The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-04-03
For the vIRGIN1AN.l

A SENATOR WHO WAS A READJUsTER IN
MONTGOMERY IN lS77-A DEBT-PAYER
IN RICHMOND IN 1S7S-A BROKERS' BILL
ADvoCATE IN sTAUNToN ON MONDAY
BOLD PRoTEsTEE AGAINST IT'S FINAL
PASSAGE IN THE SENATE ON wEpNEs-
DAY.
Messrs. Editors believing your desire
to record the facts-damage who it may-I
ask at your hands space in your columns
that may place the different views OF the
Senator from Montgomery, Mr.. Phlegar,
before your readers, and in doing so Messrs.
Editors, 1 disclaim any intention of harsh
criticism or reproach, for hold the Senator
in too high esteem, but believing he would
not desire to leave false impression upon
the minds of those who heard him on that
occasion, deem it surely no injustice to him,
and but due the party 1 have the honor to
be associated with. to make the following
exposure of the conflicting views of my hon
orea young friend during his trium plant
march to the Valey-amid the booming Of
cannon, the shouts and huzzahs OF the
b'hoys, and his sad return to the city of
Seven Hills. 1t was with mute surprise
read that portion of bis speech delivered to
your people in favor of the Brokers' Bill, to
wit:
'He insisted in the strongest terms,'' says
the reporter. ''that it was clearly within the
power OF the people to pay all that was now
asked under this Funding Bill. acithout an
increase OF taxation, and the outstanding
coupons would be gradually redeemed with
the surplus that would accrue from year-to-
year." Such assertions, Messrs. Editors,
asst onished me no little, when upon refec-
I On lof3 tn, in1 Afr
powerful protest against the "Allen Amend
ment," that he read to the Senate in opposi-
tion TO its adoption. Only two days subse-
quent to his Grafton within the walls of
your Temple of Justice, in voting against
the Amendment" he took occasion to say
IL desire to explain my vote, and offer this
my protest to the Senate's agreeing to it. 1
was elected upon platform in opposition to
an increase Of t0cotion, and as this bill
with its amendments would require and
mecessitate heavy increase of the
present rate of taxation, am compelled
an justice to myself and promises
made mig constituents to cast my rote against
the amendment" Now, Messrs. Editors, re-
member and carry the news to your country
readers, that this amendment that Mr.. P.
declares would necessitate such heavy in
crease Of taxation was engrafted upon The
Assembly prior to Senator Phlegar's leav-
ing Richmond for your city, was a part of
the bill that Senators Phlegar and Brooke
congratulated the country upon its passage.
Having been engrafted upon the bill by
vote OF the funders-save (Mr. Hanger) with
the assistance of the twenty odd dssenters
from the Readiusters ranks-at the instance
OF Hugh McCulloch (the author of this new
and outrageous funding billy, he having
told Judge Allen ''The bill without su CHI an
amendment would fal. still born." Yet not
wthstanding Mr.. Phlegar's knowledge OF
these facts, he declared in your presence
''The bill would not require an increase of
taxation" Still, nevertheless, in less than
three days thereafter he entered Lis solemn
protest against agreeing to the .'Allen
Amendment" declaring the very opposite
to be true.
Messrs. Editors-why this sudden change
OF fronts ? Was it the able speech OF Mr..
Brown Allen, Chat noble Readiuster), or was
1t that fearless speech of Gen. B. Il. john
son Qhe brains Of the funding party) deliv-
cred on the day of its final passage. in which
he declared, if you carried the Brokers' bill
into effect, it would in addition to making
our bonds, non-taxable gold bearing, and
sub5ecting the credit of our State to the
mercy of those Wall Street and London
pIohers, whose sole purpose Will be to hawk |
our credit on Wall Street, New Yor., and
the Borne, London, for heartless speculative
purposes, and placing the revenues Of the
State at the mercy of this syndicate, who
can compel by ''mandamus. - and other pro-
cesses of law, any increase of taxation their
soulless greed may desire. But in conclusion,
said Gen. j., what is far more damaging, it |
Will require greater sum of money to meet |
its requirements than the original funding
bill, without relieving the State or helping
our creditors, but benefttng the Brokers
alone, who only are responsible for the pas
sage of this bull; he having in his posses
sion letters from the principal holders of our
State securities (home and abroad) disclaim
ing any participation in, and their disap-
proval of the measure. Or was it the two |
speeches combined that caused this bright |
little Readjuster VS.. Debt Payer from the |
Southwest to so soon forget his declaration
in Augusta, and the booming of artillery,
the roar of the musketry, sky rockets, and
such, when he undertook to proclaim the
debt settled-the Readjusters. who had re-
fused to desert their colors euen for office
Dead ! Dead-and all calm and serene on
the banks of the Potomac
Yours truly,
JAMES A. FRAZIER.