Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-28
The Veto ofthe Tax Bill.
The following is the text Of. Gov. Holiday s
.alo &C Abn Rnnkn,,r knY hill -

and to pay the public debt, without my sp-
prevail.
| do this most reluctantly, not only because
T do not like to disagree with the Legislature,
having high estimate of its ability and patriot.
! ism: but because | wish this question OF the
State debt to be 6nally settled. Having this
| wish, cannot see any settlement 10 this bill.
| It is only RENTING the vexed and vexng mat
| ter from the Legislature to the courts. lostead
| of bringing peace it is challenging war between
the State and the creditors, and keeping alive
| 10 bitterness thing which has already. by It's
agitation, cost more than its whole sum to the
! interests and welfare of the Commonwealth
1t may be said that by this very act am
aiding what | SO much dread. Even 10 the
narrow light of consequences to one filling my
place, 7 cannot sec that | would be stunning
trouble by signing the BILL On the contrary,
would be shrinking from responsibility and pass.
ing to others question which duty tells me
am hound to decide for myself. Besides, be-
Iieye it safer and better when a question has
GROWN into such size and bitterness as this that,
# possibe, it should be settled 10 that arena
where it properly belongs 1t is very unhappy
that it should ever have got toto tho field OF
politics and severed the people OF the State TO-
to parties 1t ia really business matter, not
likely to be closed by the Wranglc or the
hustiuga.
Such certainly would be the result should
this bill become law. | do not think Its friends
look for, some do not wish any other results
believing that it is injected with grave prlncl
piles that ought to be tested by judicial inquiry.
But I cauuot think that this will avail for good
or hasten ii settlement after it has been made
subject of political strife. Evil almost always
| follows when questions arc taken from that
! arena aud sent 10 the courts with all tue acrl-
moDy begotten by iielce discussion.
The questions arc not put ut rest, but the
courts and their DEGREES are dragged together
| down and their high authority beIttled. | do
not for a moment say that Judges are intalllble;
they arc meu aud liable to err. But do mean
| to say that their strength aud purity are the
| irmcst bulwarks Of freedom and peace 10 a he
| public like ours
Whilst-those arc my views with regard to the
| tribunal in which ths matter ought to be con-
Guided, sprnging solely from the evils of its
| discussion elsewhere, thcro are other reasons
| for my action. based upon higher grounds.
[ have no doubt that every member OF your
honorable body who voted for this bill was
| fully satisfied Of ts policy and oonsttutionalty;
otherwise, | am sure, it would have been re-.
ectcd.
It must have the approval OF the Governor
before it becomes law.
am equally cure you will accord to him the
| same sense of duty and responsibility, inasmuch
as he has taken tho same oath and has the
same right Of decision as yourselves. do not
! mean to enter into any lengthy argument with
regard to the credit Of the State and the bind
| iug obligation upon its people 10 pay Its just
| debts. would insult the gentlemen of the
| Assembly by even limiting that there is one
| among them who by denying this is so unworthy
| OF filing so high place. | have never heard
any OF them say in public or private that such
was bis opinion and who would not regard a
blow at the honor Of the Commonwealth, as
! worse than private Injury. feeel quite Ger.
| tain that such man could have 40 standing 10
your midst, but would be spurned az he would
if, having neaos, lie refused to pay his honest
| dues. With this statement, and with 1t know
| log that | cannot be misunderstood. | feel the
| treer to discuss tho bill.
When | read the clauses by themselves | can
come 10 but one conclusion THAT they are
| both unjust aud unconstitutional. Apart from
anything beyond their simple terms-nO qucs
tiou presented bu. tic Constitution and the
laws-no ouc will deny that they arc violation
OF both as interpreted by our highest courts. l
will not take up your; time 10 going over argu.
mcnts COW 50 lrile that not ouly yourselves but
almost every man in the State. though unlet.
tered, knows them by rotc. The effort is here
made to deny the tax paying power OF the cou-
puus. This has been pronounced unconslltu.
| lioua aud void; why then keep it 10 the field OF
| controversy Why tempt again the inevta-
| bic ? | can zee no use 10 thus arrayi0g one
department Of the Government against another,
| arousing controversy and keeping alive feelings
| hat can end only 10 bad blood and trouble.
Even the warmest friends Of the bill will not
deny that this issue will arise upon these
clauses, aud that such is most likely to be tho
result. Some may say, however, they believe
| these decisions wrong, and liable TO reversal
| What of that? Has tho Legislature met to
spend its precious time and money to make up
points to be mooted by the courts, while Fir-
| pnia and all her dearest interests are IN the
throes Of deepest agony? Why not regard the
| opinions of the highest courts, composed OF
pure and able men as entitled to at least equal
consideration with our own, acting within the
bounds Of as strong ADD sacred obligations !?
These opinions have been rendered several
times by courts Of competent authority. Can
we afford to wait till they arc tried again =?
Why should the legislature wish to have Its
power tested 10 any case which 1t can settle by
itself? But am glad to say that few. it any,
| desire such delay or such discussion. They n.
sist that this bill is framed to meet the require
| ments of these decisions. wish lcOuld agree
| with them. fear their expectations, should
| the bill become law, will not be realized. |
have never read an instrument more bristling
with legal points What saVesit2 Its friends
rely upon the preamble. in which it is alleged
| that the preservation Of the State government
is the first necessity; the constitutional obliga'
lion to support the system Of free schools, the
| second, and the payment of the present rate of
interest on tho amount claimed as the principal
OF the public debt, the third. The taxes for
tho first two must lie paid 10 money. The last
may DO paid in coupons. The State has CON
| lracted that all may be paid 10 coupons, and, as
| already said, the highest courts have ruled that
tho contract is binding. The preamble attempts
to avoid this ruling by alleging that the first is
| necessary to uphold the States existence. The
| second is made sacred by the provisions OF the
fundamental law and by it put as higher o.
legation, and that they both together. with the