Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-03-06
wednesday. March @ 1875
The Veto.

Tor readJustmenl OF the o'a'e u0"' h'''
disappointed almost every man IN tins
community. They are not disappolnt-
ed in the views of the man, but in the
breach OF plighted faith and disregard oil
written and spoken pledges. r
" hen Col. Holiday was. a seeker OF
the Office he sent abroad circular letter
on the public debt, in which he put him
self on both sides of the question
making but two distinct syOwals. Que
of these was opposition to increase OF
taxation, and the other that the issue
belongs properly to the legislature not to
Tx erscntire."
The next step was a great bull from
one oihis personal organs representing
itself to have ascertaincd Col. Holidays
views. giving, among other things, the
following:
eThe governor has the veto powor but Col.
Holiday will not exercise it in opposition to the
will OF the people, should they through their
20, irrin,a-s creditors The peOj le OF
Virginia want TO pay their debt but being unable
TO do SO they are willing TO pay what they can. ~
these views Col. Holiday coineioes he Is WIN
the people and as governor Will bring al his ener-
Ries and to cuts to bear to secure the results 50
nEch desired hy ALL
Then the convention followed and
gave forth Holiday as its candidate on
\ reimbursement platform whereis We
find the following;
eve earnestly urge upon the legislative ana
executive branches OF the government the impor-
taLce Of using ali Just and honorable means o.
Bringing al otst an adjustment Of the DEBT when
will bril- g the payment Of interest Wllnln the
resources Of the state Ger wed from us present
rate OF taxstlen.
Then followed Col. Holidays letter
accepting the nomination, endorsing the
platform, confding in the wisdom Of the
people TO adopt such plan for the dis
position Of the public debt as will secure
the approval of the right thinking every
where &C.
This was all that emanated from the
candidate or nominee. Ills lips never
uttered a word from the hastings. Note
the situation: Daniel, candidand bold,
incapable Of treachery or deceit
announced himself opposed 10 all effort
at readiustmcnt. Malone, as candidly
and as boldly announced himself in
favor Of any constitutional means OF
Kidding the State Of the funding bill
and the l6 millions ofwar and recon-
struction interest which had been COM
pounded against her. Between these
two men the contest was made and
reimbursement lacked less than so votes
IN the convention that nominated. Col.
Holiday was among the candidates
who had small sectional following. The
fuuders could not.and would not, accept
him because Of his letter. They prefer
red to 90 down in defeat with Daniel.
Holiday vas the very man for the
readiusters to compromise on because
of his pledge to interfere with nothing
which the new legislature might do
toward Z settlement Of the debt. So he
was chosen. so his managers pledged
him aid 80 he wrote.
Who is not disappointed at the veto?
The funders are glad it is done, but they
no more than the rejusters expected
Governor Holiday to break the pledges
which he made and allowed managers
to make for him. Like the people OF
the South on the policy of Hayes, they
may rejoice that it is so, but can never
extol the man who makes it so at such
asacrifce of political integrity.
But to the message itself. Is there
an extenuating sentence to be found in
itY Itno where CLAIMS the readjustment
bill a.dishonest ole. 1t is 4 law suit,
saws the governor, to 90 to the Court OF
Appeals. We have heard funders say
that readiusters were reyOiutionists who
would not submit to the decisions Of
the courts. Are the readjusters not
entitled to all adjudication Of this ques-
ton? Have they no rights in the courts:
No. Fred Holiday and Bradley
Johnston. lawyers without practice. are
the Executive, Legislative and Judicial
departments of this government, and
they pass upon and negative the action
Of the representatives Of the people.
Virginia governors had no veto till we
had scalawag constitution and Virgil
MIA had no funding bill till she got
scalawag legislation.
What then is the ground Of the veto:
Possibly the bill is unconstitutional.
Scventy-one delegates and twenty-five
senators, majority Of whom are law
yers. believe it otherwise. If Coy.
Holiday had redeemed his pledge by
letting this bill become a law without
his approval, and the court had decided
il its sperc upon the constitutional Qucs-
ton, let it have been for or against,
agitation would have ceased; some
thing practical would have ensued-ti,her
we would have gone on to rcadilst or
to pay.
The veto message accepts and treats
80 cents as the highest rate Of taxation
to be endured. What now mast we
do? Our debt growinga million 4 year,
what shall be done Says Gov. Holiday,
'fr1e schools are luxury, not a necess-
ty," and we must take tie money away
from them to pay the debt. Now, con
ceding that it's right to pursue this
course, is il not practically impossible?
The constitution itself imposes this sys-
teni and the Legislature cannot affect ii.
The free school system is part Of the
constitution, is older than the funding
hill ood if tho loO;eloti1ro coppof 10