Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-07-30

; HuduCe VI lilCAI DNSl J NeANlh5
/ il to be the sovereign right of the peo-
pie, by their Representatives, to de-
/ terinine the rate of taxation and to
control the revenues OF the State,
opinions to which we yet firmly adj
here, Notwithstanding the late decis-
Ion of the Supreme Court of Appeals,
End as their Representatives, believing
it to be our first duty to preserve the
life of the Commonwealth and to car
ry out, as of supreme obligation, the
mandates of the Constitution, and en-
dOrsing the language of Edmund
Burke, that ut is to the property OF
the citizen, and not to the demand OF
the creditor of the State, that the Oriei.
nsl faith of society il pledged that
the claim of the citizen is prior in
time, paramount in title, and superior
in equity"-a Bill was prepared and
reported by the Finance Committee OF
the House of Delegates, which SET
forth the following as the basis OF
taxation
l. Declaring the inability of the
people to endure higher rate of taxa
ton than the present assessment of 80
cents on the 500 of the assessed value
of real and personal prOperty-a de-
claration which, made by the August
Convention, was reiterated by the
popular vote in NOvembea, and which
found endorsement even from the OPP
ponents of REIMBURSEMENT in the
General Assembly there being but
four votes in the House and four in the
Senate, cast in favor of measures look
ing to an additional levy.)
2 A specific tax of % cents on the
500 of real and personal property, for
the maintenance of the State Govern
ment.
3. A specific tax of 10 cents on the
500 of such values, for the support of
the Public Free Schools.
4. A specific tax of 10 cents on the
same basis, for the payment of inter
est on the Public Debt, making 80
cents in all.
BY this method of levying the taxes
of and of apprOpriating the revenues,
it was by the undersigned, your Rep
resentatives, intended solemnly to
affirm
l. That the paramount duty of the
Representative is TO provide for and
ensure the perpetuation of the Govern
ment in all it's power and dignity-as
safety of sOCiety-as essential to the
due preservation OF the liberty and
welfare Of the people, and as essential
to the best interests of the public creGi-
tor, as the only means of securing to
all-the Consol and the Peeler-a
rightful and equitable share of all that
the people are able to pay, as the sur
est means of avoiding the necessity of
g. 4 i.,fa
accrued interest portions of the Debt,
in which the policy of INACTION, the
policy of the Funders, must eventuate
AS the only means of enabling the
State TO contribute that aid to her
Public Schools, literary and humane
institutions, essential 10 their due and
proper maintenance, and as the only
means of inspiring the people with
vigOr aud hope, and saving the Com
mOnWealth from decay.
=. That the authority TO levy taxes
and control the collection and dis
burEements of revenues, in confOrmI-
~ with the organic law, is an inalien-
able attribute of the sovereignty of the
which the General
Assembly cain and must exercise, but
is pOwerless to ALLEVIATE.
3. That the support of the Public |
FIR e Schools is a positive mandate of |
the Constitution and the determined |
wish and purpose of the people.
4. That in assigning 10 the public |
creditors the remaining revenue of the |
State, (after thus providing for the due |
5 u ppOrt of the Government, its |
Schools and its necessary humane and |
literary institutions under a rate of |
taxation which you have declared the |
highest which can be borne and the |
highest to which you will submit, all |
the equities of the case were fully and |
fairly satisfied, and nothing more |
could be done or ought to be demand
ed.
This bill, the fruit of our best efforts
for just and reasonable settlement of |
his question of the Debt, after receIv-
ing the approval of both branches of |
The Assembly, failed to become a law,
Dy the inteTpOsitiOn of the Executive
Veto, and our endeaN ors to execute
your will were thus abruptly nullIfied
Oy the Executive of the State.
After this extraordinary exercise of
he Veto, served upon us at the heel of
he session by an officer, who stood
pledged by his own pronounced opin-
on that this question Of the Debt be-
Onged properly to the Legislature,
lot to the Executive who having af-
in his inaugural address, de-
Jared that the whole question was
whether the State was able TO pay the
ntire debt, and that this was for the
legislature to determine yet has
himself undertaken to determine it,
nd to abrogate the solemn and delibe-
ate conclusions of the Representa-
ives of the people, to whom the sub
ect had been RENTED, and to whom
t properly belOnged-no more could
re done, ObstrucIed by the causes and
estrained by the agencies TO which
We have averted, than to ask that YOU
night be allowed to deal with the vital
question, in your sovereign capacity.
" a Constitutional Convention. or
rot, as you should for yourselves de-
ermine.
The Supreme Court of Appeals of
our State has recently and more We
Iemently re-affirmed the inviolability
t the Funding Act, and in effect has
Undertaken TO ecrect supremacy for
Is demands which, annihil8tiGg OPP
lar sovereignty, is 10 be endowed
With the control, not only of the reve-
ues of the wealth, but prac-
ically of whatever else may come to
er convertible ihtO money, and 10
hat absolute extent which necessi-
ates, and in terms suggests. that you,
y your Legislature, ought and must
alse the rate of taxation to such
The policy OF thus apportioning the revenue
I'd the necessity Of it for preser irving the credit of
he State and maintaining the efficiency Of the pub
c service, are demonstrated and vindicatei by
he actual condition Of the Treasury, as exhibited
: the Auditor OF Public Accounts in a statement
ade by him TO a Joint comn4mittee OF the Legisla-
ire, as follows: