The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-25
The Court Day Discussion.

1AO OuulG 10y 01couooAoA
FIELD, PAUL AND PAGE TALK TO THE PEo'
PIE ON THE SUBJECT OF THE DEBT
MUCH POWDER AND LITTLE AME-PAUL
COMES OUT AHEAD:
Monday was big Cay for fun. The
country people were ripe for a political dis
cusson, and despite the threatening appear
ance of the weather, came to town liz scores,
and were promptly on hand when the ball
was opened. 1t had been extensively adver-
tlsed that Gen'l Field. Maj. Stringfellow and
perhaps Maj Daniel would be here to give
the voters OF Augusta some good reasons for
supporting the McCulloch bill candidates in
the next election, and it was expected that
these gentlemen would be met by Messrs'
Massey Paul and Riddleberger of the Mozart
ers. Early in the day it was ascertained that
the programme had miscarred, and that Gen.
Field and Mr.. Sam, Page of Manchester,
would represent the debt settlement side,
while Paul would be Oh hand to contend for
the honors of the day.
At twelve O'Clock the Court adjourned and
immedia'e ely afterwards Mr.. Burke called
the meeting to order, and j. II. Crawford.
one Of the old original readjusters, ard now
warm supporter of the McCulloch Bill, was
nominated and unanimously elected to pre-
side, with the representatives of the city
papers az secretaries.
mir. Crawford On taking the chair, explain
ed the object of the meeting. and stated that
the arrangement for the speaking had been
agreed upon as follows: Gen'l Field was to
lead off in speech OF one and a half hours.
Paul was to follow in like time, then Page,
who was to occupy one and quarter hours.
Paul fifteen minutes for rejoinder and Page
a like time to close.
The court room was we'll filled when
GEN'L FIELD
commenced his address, and he was greeted
with generous applause. 1t was the first
time the General had appeared before an
Augusta audience, and the impression he
made was certainly very favorable one.
His calm, deliberate and earnest manner, his
thorough knowledge OF the question under
discussion, his able method of handling it,
and the fact that he had been one of the
strongest of the old readjusters, combined to
secure him undivided attention, and cause
his utterancss to claim more than passing
notice. In speaking, G en'l Field would strike
you as giving expression TO the truth. for
there is candor and perfect frankness
about all that he says that is decidedly re-
freshing in politics. and inspires confidence
in the honesty of the man.
He commenced by saying that lie appear
ed simply as an humble citizen of Virginia,
striving to render whatever service he could
to his State, and deeply interested in all
that concerned her. He had originally been
a readjuster, and was still a readjuster. ZAP
plause.) He was a readjuster, mot from choice,
because he honestly believed the state owed
the debt, but he believed at the same time it
was larger than she could pay, and that it
would be to the interest OF the creditors as
we'll as the State to meet on some fair ground
of compromise. With this idea he became
readjuster for the sake Of readjustment.
and not with view Of keeping up the agi-
tation when the object for which he had
striven was attained. He had never doubt
ed the validity of the debt, for it had been
time and again, by the various
and by every party that had
appeared in Virginia since the war. Going
into detailed history OF the debt, the speak
er traced it from 1866 to the winter of 1878
when it was again recognized in the read
justment measures known as the Bocock
Fowler Bill ard the Barbour Bill. The Bar
bour bill in no sense looked to readjust-
ment of the debt. 1t was intended as tax
and appropriation bill, and could not have
embraced REIMBURSEMENT for the reason that
the constitution directly prohibits the incor-
poration of two subjects in one legislative
enactment The Barbour Bill was, like
John the Baptist, fore-runner proclaiming
the glad tidngs of that which was to follow,
and the Governor made the most fatal OF
mistakes in vetoing it. The bill which was
to follow and effect REIMBURSEMENT OF tho
debt would have been far more favorable to
the creditor than the present measure. 1t is
believed that twenty -ive cents of tn, fifty
cents OF taxation which would have amount
ed to SSl4,5 would have been amply suffi-
the 10 cents for schools. amounted to 1925,
S3S, and the remaining fifteen cents added
to the other revenues which were to be de-
voted to the interest fund would have yield
ed the sum of $l,4l4, 367 for the creditor,
whilst under the McCuloch bill he received
but 100000. Again, the McCulloch bill is
the only measure which distinctly states in
terms that Virginia will under no crcum-
stances be responsible for West Virginia's
third.
But it is claimed that this last named bill
effects no readjustmeEt. Let us see, said the
speaker, what it does accomplish. The debt
recognized by it is, in round numbers $780,
900, 900. AT six per cent. under the old
funding bill the annual interest would have
been 81, 100000. We have paid as much as
81, 100000 per year. but never yet have met
The 6ltHt lulCIcoOs uc
to be effected was such an one as would en-
able lis to bring the expenses of the State with
in its resources. For that the readjustment
party was formed, for that it fought, and
the result of this contest is that instead Of
paying $500, 900 per year, we now pay
5000, 1000. The present bill is distinctly a
REIMBURSEMENT measure; the result it accom-
pishes is in direct harmony with the policy
proclaimed by the reajusters it is the frui
of their toll, and now when its blessings are
about to be realized; when the fight has
been fought and victory perches upon their
banners, the veterans in the cause should
step to the front and claim the credit; they
should gather up the spoils and proclaim
them as their trophies of the contest and
not allow their old enemies to step into their
shoes, and garner the harvest OF their brain
and labor. Let tho readjusters come forward
and rallying under their old flag, proclaim
throughout the length and breadth of the
Commonwealth the triumph of their cause.
loud applause) The McCulloch bill is, and
every fair minded man must acknowledge it,
the legitimate outcome of readjustment and