Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-03-05
THE BARBOUR BILL.
Governor Holiday Retarns it 10 the
House with His Veto.

THE BILL DESCRIBED AND CRITICIZED.
ITS DANGEROUS CHARACTER SET
FoRTH-REAsONS FOR NOT APPROX
ING IT.
About half past O'Clock Wednesday
the Governor sent to the House OF dele
gates the following message:
To the Honorable the House of Dele
gates:
! return the bill Imposing taxes on
real and persopal property, to meet the
necessary expenses CT the government,
for public free school purposes, anq to
pay the interest on the public deSt,"
without my approval.
l do this most reluctantly; not only
because / do not like to disagree with
the L4egislatqre-having high estimate
of its ability and patriQtism-but because
| wish this question Of the State debt to
be- finally settled.
Having this wish, I cannot see any
settlement in this bill. 1t is only re-
uniting the vexed and vexing matter
from the Legislature to the courts. In
stead of bringing peace it is challenging
war between the State and the creditors,
aEd keeping alive in bitterness thing
"hiOA Aos iiCouy ny ICo eSiIotioH CoSb
more than lis VEGle sum to the material
interests and welfare Of the Common
wealth.
1t may be said that by this very acc
am aiding what [ so much dread. Even
in the narrow light of consequences, to
one filling my place, cannot see that l
would be stunning trouble by signing
the bill. On the contrary, / would be
Sinking Responsibility, and passing to
others a question wi,ish duty tells me L
am bound to decide for myself. Resides,
l believe it safer and better, when a
question has grown into such size and
bitterness as this. that, if possible, ii
should be settled On that ar ma where ii
properly belongs. 1t is very unhappy
that it should ever have got Into
THE FIELD OF POLITICS,
and covered the people of the State into
parties. It is really a business matter,
not likely to be closed by the wrangle OF
the hastings.
Such certainly would be the result
should this Dill become law. I DO not
wish, any other, believing that it is in
to be tested by judicial inquiry. But
cannot think that this will avail for
good, or hasten settlement after it has
been made a subject of political strife
Evil almost always follows when ques-
tions are taken fEom that arena and sent
to the courts, with al the acrimony be-
gotten by fierce discussion. The ques-
tons are not put at rest, .b1t The courts
and their DEGREES are dragged together
down and their high authority belittled.
[ do not for a moment say that judges
are ipfallible. They are men, and liable
to err. But 7 DO mean to say that their
strength and purity are the
FIRMEsT BULWARkS or EREEDOM
and peace ip a Republic like oIrs.
Whilst thrss are fpy views with regard
TO the tribunal in whieh this matter
ought to be concluded, spriHgsls solely
from the evils ofits discussion elsewhere,
there are other reasons for my action
based upon higher ground,
I have no doubt that every member of
your honorable body who voted for this
bill was fully satisfied both of its policy
and constitntionality; otherwise, am
sure it would not have passed. You
had studied the subject ia all it's bear
ings, and believed that the condition of
our State and Of the debt justified the
law. You did this under the oath you
had taken to uphold the Constitutions
which bound your acts. Having done
SO, your duty is fulfilled and your con-
sciences clear.