The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-28

sets in the hands of the Legislature for the
fulfIment of such contracts.
4. The power of the Legislature to tax is
unlimited; it extends even to the power to
destroy the property of the citizen by the
weight of taxes imposed.
5. Succeeding Legislatures are bound to
fulfil such contract, and to impose whatever
rate of taxation is required to execute their
terms to the latter. ..-su
6. If any subsequent Legislature fails to
execute such contract the Federal Courts
will enforce it.
So. If the people unanimously declare
themselves unable to bear such taxes, and
refuse to pay them, the Federal Courts will
call upon the Federal Executive for military
support. and the Commonwealth will be
garrisoned with Federal soldiers, who will
forcbly seize and sell the property OF its
citizens, and apply the proceeds to the full
filment of such contracts of the Legislature
as have been made against the protest of
the people.
So. Resistance to these proceedings will
be rebellion and treason against the United
States.'
In plain words, and cleared Of orator ical
fourishes about ''honesty, honour. "glo-
ry." &C., &C., this is the platform of the
Funders; and these are the principles to
which they plot to bind the future of Vir-
ginia.
POSITION OF THE READJUST ERS.
On the other hand it has been consistently
declared by the Readjusters:
81. That public officers and representa-
tives are but the servants of the people !;
that they have no power or authority ex-
cept what is delegated to them; and are at
all times accountable to their constituents.
-. That Government vas instituted for
the benefit of the people, and its only right
to control and to tax them and their prop
erty is derived from their consent.
SO. That such consent is given in consid-
Grafton of protection to life ard properly,
and cannot be construed to authorize any
action on the part of the Government which
is not necessary to secure these objects.
~. That the power of the Legislature to
tax is limited by the ability of the people to
pay.
''5. That the people are the proper judges
as to the extent of such ability.
SO. That the first duty of the Legislature
is to provide for the proper support and
efficiency of the Government, including the
public school system, so as to enable it to
fulfil its part of the fundamental compact
with the people.
81. That, should the Government fail to
execute such compact, it has no right what
ever to tax the people.
SO. That the Legislature is bound to pre-
serve all these essential attributes of sover-
eighty, especially the unqualified control OF
the revenues of the State, and no power has
ever been delegated to it to make contracts
which, in any manner, impair such sover-
eighty, or qualify such control OF the reve-
nues.
SO. That any such contract, SO attempted
to be male, is made without authority, and
is unconstitutional, null, and void, and can
not bind either the people or any succeed
ing Legislature.
80. That all monopolies, and all con-
tracts by which the burdens of the people
are liable to be increased, are opposed to
to the:spirit Of our institutions, and dan
gerous to our liberties, and should not be
granted nor entered into.
I'll. That the balance Of the revenues,
after providing fer the support of the Gov
eminent on an economic basis, should be
distributed equally among all classes Of the
public creditors,
s.12. That in any settlement of the debt,
the past due interest should be provided
for.
''13. That the Commonwealth should be
forever discharged from all liability for the
amount apportioned to West Virginia.
s'l4. That an offer to compromise the
debt. based upon these principles, should be
made to the creditors"
Now, these platforms are in direct con-
1ct with each other-they are irreconcila-
Die. The administration Of the Conserya-
i've Party must be conformed either to one
,r to the other. We cannot serve God and
Mamnon. Principles which arc so directly
opposite to each other must necessarily
produce conflicts between those who sustain |
md support them.
The real issue is more than the set |
lement of the present que stion Of the Debt.
t is a chapter in the mighty cause of the
protection of the natural and inalienable |
lights of the mass of the people: the hewers
# wood and drawers of water of mankind,
eainst the entertainments of monopolies and |
# privileged classes, which are asserted
nd promoted under the specious name of
vested rights" and under the sanction ola
hahn of precedents, begun in misconcep-
ion, continued in bigoted obstinacy, and
enerable only as an accumulation OF hoarry
rror. 1t is now for the people of Virginia
, say whether they will re-affirm the doc
rines of tlieinfathers, and be true to them
elves.
The New Funding Bill is recognition OF
ne policy of the re-adjusters, in that it fixes
he present as the highest rate of taxation