Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-08-07
Judge Harris Platform.

The Richmond Wing, OF the 3lst, pup
fishes a letter from Hon. J. T. Harris,
giving his views of National and State
finances. He says
In regard to the Royal bill, under
tue rules it could not be discussed. for
on its presentation, it went at once to
the committee. where 1t will sleep the
sleep Of death. Never having been be-
fore the House, except 10 refer, no men,
Der had right to debate it.
Ny whole course shows that am I'M
aterably opposed to that or any kin bred
bill to give jurisdiction 10 the Supreme
Court over The decisions of our Court of
Appeals. The rights of the States and
the preservation of Republican Govern
ment, require that the jurisdiction of
the Supreme Court of the United States
shall be confined to the few cases enum-
Grated IN the Constitution. Any at
tempt to enlarge these is dangerous to
liberty, and will be sternly opposed by
me.
Ny opinions on the debt question have
been long known to friends. l am, and
have always been, opposed to that OPP
pressiye legislation known as the Fund
ing bill. In addition TO the unjustness
of the amount, the coupon feature, as
experience has shown, renders it more
odious and burdensome.
l have been, and am now, in favor Of
the Establishment of the debt; an ad-
justmcnt in The language of the August
Convention (Which shall bring the an
nual interest upon our entire indebted
ness within the revenues of the State
derived from the present rate Of taxa
ton, and to do equal justice to all class
es Of public creditors" TO carry out
this doctrine. laid down by the party, it
was the duty Of the General Assembly
to pass such measures as would give
practical effect to the will Of the people
so emphatically expressed. Virginians
have been taught that the will Of the
people, when expressed through their
General Assembly, should be the law
of the land. The introduction of the
veto power is new to US, and was brought
among us by strangers, and under the
necessity OF reconstruction became
part OF our organic law. 1t is only in
cases of plain and palpable violation of
the Constituencies never likely TO
occur, for it is not presumed that such
bill could ever pass Legislature Of Vir-
ginia-that the Governor ought to in
terpOse his veto.
The Constitution makes it the duty of
the General Assembly TO pass laws TO
raise revenue for the support of the
Government. The Barbour bill con-
templated that object. In view ofthese
facts, and the further fact that the Gov
error had seemed to remit that whole
question to the Legislature, had not
supposed for moment he would veto
the bill. His course is deeply to be re.
GREETED. The first duty Of the State is
to control her taxes so as 10 preserve
her existence for without this anarchy
follows, and we would have neither So
ciety nor the means Ofpaying anything
then the preservation Of her humane
institutions and her educational system.
Alter these objects are attained, then
the next highest obligation Of the State
is to her creditors.
l favor any reimbursement within the
present rate of taxation that will accom-
pllsh these ends. In doing this, | re-
gard the State supreme, and any at
tempt on the part Of the Federal Gov
ernment to interfere with this exercise
of supreme power by the State, will be
opposed by me TO the last extremity.
These views, in substance, | have
uniformly expressed. They have been
cordially received by very large ma
jority OF the people, and have been en-
tirely satisfactory to all Re-Adjusters
who wanted to be satisfied.
JOHN 7. HARRIS.