The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-08

property, is assessed f0f state puE poses
higher than for city purposes, an sal more
thansits, real Valus.- IA the state assessment
is now TO. be used for city purposes, Mr.
Alsop desires to have the State assessment
corrected. The bill gives Judge Guigon
power to have the correction made.]
THE BARBOUR TAx-BtLL.
!, Mr.. WALLACE in the chair. So
At / O'Clock the House resumed the con-
alteration of the tax-bill- the bill leyying
on ,pronerty a tax OF so cents on the S100,
and requiring collecting officers to collect
and account for 25 cents OF the same Tor
expenses, 10 cents for the
maintenance OF public schools tboth OF
these only to be paid in currency, and 10
cents for paving interest on the public debt,
paving arrearages't to school fund, &c.
GENERAL ECHoLs
was entitled to the floor. He opposed the
bill because he believed it would absolutely
fail to effect the object gentlemen hoped
from ii, and would prove disastrous to the
fair name and credit OF the Common
wealth.
Commencing with the act of 1S65-'66, he
rapidIy reviewed the legislation on the
subject OF the debt. In 1867 four-per-cent.
interest certificates in the nature OF cou-
pous were authorized to be issued, and were
made receivable for taxes and all public
dues. That was four years before the now
odious funding bill! One OF those VINO
voted for that act was the present senior
member from Norfolk Or. EoB1NsoN). Re-
ferring to the funding bill, he contended that
the obnoxious feature there hadthe sanction
OF the legislative, executive, and Iudlcal
departments OF Virginia. The bill attempt
ing to repeal the coupon feature OF the
funding bill was passed over Governor
Walkers veto, and the Supreme Court sus-
tanned the Governors veto. Governor hem-
per was quoted to show that the contract
was irrepealable, and that any attempt oy
indirection to invalidate the coupons would
be condemned by the Supreme Court. , so
have spoken two Governors. Governor
Holiday. too, he claimed, had spoken in his
Inaugural on the side OF the maintenance OF
the public faith, and would ever be found
in that position, unless his friends had very
greatly mistaken him.
General ECHoLs read the definitions Of
orepudiate'' as given by Worcester and
Webster-to disown, to disclaim, to refuse
any longer to acknowledge an obligation,
&c.-and held that the present bill is q re-
pudiation measure. He argued that the
debt was an honest one; that the money
was spent in internal improvements now
held and enjoyed By the people; and yet
they were asked to say this debt can DE
postponed behind all other claims. He
showed how this money had been spent,
what counties had proited by it, and APP
plauded the city OF Richmond, which others
had decred, for sending here solid debt
paving delegation. Richmond, he said,
would have been recreant to every principle
of fair dealing if she had done otherwise.
And he did not condemn, but honored, her
clergy for laundering forth their denuncia-
lions of great moral wrong. Did they do
less they would be forgetful OF the teach
ings of their Great Master.
General ECHoLs declared himself Reid
ulster upon the platform OF the Conserva-
tive Convention. In the language OF Nlr.
.HARy1E, he would stripthe State to the skin
in the way of reducing expenses; would
find out our resources and indebtedness,
and then make an appeal to the creditor
He thought if this arbitrary bill passed we
would have to forego forever the opportu-
nity for COMPROMISE. He referred to let
ter received from England by Governor
Holiday indicating that the foreign bond
holders. would chcerfully refund in four
percent. bonds.
General EcHoLs depicted the shame and
loss that would follow the wrecking OF our
character and credit; pointed to the case OF
mississippi; declared that the bill would
not stand the test OF the courts, and held
that it would finally, II persisted in, lead to
absolute Reputation. In closing he made n
grand appeal for the preservation OF the
honorable name OF the State.
He occupied his hour fully, and COM
manded the undivided attention of the
House and crowded galleries throughout.
MR.. uARv1E, OF AMELIA,
said that he did not intend to discuss this
question, because he was hardly competent,
and if he tried he would probably be
knocked down with law-books. But he
arose to state that he objected to General
EcHoLs bringing the views and correspond
ence of the Governor to bear upon this
House in the consideration OF this ques-
ton.
He also referred to the preachers, and
there disagreed with General ECHols. He
thought he understood the question Of mo-
rality as we'll as the gentlemen OF the pull
pit, and would repeat, with all respect, that
thev had better see whether in their denun-
Citations they are not rather serving Man,
mon than God.
NIr. HAIvIE did not deny that there
was q contract here, but he didn't
think it was for the interest of the
creditors to enforce it, if it were possible,
and thus strike down the State. He
owed no allegiance to any party, and didn't
care chinquepin about the great declara-
tions of the Conservative party. He had a
supreme contempt for that as for all other
parties which tried to build itself up as it
had done, and he hadn't been into caucus
for twenty years and never meant to 60 into
one again. In despite Of the beautiful de-
clamation OF General ECHoLs, our first obi
CATION is to keep alive the State, and he
would do that whether we paid one per
cent. or one hundred. Our next highest
obligation is to educate the people so as to
adhere to these obligations. All that was
left he would give to the creditors.
MIR. sTARKE, OF BRUNSWICK,
fwho was resident of Mississippi for forty
years. was called to his feet by the remarks
OF General ECHoLs on the subject of repu-
diation in Mississippi. He said that the peo-
pie Of Mississippi didn't repudiate for the
sake OF reputation; nor because they were
dishonest; nor because they were unable to
pay. Ties of party, which, with many
men, are stronger than the love Of reli-
gion-stronger even than love of money
caused it all. He explained that in the
Harrison campaign the Democrats lost con-
troll OF the State. Their leaders, resolved to
regain possession of it at any cost and at
any sacrifice, made the issue which has done
the State so much injury. Nor were the
bulk of the great Democratic party in favor
Of repudiation; but it was scheme got
up by politicians to wrest the State from
the Wigs, by men who knew that with
some it was only necessary to touch their
purses to touch their souls. Party ties car