Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-09-26

BEST OF BAD CAUsE-PAGE CARRIES
THE CRoWD-A PACKED HoUsE-A
GOOD DAYS WORK FOR THE DEBT
SETTLEMENT,
&C., &C., &C.
The gentleman who sat at the elbow of
the V1ND1cAToR reporter in the Court
House last Monday when the clock struck
twelve, the hour for the speaking to com
mence, was never more mistaken in his
life than when he said, "Our people are
getting tired of this sort of thing; they
are losing their taste for politics. For
when the bell rung there was a rush for
the house, all the choice seats we're occu-
pied in five minutes, and the occupants
settled themselves in a sort of a Eight it
ont on this line if it takes all summer
fashion. In ten minutes more the steps
and ratings, bench backs, galleries, win
dows and all the standing room was occu-
pied and there was perfect jam.
The meeting was called to order by Mr..
VIM. A. Burke of the State Executive
Committee and upon his motion j. IL.
Crawford, Esq, an original adjuster but
now a satisfied one and an earnest advo-
cate of the McCulloch settlement was
called to the chair. On the motion OF Mr..
j. E. Guy the editors of the city papers
were chosen secretaries. The chairman
then announced the speakers. Attorney
General Field, Capt. John Paul and Mr..
Samuel N, Page Of Richmond. with the
time allotted to each, making in all 5
hours and 25 minutes to be devoted to the
| discussion. He then introduce d.
| ATTORNEY GENERAL FIELD,
said he was from the first agita lion of this
| great question down to the present day a
| Readjuster, not from choice, or because
| he had any doubt at all about the legality
of the debt, but because he bel svel that
the debt was a larger one than Virginia
could pay, and that being the ciss it was
not only to the interest of the State, but
also to the interest of the creditors, that
the debt SO far as the interest is concerned
should assume proportions suci us Virgin
ia could annually or semi-annually pay
every dollar Of, as she did previous to
1861. He was one of those who never had
any doubt about the legality of the debt.
It was contracted for valuable consider
alton. Since the close Of the T this debt
has been time and again acknowledged by
the legislature, by the different political
parties in the State-Read listers, Mozar-
tiers, and everybody else who claim to be
the smallest fraction of any party whatev-
er. In 1866 we had legislature of our
own people presided over by one of the
| most able citizens of the Commonwealth,
John B. Baldwin, (applause), and that
legislature recognized distinctly every dol
lar of the debt as it existed previous to
1861. In 1867, when there was a conven-
ton for the purpose of recognizing the
State, that convention in the most en-
phatlc manner recognized the debt. In
1S7I,l the legislature again recognized the
debt, and the notorious Funding Bill was
passed. 1t is true that she declared that
W. Va, was bound for one-third of the
debt and she set apart that third. and he
didn't believe that there was any one who
claims that Virginia will under any Cir
cumstances be expected to pay one dollar
of that one-third which was set apart ar
birtrarly by the Funding Bill Of 1871, as
| West Virglnia's share. In W this mat
ter was again before the legislature, and
was distinctly recognized
THE GREAT CONVENTION OF 1877,
upon whose platform his friend on the
other side (Capt. Paul. professed to stand,
acknowledge the States liabilities to pay
every dollar of that debt, the only question
being the rate of interest. Upon that
platform we all stand-the speaker, Paul
| Massey, Malone, Echols, Hanger. In the
! spring of 1878 there was another recogni-
tion of the debt, for which Capt. Paul vo-
ted-the Bocock Fowler Bill. In speaking
of the Barbour Tax Bill the Attorney
General wondered if there was anyone who
would not to-day maintain it's wisdom,
| morality and craftsmanship. That bill
was in no sense bill of REIMBURSEMENT be-
cause the Constitution, under which we
live, prohibits that two subjects shall be
| introduced into one bill. Tie Barbour
bill was a tax bill and necessarily under the
Constitution, al appropriation bill. Hon
oring the ability of our dis ingulshed
Executive, knowing his points of charac-
ter and his devotion to his state, he would
differ with no one with more reluctance,
and yet without intending to crlticise
him, the grandest political mistake ever
m4dp in tho unrf6 tho fn Of hot
bill. He would show that had that bill
become a law, the State debt would have
been settled and settled on basis more
favorable to the creditor than the McCul-
loch bill. The great convention Of 1877
had declared that under no circumstances
could taxes be increased over SO cents on
the 500. What did the Barbour Bill do /?
Why it levied the tax and provided as fol-
lows: Is cents on every 500 was to go to
pay the necessary expenses OF the govern
ment; 10 cents was to 60 to the school
fund. Now the legislature could not have
done otherwise because the Constitution
says upon every so cents of taxes. 10 cents
shall be set apart for schools, putting that
10 cents entirely beyond the control of the
gislature.
The readjustment measure contained in
the Barbour Bill gives to the crt ditors for
a period of 10 years the sum of s1,4l4,-
367.77, while the McCulloch bill only gives
them $96O,000, so that it was great
mistake on the part of the creditors to
have opposed the Barbour Bill, seeing they
get by the operation $454,367.77 less than
they would, had that bill passed. Having
shown how the debt was recognized by the
proper authorities of the State, he went on
to show how it was recognized by the Mo-
zarters Convention. 1t appeared to the
speaker that the Mozarters ought to SIM