The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-18
ichuto,.d Dlispatflt'.
. .,,.,,r SEPTEMBER is. 1879 =
4 Dsbs victery.

Z
SnrTERsoN, PROVED his ASSERTIONS FALSE
AND LITERALLY SKINNED HIM.
Icorrspondcnce OF the Richmond pfs y a',
MARION, SayTH COUNTY. sAs
September is, 1879.
r..,noro ,hed Won Yesterday the result 0!
shn dtscnss,on here on the debt settieinehl
bn,ween Colonies Richardson ana Fu.hef-
con and Senator Johnston ana Ma!9I
nsn;et--the tSyo former representing Tue
views Of the Resdjusters, the TWO iatler Tue
s,;e,rs ~ the Debt-payers. Colonel Rich.
arssnn ~ Smytb, commenced the discus
s;on nj haIf-past 12 O'Clock, speaking one
Ionr and quarter, the time allotted each
sneaker. The Coloneps speech fell lfeiess
1,non the audience. The fact Is, he was
noorly Informed. The evident purpose OF
3be gentleman was not 10 instruct the peo-
D,e upon the real issues in the canvass, out
to ey lite their preiudices BY an attempt 10.
show that the Executive Committee IN us
recent action at Richmond had oversteppea
its Legitimate duties and had Etc6eo~
them, "the people," out OF the ConserVa-
tive party.
a,or John w. Johnston. This honorable
gentleman has great influence IN THIS coun-
~, He has been for years q practicing
course OF uprightness and strict integrity
has won the confidence Of all who know
him. Many men in this county were GnI.
ioas therefore to bear an expression from
one who, they felt, was competent to In
sfrucf. and was too honest to mis|ead. Sem
otor Johnston commenced his speech by
remarkins that he came not to play the part
of an orator, but only to talk plainly ana
candidly to the people upon question OF
vital interest to the Commonwealth OF Flr-
pin;a. shall not attempt TO give even an
cntIine OF his argument. Suffice 1t 10 say,
that from the figures OF the Read1usterS
themselves, heretofore published 10 the
world both in acts OF General Assembly
and IN campaign documents, he proved
ronciusively that the present settlement
was not only within the present revenues
OF the State, but that it was at least $780,
900 more in our favor than the plan OF
settlement proposed by tie Readjusters.
He showed to the satisfaction OF every
candid hearer that all expenses OF Govern
ment could be met, the free schools run,
and interest on the public debt under the
McCulioch bill paid without increasing tax
alton, and that surplus OF several nun
bred thousand dollars would remain.
The Argument OF Senator Johnston was
well received, and it produced the desired
result.
The third speaker was Colonel Fulkersou,
OF Washington county. We have heard
this gentleman several times upon the debt
settlement, but never before, in our opin-
ion, did he do himself more credit as the
"artHul dodger.' His speech was uncnm-
monty well delivered, bis illustrations were
striking, aud Readiusters were in high glee.
T shall not disguise the fact that some I'M
eaSiness crept into our minds as TO what
would be the result Of Major Daniels re-
pIy. Ore point especially made by Colonel
Fulkerson seemed damaging to Majo Dan
ieI. He quoted from a Lynchburg paper a
statement made (before the passage of the
McCulloch billy by Major Daniel to the effect
that Hugh McCulloch was unworthy the
notice of respectable men, and that his par
ticipation in the affairs Of Virginia was
SHINE and disgrace to her people. Not
withstanding this opinion OF Major Daniel,
said Colonel Fulkerson, still he (MaJor
Daniel) assisted in inviting this same rascal
to the State Of Virginia for the purpose OF
settling her debt. :.
At the close Of Colonel Fulkerson's
speech il was evident to al! that read1ust-
ment had received its only and strongest
yindication, and il that meeting resulted ~
its condemnation, that condemnation would
cone, not because Its claims were not
strongly presented, but because those claims
were false and groundless.
AT the close OF Colonel Fulkerson'S adj
dress Major Daniel took the stand. This
was the first opportunity the people OF
Smyth had ever had OF hearing this dis
tinsuished VirgiDian. They had often
heard Of his matchless eloquence, and now
he stood before them for the purpose OF
showing them their duty and OF arousing
them to its performance. Every one, whelh-
eragreeing or disagreeing with the speaker,
was upon the "tip-toe OF expectancy" The
yery first sentence he uttered brought re-
assurance to bis friends and dread forebod-
ings to his opponents. The latter saw at
glance that the man before them was dread
fully In earnest, and knew whereof he in
tended to speak. I regret now that did
not take full notes of Major Daniels adj
dress. The following are only few OF the
points made in reply 10 Colonel Fulkerson:
The Colonel condemned the coupon feature
in the McCulloch bill as new thing in Vlr-
ginia legislation; that it destroyed the so.
Vefeigniy OF the State by permitting one
legislature to tic the hands OF all sub
seeuent legislatures. Daniel replied
first, that it was not q new thing
in Virginia; that the sheritfs OF the
SOuLluIN caltu, dS Sal ~ dS Ac1o- =, "S'>
required "to take in payment OF tdneS
county and parish levies within their re-
spective counties at par value all claims
that may have been allowed against the
county by the county COURTS" &C., when
offered by the creditor, citing Antonl Us.
Wright, sheriff, % Graft, $40; and sec
ondly, as to binding future legislatures,
Daniel replied that the titles to nearly all
the landed property in the State were
founded upon this night. The Legislature
made contract with the citizen that IL ne
did certain things a commemorative patent
should be issued to him for particular real
estate. The citizen did what was re-
qufred; the patent issued. Can any future
legislature deprive such citizen OF dand
thus acquired? Colonel Fulkerson was
afraid to assert such a proposition, for nc
knew how unpopular it would be IN Stae
country. Yet the same principle obtained
in reference to bonds and other perSonas
Droperty as it did to real estate.
CoIonel Fukerson condemned the non
taxable feature OF the McCsisoch bill.
Daniel replied that the same feature was
embodied in the Bosoek-Fowles bill, the
melted offspring OF the Colanefs Iarty.
Colonel Eulkerson said that the present
rate OF taxation would not defray es Denses
of government, run the free schools. and