The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-29
ifalnolll itch,
a.
s., ,sY { JANUARY 90 51 1878 ;

<ntA@etSSstas's'rass
,,,,,,,sn JANUARY %, 1878 1 |
T.na ssase,s Sovereign Rsgnts.
49, Z 8 u,reat deal in mere words.
s,rs ..s sye things, The sovereign right
!. : 5 s asssa Is control her own revenues, Is
what Senator PAUL, OF Rockingham WIZ u
never surrender. "a line phrase this is, un-
EXCEPTIONALLY. But suppose we parapnrase
n thns !. 81 vim mover consent that the state
81 lyirginia shall receive her own promise 70
nav money as money How would tnat
sound In theears Of the stickiers TOT she figns
Of the State 10 control her own revenues
or supsose we look at the matter IN an-
other light, It cannot he the mere form OF
appearances Of the coupons that renders
chem SO offensive TO the forcib!e Readl u tst.
ers. To assume that these persons are SO
sensitive as to object to the unsightiiness OF
the Virgins coupons would be to do inc
gross Injustice. We confess that we 90
not fancy the aspect which those coupons
present to the eye OF the beholder. Ihey
are miserable little pieces Of paper covered
with Autographed words, and look as II
they had been purposely so made as TO be
offensive to the eye. They are not nan 50
pretty as an old Confederate note, nor, 70
tel. the whole truth, one tenth SO slightly as
were the ifty-cent and twenty-five cent
notes which were issued by the Confederate
Government during the war,..to serve as
change. But after all, this must be regarded
as a minor consideration. tits not this that
the forcibie Readiusters protest against. ,
Leave out the receiyability OF these coupons
for. taxes and you viii never again hear
them detained against by the most forcable
OF the iorcible Readiusters. It's because
they claim to be as good as money for tue
purpose OF paying all debts due to the state
that the upholders OF the States "soye-
reign right to control her own revenues :.
denounce them. rs
And yet the proud, rich. grand National
Government has committed the unpardon-
able offence Of putting out paper ooiiga-
tions which are receivable. not only Tor all
debts due to the General Government en-
eept duties on imports, but for all debts due
BY private individuals. Every greenback
has upon its back these words:
"This note is legal tender at its face
value for all debts, public and private, eX-
cspt duties on imports and interest on the
public debt
So the powerful National Government has
done the very thing that the little, feeble
State of Virginia, conquered by that GOV
eminent, is to be too proud to do. What
sort Of pride is this? Is it disgraceful to
Virginia to do what the Federal Govern
cent has done?
IT will be noticed, too, that the Govern
ment permits one class OF taxpayers to pay
all their debts 70 the Government in paper
obligations, whist it requires gold OF those
who owe for importing goods Even the
worst man who owes internal taxes IS
allowed to pay his dues in greenbacks,
whilst the best man in the country who i'm.
ports goods is made to pay in gold. Has
Virginia done anything half so bad? Is it
q crime for her to receive coupons IN pay
ment OF taxes from one citizen and green
backs from another who will not take the
trouble to procure coupons
But read that endorsement again: The
National Government has made that piece
of paper legal tender for all private debts.
These greenbacks went down SO low about
the time Of the battle OF Gettysburg that it
required several so-called IS dollars ri in
greenbacks to purchase one dollar in gold.
That is lower than the Virginia coupons
have ever been. Yet the National Govern
ment never for one moment ceased to take
them in payment Of all debts due her ex-
cept duties on imports. Can it be possible
that the people OF the whole United States
are insensible to the honor OF the National
Government? Virginia has never tried 20
make her obligations legal tender for pri-
yate debts, having no power to dose. She has
done nothing but contract TO receive them
for debts due herself. II she had the power,
and were to initiate the example Of the Fed
eral Government and make them legal ten
der for private debts, then the indignation
of the Readiusters would be fearful to be-
hold. Wouldn't they denounce Legisla-
ture which5could thus not only surrender
the States sovereign right TO control her
own revenues, but which could have the
unparalleled efrontery to take away from
every one Of her; people the right to con-
troin his private g revenues al?
But read that endorsement again: The
National Government, after declaring that
greenbacks should be. a legal tender. for all
private debts and for all debts due the Gov
ernments except dDties on imports, dthe
brazen impudence to declare that they were
not coed enough for the 6 bloated bondhold-
ers; !" that the interest GA the public debts
payable in goldl What aset Of "funders 2
and stcorrupt iobbers = must have composed
the Congress which passed sueha law. What
q lobby JONAS WALKER must have had in
Washington, aud what large bride Presi-
dent LINCOLN must have pocketed for sign
ing that s..infamous bill"! The idea that
our grand National G government should thus
surrender !" it. sovereign right to control its
own revenues y is enough to make the Wash
ington statue weep. Let us draw veil
over the subject.
A Singing Letter.
A member Of the General Assembly has
received the following letter from gentle
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