Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-08-06
A Letter From Judge Harris.

A Letter From Judge Harris.
HIS VIEWS ON FINANCIAL QUESTIONS
THE FUNDING BILL-RE-ADJUsTME
THE BARBOUR BILL, &c.
To the Editor Of the Wing.
In your issue of the 9th, you saw. i,
regard to the positions of Gen. HuntoI
and myself, on the greenback and deb
questions-"W regret both these gen.
tlemen did not sooner make known thei
views it would have saved them trou
BILE, and all of US unpleasant miscon
structions." EARLY in 1874, before the
effect of Federal legislation had showr
itself, spoke in Congress and denounc
ed, in the strongest terms, the whole IL
nancial policy of the Government, be
cause it was in the interest of monies
monopolies, the bondholder and the ma
tional banks. I advocated the repeal o
these obnoxious laws, and the substitu.
ton of others more favorable; and
| AFURTHER ISSUE OF GREENBACKs.
sufficient to meet the wants of the peo.
pie. predicted, unless these reforms
were made, the present depressed con.
dition of the country would be the in.
evitable refult. When made the speech
the country was prosperous, and # at.
tracted but little attention.
But now the wolf is at our doors. and
the inquiry is made, where were oul
sentinels? In answer to this, / point IL
a long record of votes and speeches, run.
ming through period of seven years.
That record will show that voted uni
formly against the money-power, against
monied monopolies, against railroad
rings, against the centralizing money.
power of the general government, a.
gainst the contraction Of the currency.
and in favor of q more just system of
distribution of the money of the coun-
| try, greater volume OF green backs. and
in all things in the interest of the people.
and against the infamous system of
building up the bondholder at the ex-
pense OF the tax-ridden and poverty
stricken masses. And advocated paw
ing the original outstanding 500 bonds,
$450, 900, 900, in greenbacks, according to
the contract. Thus giving to the people
that much more currency.
AGAINST INCREASING THE POWERS OF
THE SUPREME COURT,
In regard to the Royal bill, under the
rules it could not be discussed, for on its
presentation, it went at once to the COM
mittee, where it will sleep the sleep of
death. Never having been before the
House. except to refer, no member had
right to debate it.
My whole course shows that ana I'M
| alterably opposed to that or any kindred
! bill to give jurisdiction to the Supreme
Court over the decisions Of our Court of
| Appeals. The rights of the States and
the preservation of Republican Govern
ment, require that the Jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court of the United States shall
be confined to the few cases enumerated
in the Constitution. Any attempt to
enlarge these is dangerous to liberty, and
| HIS OPPOSITION TO THE FUNDING BILL.
My opinions on the debt question have
been long known to friends. / am, and
have always been, opposed to that OPP
presaiye legislation known as the Fund
ing bill. In addition to the uniustness
of the amount, the coupon feature, as ex-
perience has shown, renders it more
odious and burdensome.
He FAVORS REIMBURSEMENT OF THE
STATE DEBT.
have been, and am now, in favor OF
the REIMBURSEMENT If the debt !; an adjust
ment in the language of the August Con-
|vention; (which shall bring the annual
| interest upon our entire Indebtedness
within the revenues of the State derived
from the pfesent rate Of taxation, and to
do equal justice to Ill classes Of public
| credftors:' 70 carry out this doctrine,
laid down by the party, it was the duty
of the General Assembly to pass such
measures as would give practical effect
to the will Of the people so emphatically
expressed. Virginians have been taug ht
that the will Of TIE people, when ex-
pressed through their General Assembly,
SHOULD bg the law of the land. The in
.rGSaa 4ctl0n Of tie veto power is new to
us, and was brought among as hv
strangers, and under the necessity of re-
construction became part of our organic
law. 1t is only in eases Of plain and pal
pable violation of the Constitution
cases never likely to occur, for it is not
presumed that such q bill could ever
pass a Legislature of Virginia-that the
Government ought to interpose his veto.
THE GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT HAVE
VETOED THE BARBOUR BILL.
The Constitution makes it the duty OF
the General Assembly to pass laws to
raise revenue for the support Of the Cow
eminent. The Barbour bill contemplate
ed that object. In view of these facts,
and the further fact that the Governor
had seemed to remit that whole question
to the Legislature, / had not supposed
for moment he would veto the BILL
His course is deeply to be regretted. The
| first duty of the State is to c9ntrol her
taxes so as to preserve her existence; for
without this, anarchy follows, and we
would have neither society nor the
means of paying anything; then the
preservation of her humane institutions
and her educational system. After these
objects are attained, then the next high
est obligation of the State is to her cred
| itOrs.
| THE STATE SUPREME.
| l favor any re adjustment within the
present rate Of taxation that will accom-
plish these ends. In dQing this, regard
the State supreme, and any attempt on
the part of the Federal Government to
interfere with this EXERCISE of supreme
power by the State, will be opppsed by
me to the last extremity.
| These views, in substance, I have uni
formly expressed. They have been cor
daily received by very large majority
of the people, and have been entirely
satisfactory to all Re-Adjusters who
wanted to be satisfied.
JOHN T. HARRIS.
a WAR INoIpENT-GEN. JOHNSTON.
-Staunton, Va, July 80. 1S7s.-EDs.
DISPATCH AS contribution to the
history of the Confederacy, and in. illus
tration of one of the most prominent