The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-13

BARBOUR BILL BE AGAIN PASSED AND
THE GOVERNOR DARED TO VETO 1T.
A conference Of "the readiusters" OF
the General Assembly was held in the hall
Of the House last night, and was called to
order by Senator Fulkerson; Mr. j. Il.
Robinson, OF Portsmouth, secretary. Mr..
Fulkerson, desiring at some time du-
ring the evening to address the conference,
requested Mr.. Lewis r. Harvie to take the
char. There were about seveny members
present-some Of them probably rs specta-
tors only.
Senator Paul offered the following .
ResolUed, That the Executive Committee
be and is hereby directed to prepare an ad-
dress to the people OF Virginia, setting forth
the objects of the readiusters, and calling a
convention, to be held in the city Of Rich
mond on the - day Of January, 1879, to
organize the readiusters OF the State AS 4
PARTY, for the purpose OF securing read1 Just
ment OF the State debt and maintaining the
public frec-schoo system, and in opposition
TO tue party recently organized in the city
OF Richmond to establish societies through
ont the State, with the avoWed object OF in
creasing the taxes on our already lmpoVer-
ished people; said committee to report its
action under this resolution to this confer
ence for its ratification, at 4 meeting to be
held on Monday night next.
MAKE HASTE SLOWLY. BRETHREN.
MIR. Henkel considered this movement
| premature.
Mr.. Ficklen was also inclined to take that
view; but was not prepared to say that II
the resolution should be put to vote that
| he would vote against it. Still, he thought
| it better to await further developments
about the debt, and in the mean time the re.
adiusters should have free interchange OF
opinion.
| Senator Massey made a long speech ad
yising the conference TO make haste slowly
| lie seemed to have little hope that the debt
question could be settled at this session OF
the General Assembly. His view was that
unless the bondholders would make much
better offer OF compromise than any We
suggested by them the matter should be re-
ferred to the people at the election to bt
held in November.
BE PATIENT.
MIR. Carter, of Loudonn, asked if Mr.. Mas
sey proposed to wait until the end OF thu
session before effectingan organization.
He replied, "By no means" But hi
wanted some time for the rcadiusterS t
agree upon measures which they should ad
vocate. He rather thought that they would
have to come to this organization at last
but he believed they could afford to be pa
ticnt. Mr.. Massey further said that no true
readjuster would go further than he
Wherever they pitched their camp he woult
be found close by, and il he could do NJ
better he would be a camp-follower. HI
desired the resolution to be referred to th'
Executive Committee for report.
| A SUBSTITUTE OFFERED.
Mr.. Stevens offered the following substi
tute:
RESOLVED, That the Executive Committe'
of this conference be requested to report tt
a meeting OF this conference, to be held II
this hall on Wednesday night next, the pro
priety and expediency Of preparing an ad
dress to the people OF the State setting
forth the objects and purposes of the re
adiusters, and also as to the propriety 0
calling convention with view to NOR
thorough and compact organization.
MR.. SPEAKER.
Speaker Allen favored the substitute. 81
referred to the compromise bill OF last ses
sion, which be voted against, and for WhIc!
action he had been denounced as an OBJ
structonlst The hope held out then wa
that the bill would result In conference
with the creditors. As intended by its ad
vocates, it has accomplished an offer from
the creditors. We lave made our propoSl
tion: they have made theirs. Now, will
not be the part OF wisdom TO seek confer
ence with the creditors? The Speakc
thought so. He hoped that the conference
would be held before the readiustcrs NOV
further.
For one, the Speaker never would accep
the creditors proposition as indicated in tht
Governors message. But he was willing Il
trv the creditors again. If they refuse
reasonable compromise the arm OF the read
iusters will be greatly strengthened. III
did not want to go into fight as they dit
last winter. and be beat at nearly every turn
He warned gentlemen that they would have
no light fight to make. The experience o
last session showed what compact minorlt.
could do. Then the readiusers lost ever.
single State office, and were at last placed Il
the humliating position OF having almost q
ask the other side not to make nominations
The battle to come would be severe one
and they would need all the arms they coul
carry into it. He wanted to proceed eau
tiously; to 90 into the fight prepared, an
TO win. Therefore it was his honest opinio
| that conference should be sought Win III
creditors. II it is unavailins, then the re
adiusters could appeal to the people wit
greater effect.
WANTED, A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Mr.. J. II. Robinson saw no way OF getting
out of the dilemma except by constitu
tional convention. [Applause.] AS Con
servative standing by the platform, he coul
not now vote for an increase OF taxation
The bondholders, on the other hand, Woul
not come down to the present taxation
The Governor would not let them readlus
the debt as they desired, and il he did, the
they had to fight the Supreme Court. Th
people were getting tired and disgustet
and Mr.. Robinson was not sure but that
last, to get out of the mess, they would in
struct them to vote for increase Of taxation
The only remedy Mr.. Robinson could Sc
was constitutional convention.
| THE FARMERS. Z"
Mr.. Ficklen thought the condition OF tn
agriculturalists of the State was now wors
than when the Barbour bill was passed
| He was willing to 90 as far as that bill in