Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-12-11


posed that one State will volunteer to
assume the burdens of another State"
Gov. Kemper reiterates at length the
opinion, which he has in severrl MESA
ges endeavored to enforce, that however
unwise and unfortunate the passage of
the funding bill, yet "the contract en-
bodied in it, and executed in pursuance
of it, is inviolable and irrepealable, and
it is the bounden duty of all to stand to
the decision of the highest State court
affirming its validity" and he contends
that ''any further agitation for the pur-
pose of invalidating it is wrong to the
good name Of Virginia, and an injury
to every interest of her people," He,
however, vindicates the motives of those
who act upon opposing opinions, and
declares that therejis not and there new
er has been any organized party of re-
pudiation in Virginia. Excepting an
almost inappreciably small class of
thinkers, the great body of those who
resist the execution of the funding bill
have no idea of resisting the payment
of the debt. Gev. Kemper declares that
no device or subterfuge, however inge-
NOUS, designed to obstruct a particular
provision of the funding bill, could be
regarded with less disfavor by the judi
cial mind than an open and direct VIC
lation of the contract it contains. Any
measure, of whatever kind, intended to
impair the receivability of the coupons.
would be regarded as impairing the OBJ
legation of the contract, and would be
met with the condemnation of the courts
all the more decisively on account OF
its indirectiOn.
The Governor says it is happily de-
monstrable that no necessity can arise
in Virginia, even under the plea OF self
preservation, to evade the operations OF
this law. If the debt proper OF each
State be aggregated with its municipal
and local Indebtedness, comparison on
that basis will show that, relatively 10
population and resources, the people OF
Virginia owe less than those OF many
other States. 1t will be found that the
rate of taxation in this State is less than
IN almost all others. Even if the new
method of taxing liquors should yield
no increase of revenue, still the deli
cheney in the treasury would be covered
by sum equal to tax of ten cents on
the lOO., or of thirty cents on each
inhabitAnt Of the Commonwealth. The
allegation that the State cannot main
tain Its existence and carry its debt is
not only wholly unsupported, but con-
c.usively contradicted by the facts.
The remaining DIRECTORS to the fund
ing bill are those who assert that Vir-
ginia owes no debt, using as an argu-
ment that the State has been conquered
by arms, and that the conqueror, hav-
ing dismembered it and destroyed more
than half of its taxable values, has be-
come liable for its ante-bellum debts.
To this Gov. Kemper interposes the
argument that assuming Virginia was
conquered by arms, its autonomy was
Destroy the cOnqueror reinvested it
with its original powers of raising reve-
nues by taxation, and restored to it the
very improvements and properties
which represented the consideration of
its debt.
The Governor refers to the conference
with the public creditors of the State,
held November 10, 1874, at which the
creditors consented to postpone one
third of the interest on the debt for ten
years. This Legislature failed to act on
the proposition, and the debt agitation
has since gone on with increasing iDju-
ry to the State. The Governor thinks
the same concessions would be rendered
now, tn, ugh the necessity has passed
away, as the condition of the State, he
claims, has improved and will continue
to improve. Moreover, a readjustment
which is feasible and honorable, and
which is far better than any heretofore
proposed, can now be had. So soon as
the State shall proceed to pay, as it can,
full current interest on the debt-sO soon
as its ability and it's will to continue
such full payment shall be made evident
to the financial World-GOv. Kemper
has assurance that then a loan may be
negotiated at four per cent, and in "a
sum sufficient for retiring the whole of
the debt. BY taking this direct road to
adjustment the burthen of the debt
will be diminished one-third in way
consistent with the traditional reputa-
ton Of Virginia.
Gov. Kemper suggests various statu-
tory and constitutional reforms by which
the taxes may be reduced. He says the
accounting business of the government
has run into needless enlargement and
complication, aud the capital is over
crowded with unnecessary officials and
employees he would have the clerical
force materially cut down, and the re-
mainder paid at the cost fixed for cor
responding work by the fair competi-
lions of private business. He suggests
special commission, with authority to
employ the best experts and practically
| to reorganiZe the departments at the
capital.
Among other heavy burthens on the
treasury, which can at once be reduced,
are those imposed by the penitentialy
and the lunatic asylums.
The annual criminal expenses last
year aggregated SLIT $40, against $50, 429
annually for the ten years preceding the
war. The Governor thinks it may be
proper for the State to pay the expenses
in felony cases, but there is no good rea-
son why all other criminal charges
should not be borne by the counties and
corporations; and, if this change be
made, it is safe to assume that the crimi.
nal charges will be so reduced by local
influences and interests.
| Gov. Kemper says in his judgment it
| is as practicable as it is desirable to re-
turn to the ancient and honored county
court system of justices, originally ap-
pointed and commissioned by the exc
cutive, themselves filling vacancies in
their own body and serving without
pay.
A stringent revision of the revenue
system is urged. In permanently re-
! forming it, care should be taken to lodge
the power of appointing commissioners
| OF UDG revenue elLnGr Win the auultOr
or the courts. The appointment of a
State board for equalizing the assess
ments of lands is also recommended.
The Governor says if the oyster beds.
which ar e absolutely the property and
ungranted domain of the Common
wealth, are not to be preserved and tax
ed as other property, then they should
be disposed of at once. either by lease or
sale. He also says the school system is
the creation of organic law. The con-
stitutional obligation to maintain it is
not questioned. In all of his official re-
lations to that system he has endeavored
to support it fairly, efficiently, and in
the spirit of it's founders. But if it is to
override all other interests. however
momentous or sacred if the claims ofthe
school department upon the funds in
the general treasury constitute lien
paramount to every other; if the exist
ence Of the government in an emergency,
is to be dependent upon the leniency OF
that department, then the sooner it is
ahorn of its dangerous supremacy the
! hnttor