Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-11

ponds s,e bought up and put in the fund they
all remain and continue there, drawing inter-
st indefinitely. If tax for sinking fund puf-
oses is levied and conttnEsd thatls Is collected
:7ery yesr and used in the manner indicated,
i not that compliance with the CONSTITUTIONAL
provision Does the constitution necessarily
REQUIRE the continuance Of the bonds themselves
after they get in the fund?
Proce eling Ar Mushbsch ssid that If the
bill now under consideration was passe and be.
came lsV no creditor could be expected to fund
ais bonds under the measure coming after It. IL
is declaration to him that his new bond: would
be worth nothing. for it involves the idea inst
whecn7er hereafter Virginia may desire to get
rid Of the debt she can do so by means OF pre-
smble. The proper solution ofthe debt question IS
10 pass fair 4per Ct bill putting al our credit
crs OF the same footing-consol and peeier-en-
force the pre:eot revenue laws, If 1t is consld'
cred necessary 10 make certain changes, suo.tl-
tuse something that will bring in IS much money
enact and put into operation the economical
N easures now pending-then adjourn, 60 home
s1d stay there for two years. At the end OF that
time there is every indication that the debt
question will be set!led-Virginiss credit re-
stored, her honor saved and further agitation
rendered unnecessary. In conclusion be ex'
planned his vote on the resolution OF Mr. Hsrti'
son. Of Sussex, declaring it ine1pedient to IN.
crease the present rate of taxation $50 cents per
SlC0) on,esl and personal property.
NIB. HUNTER SPEECH.
Mr.. Speaker Il arise to say something ca
the subject of the States Indebtedness do
not desire 10 take up the attention OF the House
fur any length Of time, and only say few brtf
words to explain ny position 90 the public
debt.
| have, Dir. Speaker, carefully RETAINED from
participating in either caucus Ct the General
Assembly, for 10 my humble judgment it CID
more TO divide the conservatives among them.
selves than all other causes combined. L did
not pledge myself in caucus to vote tor any man
or aoy set OF men. Neither did | pledge 10 vote
for any measure or measures, but 10 all honesty
of purpose to espouse those measures when
are most conducive to the welfare Of my COZ.
situents, and to the people Of Virginia. Such
being the case, I have cndeavored earnestly 10
fod and follow through the tangled labyrinth
of the State debt some road which l o)uld COZ.
scicntiously follow, aud find there are but
three roads 10 take, either one OF which must
choose.
The first proposition is that to pay the TO-
terest OF the State debt we must increase the
taxation heavily.
The second is TO let the matter staud as it is,
aud leave to posterity the task OF cutting this
Gordian knot.
The third road is to make The best arrange
mcnt we can with The creditors, and after show
Jog our liabilities pay out the whole OF the as
sets over our expenses If running the govern
mcnt
These three words are The only ooes We can
travel, aud We must choose either one or the
other Of them. As for me, my road is chosen,
and will follow it, no matter where 1t ends,
aud no matter where it leads, and 10 matter
what the consequences may be.
As for the first proposition to ileraase taxa
ton the House by vote of one hundred against
four refused to do 80, and think l speak the
sentiments Of rine.tenths of my constituents
when | say that such step is out Of the ques-
ton, and it would be a matracidal blow of any
representative that would be willing to add one
single penny to the fearful burden Of taxation
that the people are DOW staggering under. The
public debt is like the old man of the sea strad.
ding Sinbad's shoulder. 1t is paralyzing all Of
the States energies, dscourages immigration,
and blocks all the wheels of trade. Sir sooner
than to give my voice to increase the taxation
one cent [ would let my arm withcr and my
tongue refuse its utteraDee. The people are
taxed as much or more than they can stand,
but even now when the cry Of distress comes
from all sections Of this commonwealth; when
The red flag of the sheriff hangs from so many
houses, TO add to the present taxation as much
again, then, Dir. Speaker and gentlemen, for
one will never by countenance or my vote agree
to Increase taXation one dime. 1t is the last
stray that breaks tho camePs back, and that
last straw in tho ehape OF present taxation |
for ono will never accept
The second road which we can follow il to
let the vexed subject alone, and to leave 10
poserity the vexed task of settling it. TO COO.
Tess here that as representatives Of the people
We arc not able to meet the issue, and that We
shrink from the duty. | know not what others
call it, but |, sir, call such course cowardioe;
cowardice Of the most shameful stamp, and the
real cowardice Of dishouor. For such course,
would it be followed, would simply be repudia
ton, reputation Of that lowest type Of a
rogue, the sneak thief, and not the open repu.
diation of the reckless, bold highwayman.
The way, sir, to meet all danger, all trouble,
all woe, is to look it square in the face, and 10
all it's magnitude the mountain Of debt which
has piled up until it reaches above our vision.
As see the State treasury so empty that not
dollar rattles 10 it's till; when hear the cries
Of distress among my people, and the wall of
poverty sounding 10 my ears; when my eyes
beheld the fearful line Of figures of what We
owe, and the small amount which we can pay,
then. and only then, | felt as if any measure
that locked to the solving of this question. and
an amicable adjustment Of this debt would BIO
emineptly fair aud proper and just.
Sir, love Virginia. She Is my world, my
earth. Outside of her borders have ueither in"
terest or ambition. As Caleb Gushing once said
of his State say of mine: ''Sir, l have roamed
through the wide world to find hearts nowhere
warmer than hers, soldiers nowhere Drawer, pa
triots nowhere purer, wives and mothers no.
where truer, maideDs nowhere lovlier, green
valleys apd bright rivers nowhere greencr or
brighter, and | will not be silent when [ hear
her patriotism impugned or her honor questiond.
Living, will defend her, dying would pause
in my last expiring breath, to utter a prayer
of fond remembrance to my native Virginia.
Sir, lave heard much spoken of the honor
of the Old Commonwealth by men who have
ncvcr made any sacrifice Tor her. Honor is
grand thing, the grandest on earth, dearer than
life, sweeter than liberty. but as Madam Roland
patheically said Of liberty, We can say, "Oh,
honor, what crimes arc committed in Thy