The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-18
rro,. .l,e l,is,,as c,a. /



An Appeal 10 "a q Members OF the Lee
{. efsIaftfre as Hndivfduass DealtrIg I'M
3 nsyIdaally wish Their Fellow ate
zefts. ssA. Y
The writer of this appeal represents those
citizens Of Virginia who bought tnelf Ola
bonds at par, and I'D some cases above paf,
for specie-payiDg money. ana exenangsd
them for the bonds called consols.. AZ the
distressed cafI Of the State they Tennqulsn-
ed one third 6f the amount OF Lne,r ponds
and received injtead thereof q virginia De
ferred for West Yirginta1 certineate, Whicn
most OF them believed would never DC PAID
for West Virginia had 80 determined.
Of $4,000. 600 OF her debt. This class OF
vonr feIiow.citizens have suffered from the
consequences of the war--that is, from the
loss of slave property, from the diminished
value of their lands, from the shrinkage OF
the values OF all property-iust as their fel-
low-citizens have done. They-or ii too
old, their sons-fought in the late war for
independence, just as you or your
sons did. They and the citizens
who paid par for the old bonds are
not in the same case as the holders OF the
consols or the old bonds, who bought them
al greatly deprecated price. These latter
persons may exchange their bonds for we'll
secured bonds at four per cent, and still
make reasonable profit. The holders Of
the consos taken in exchange for old bonds
bought at par have already~1ost one third
OF the debt owed them. II they are paid
in tbree-per-cent. bonds, that will be equiv
alent to the loss of one half Of the two
thirds of the original debt left them.
Now, fellow citizens, why should we be
made the victims Of such consumption?
What have they who by their votes or in.
f1uence impose this upon US relinquished
for the relief OF the State? Have they done
more than we2 Have they given up any
thing for this purpose? They, il owners
of real estate in country or city, have had
the benefit OF our money 10 all the pubic
improvements of the State, and will hand it
down in the improved value Of their pro-
perty to their children. Our bonds are as
fully recognized as property by the Consti-
tuition and laws of the State as their real
estate.
Why, then, should part o. our bonds be
taken to relieve the State any more than
part of their real estate. Not until they have
given part Of their lands for the relief OF
the State will they be in our case, who have
given up third OF the amount OF. our
bonds.
Fellow citizens, why this claSs-legisla-
ton? Why this virtual confscation OF a
part Of the property OF class OF citizens
selected to be the victims Of oppression Is
not such proceeding contrary to the great
principles of American liberty and equal
rights under the law? Without any in
tended disrespect for you, as your fellow
citizen, claiming equal rights with you and
equal protection from the law, calling upon
you Hto do as you would be done by"
may we not appeal TO you not to infict this
wrong upon us; not to compel us and man.
kind in general. in all civilized, Christian
countries, to regard our beloved State as no
longer just and righteous government,
extending to all its citizens equal rights, but
as the creature Of an unjust and tyrannical
majority. Oh, do not this wrong to your
native State, to your fellow-citizens, to your
selves, and to your precious children!
If all remonstrance and appeal to you
shall be in vain; il all appeal to the courts
shall prove unavaiing; if all petition to fu-
ture Legislatures shall fail in securing JUS
tice, then permit me to remind you that
there lies a final appeal to the Supreme
Court OF the Universe, and that at that bar,
according to his own revealed word,
8. every one of us must give an account OF
himself to God" EQUAL RIGHTS.