended code making
legislative sessions biennial, it is estimated
will cut off 100000 of expense. Another
useless source of expense may be found in
the heavy outlay incurred in the
EXECUTION OF THE CRIMINAL LAWS.
For petty offences such as robbing hen
roost or pig sty, followed by costly pros
ecution and transportation under guard
one year makes the convict an outlaw in
society for life, it would be much better to
administer old fashioned justice, tie up the
culprit, give him 80 well laid on and let
ten. The number of public officers too,
could be greatly reduced and the peniten-
tiary made to Weld revenue or at least
pay its expenses. Virginia would do well
in this matter to follow the example of
some of her sister States. Gen. Echols
concluded with an eloquent appeal to all
good citizens to lay aside party and perso-
nal prejudice and ignoring individual am
bition and selfish schemes to unite in one
supreme effort to MAINTAIN the honor of the
State and relieve her Of the incubus Of debt
under which she was groaning her life
away.
Mr.. David s. Young spoke briefly. He
wished mainly to acqult himself of the
charge of reputation which had been made
against him. He was nothing Of the kind
but wanted to see the debt leadiusted and
thought it could be done. The difficult
problem could be solved by refunding the
State debt IN bonds bearing per cent for
ten years, after that drawing per cent
interest; and suspending the public school
for five years, as we had rushed into it five
years too soon.
S. Brown Allen Esq, said before
the question was put he would like
to ask Gen. Echols question. Gen. Echols
who had left the house ras called in, and
Mr.. A. wished to know what he would do
il his proposition Of readjustment should
be rejected by the States creditors as had
been done over and over again heretofore
Gen. Echols asked him what he would
do? MI. A. said che would repeal the tax
receivable portion of the funding bill.'
Gen. e. said he had replied to his quas-
ton by another, not with any discourtesy
but because he had heard that in previ-
GUS meeting, he, (Mr. Az had said that
in such a contingency he would lay anoth-
er levy and create tax that would pay
the whole amount of interest called for
as to himself he had not contemplated such
a contingency, so sure was he that calm
and earnest effort at compromise would be
met in similar spirit But he could not
conceive of any legal mode of multiplying
the operations of the funding bill. By the
supreme legal authority Of the State, it had
been declared
THE LAW OF THE LAND.
and by that decision we had to abide.
Mr.. Allen then proceeded to say that he
endorsed the nominees of the Convention
and would vote for them, but that 9th er
and graver issues had been raised which he
would address himself to. When a man
found his expenses had overrun his income,
he overhauled his books, instituted re-
form, demanded re-settlement, lnstinc
lively looked to re-adj ustment. Just so it
would be in matters of the State, in which
all should be equally interested and that
was why cry had been sent up from all
parts Of the State demanding I. settlement
of this debt question. The friends and
originators Of this movement had been de-
nounced by the press and in public as re-
pudiators, but the charge had rebounded
on them to their own cost. They spoke of
satisfactory adjustment" that means alb
soluteiy nothing, but was. intended to
cloak
ASUPPORT OF THE FL NDING BILL.
While holding the honor Of his State as
sacred, he did not see what it had to do
with the question. 1t was a business mat
ter, and the people were borne down by a
burden which could and must be lifted.
He did not wish to do injustice to the
creditors, and they must not do unjustly
by us. We were told that the funding
bill was unassailable. That might and
might not be so; he was no lawyer, but
knew that no one legislature could bind
the hands of all future legislatures, and
assume to itself powers the Autocrat of
Russia would blush to exercise. They had
been told that their efforts to compel an
Of the public debt would drag
them down into the cess-pools of infamy;
that their efforts were weak and almless,
and would result in ignominious defeat. 1t
they were so weak why were the anathe-
mas Of the press hurled at them? Why
was heaven and earth raised to circum-
vent and defeat them? Here Mr.. Allen
was interrupted by the entrance Of Judge
Hendren, who wished to proceed with the
business of his court. A vote was taken
and the resolution adopted with only two
dissenting voices, and the meeting ad-
joufned.
Y. M. 9. A.-Sunday evening the meet
ing in their rooms at the Grange Hall was
a most interesting one. Mr.. VIM. G..
Brown LODI roa1ipn bn WV obo ,E Ao+r