The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-25
The Meeting on Monday.

The Meeting on Monday.
An intelligent synopsis of the speeches
delivered in the Court House on Monday |
last will be found in this issue of the VIR-
1t was not generally known that
Capt Paul would address the people of this
on the occasion as no public notice
had been given to that effect. Indeed, he
did not know himself that he would speak
here until brought to that determination by
letters from several gentlemen the latter
part of last week, stating to him that a de-
sire had been expressed to hear him. There
was therefore no special gathering OF the
friends Of REIMBURSEMENT, to answer to
call addressed to them, and by reason of this
the sentiment manifested was the more sig
nificant and expressive, as indicating the
views of the people of Augusta county. 1t.
is admitted by all, that he made an able,
bold and aggressive speech, and it is known
by all that hearty response swellcd up
from the large and intelligent audience
present, composed of the bone and sinew.
the industry and wealth of the county.
There was no attempt to meet or refnte his
facts, figures and arguments. 1t was decla-
nation and thread-bare sentimentality which
were offered in opposition and no close and
logical reasoning to refute the line of thought
presented.
1t is rather anomalous that gentlemen
who acted with the conservative party and
voted for Gov. Holiday in the last election
should raise their voices against re-adjust-
ment and denounce it as assailing the honor
of the State. and the fame Of ''the fathers. y
when the preamble and resolutions adopted
by the Convention that nominated Holiday
and upon which he was elected, concede all
that the Re-adjusters have ever GAINED. 1t
was there declared that Virginia could not
pay higher rate of taxes than she now does.
and that the debt should be adjusted so as
to bring the expenses of government. inclu-
ding the interest on the public debt, within
the capacity of the revenues derived from
the present rate of taxation. This is all the
force tina. the Re- adjusters have ever con-
tended for. or assumed to ask. 1t is saying
that an adjustment must be effected, and
that it must be consummated in accordance
with present revenues, or not at all. 1t is a
declaration to the creditors that they need
not expect any more than the present reve-
nnes will pay,-it is a distinct announce
ment that the people will consent to no 9th
err arrangement, and that an adjustment up.
Il, s., a.. tho x,,;u ho
offered. Gov. Holiday in accepting the
nomination upon the platform adopted by
the Convention that nominated him, decar-
ed this much-the people in electing him,
upon that platform, declared as much. 1t is
therefore the baldest inconsistency for those
who! supported Gov: Holiday upon that
platform, to now be clamoring about the
payment of the debt in accordance with the
settlement of 1.-THE Funding Bill. This the
people will neuer aecede to. They will not
recognize the justice Of the compound inter-
est provision of that enactment, nor the cou-
pom feature. By close outstanding of the
revenues of the Commonwealth, the strictest
economy in expenditures, and retrenchment
where an efficient administration of public
affairs will admit it, the present revenues
may be made to pay six per cent. on the
$20,000,000 or four per cent. on the $50, 000,-
600, and that is all that the people will ever
consent to pay under any circumstances.
and such an adjustment must dispense with
the taX-receivable coupon.
We believe if the creditors of Virginia
would consent to such an arrangement, sub
stantially. the people would obligate them
selves to see that it was met promptly, and
strictly in compliance with the agreement.
But they will never consent to recognize a
suspicion of their own integrity by acceding
to the coupon provision. 1t is direct re-
Election upon their honesty. and they will
not subscribe to it. The Legislature which
enacted that provision had no authority
from the people to do so. They have never
accepted or approved it, but upon all occa-
sion when the questions was before them
have emphatically repudiated it. 1t is
useless to worry them more upon this point,
for if there is one conviction more firmly set
tied than another, it is that the people in
tend that the State shall resume control
over its resources; dsburse them as a SOW
ereign State, and in such manner as COM
ports with the dignity of Commonwealth.
Those who supported Gov. Holiday and
elected him upon The platform of the con-
sentative convention, cannot consistently
say nay to this. They have committed
themselves to it. Their Governor is COM
mitted to it. The people are committed to
it. The Legislature is committed to it, and
it is useless to attempt to argue it away.
In all the forms it can be possibly passed
upon, it stands as the recorded conviction
and purpose of Virginia.
Yet the men who have made this record,
have the audacity to charge the people with
being "repudiators." That charge received
fitting response last Monday, and more in
tense even than that will be the rebuke
when an appeal is again made to the ballot
box.
Highland and Fluvanna Refuse to send
Delegates to the Staunt0n Convention.