The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-02
[From Our Special Reportcr.l

From Our Special Reportcr1 s-
..-.-,,.,,.x. NORFOLK, October /, 1870.
On Monday night there was an immense
meeting here, and Hon. John randolph
Tucker most cruelty used local keadlust-
err Then there was another splendid meet
ing last night, when the ladies turned out
and occupied seats in the galleries OF Me,
chanics' Hall. The first speaker introduced
by Major Warner 4. Taliaferro was Sena-
tor Johnston, and thcfcroWd gave MIN
cordial greeting.
. SENATOR JOHNsTOE's SPEECH.
In the beginning OF his speech Senator
Johnston alluded to the. number OF propo-
sitions put forth by the Readlusters, anu
how they differ in their statement OF facts
in regard to the debt. One says this IS not
the State OF Virginia, and hence owes no.
thing. Another says we ought only 10 pay
$40, 900, 900, while u third says Just give us
two thirds OF the Legislature, and we Will
show what we can and will do. Now, IN
1912 the opponents OF the funding bill
had two-thlrds' minority, ana vet they
failed to repeal the bill. While they woulo
defeat the McCulloch settlement they nave
nothing definite 10 propose in lieu OF 1t, ana
arc like Bob Ingersoll, who wants us to give
u
no substitute for our religion. The Sena-
tor adverted to the fact that it is not the
State debt that Expresses the people, but the
| county. taxes. For instance, he paws 81 %
on the 800 in Washington county, of which
the State gets fifty cents, and the county
| the rest.
| NO STATE HAS READJUsTED ITS ASTE-WAR
L So a'=. '' DEBT.
In reply to the statement OF MeSsrS. Paul
! & Co. that the southern States, including
| Alabama and Louisiana, have rea1lusted
| their State debts, he asserted THAT those
States have not readjusted or rcpudated
| their antc-war debt; and the debts which
! have been readiusted were contracted in
| fraud, and that those who issued and sold
and those who purchased the bonds knew
| they were fraudulent.
WHAT THE REpEALERs HAVE DONE FOR yIR-
| GINA.
| Senator Johnston commented on the fact
| that III thirteen counties in Virginia land to
the amount OF S2,443, 900 was sold to private
purchasers after the war; but this has stop
| ped-and why? Because the Rcadiusters
/ told the world that Virginia owed S60,000,-
| 900, and that the issue was between the pay
ment of that enormous amount and repudi-
alton. As capitalists neither care to invest
| in State with such debt, or in one which
repudiatcs lis obligations. they stopped
buying Virginia lands. That is what re-
adjustment agitation has done for the State
and her people.
| OUR BURDENS BEFORE THE WAR AND NoW.
Before .r1e war Virginia owed S35,000,0O0,
no complaint. Well, we have thrown of
one third OF the debt for West Virginia,
and Mr.. Massey says throw oil another third
on account of a decrease in property. Well,
we have practically done this, said the Sen
ator, under the McCulloch bill for deduct
| ore third OF the ante.war interest and it
leaves S1,400,0 900, which is $4,000 more
| than the McCulloch bill sets aside annually
| to meet the interest on the State debt. SEN
ator Johnston here called attention to tue
fact that while West Virginia is required to
! pay one third of the debt, she got in the Iii
vision OF the State less than one third OF the
territory and population. More than that,
she got none OF the property or buildings
for the purchase OF which the debt was
created. All OF this was retained by Viz
gnia and is enjoyed by her people to-day.
Here, with much force and point, Senator
Johnston said that while West Virginia had
no seaboard outlet Virginia had the splen-
did harbor OF Norfolk, which was worth
more to her than the whole State debt. He
pictured its future growth and prosperity.
and predicted that with direct trade it would
prove blessing 10 the entire Common
wealth.
THE NEGROES THEN AND NOW.
In reply to the argument that Virginia
| lost her slaves by the war, Senator john
ston contended that they were valuable to
49,, hoy ol lat
| brought us money, and he asserted that the
colored people OF Virginia to-day are still
valuable, because they produce nearly all
the tobacco and wheat made in the State and
constitute the bulk OF the labor used IN the
manufacture of firginia's great stape-to-
bacco. Without the labor OF the negro to-
day Virginia would be deprived OF great
| portion OF her revenue, and It is wrong TO
| consider the negro as a non-proGuclng, nom
paving drone. He elaborated this point with
clearness and effect.
THE REVENUES OF THE STATE, ACCORDING
TO THE READJUSTERS.
Senator Johnston did not give his own
figures, but quoted from estimates made by
the Readiustcrs. This was notably the
case while discussing the Barbour bill and
comparing it with the McCull0ch bill. He
said that Readiusting committee OF the
| last Legislature. OF which Mr.. Lewis L.
! IIarvie was member, reported the net
revenues of the State TO be s., 49, Ga ut
| the present rate OF taxation, and fixed the
School-money at $4,000. The same Lcgis-
| lature pass the Barbour bill, and the Re-
adiuSters to-day c0ntended that il ought 10
| be the law. The Senator proceeded to an
alyZe the Barbour bill, and showed that IT.
provided that twenty-five cents on the one
hundred dollars worth OF property should
90 to support the State government, ana
$4,000 be set aside out OF the lIcense-taX
for the extraordinary expenses or the
same. 1t devoted ten cents on the one
hundred dollars worth OF property and
nil the caritation tax TO the schools: which
made SAT, 900, or $4,000 less than Is given
the schools by the McCullOch bill. The
Barbour bill, he said. gave 100000 for the
support OF the government and Sl.l9G, 264
for the payment OF the interest Oh the pub
lie debt, while the McCulloch bill only sets
aside 100000 for the regular expenses OF
The government and S9S3,000 for interest
on the debt. This Barbour bill is a pet
scheme OF the ReadjuSters, and the Senator
made most striking contrast between il
and the McCulloch bill, showing that the Re-
adiusterS, il they are not bind to facts,
must see that the latter is better for the
people than the former. But, said he, the
Barbour bill was no settlement, and was
only intended rs 4 temporary cxpedlent.
Its advocates are estopped, be added, from
I -. GS.ll ~ =;