Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-02-25
Our Richmond Letter.
RICHMOND, Feb. 70 1870.

clined to adjourn to-day to observe
national holiday. In the House, the
Constitutional amendments obstruct-
cd all the needed measures of the
State. Very unwisely we have a two
thirds majority clamoring for fur
ther reduction Of expenses under the
foolish idea that it will relieve the
people. The fact is that il we do the
foolish thing Of adopting these
amendments, we shah still have tax
Of SO cents on the hundred dollars Of
property; adopt them, if YOU please,
and the people are relieved not a
whit. Nor is this ALL If these
amendments should save rs much as
their advocates claim, who will get the
money! Why, simply the Coupon
bondholder. What will be the effect
Of giving him more money! Simply
TO make him the more stubborn. ]
do assert that it is false philosophy to
try to readjust by paying the Coupon
bondholder more money. He has
been the sole obstacle to readjustment,
and these amendments simply make
him more stubborn and unmanagea.
ble-obstacle. TheIon OF Readmst-
ment has no right to tread on his own
tail. Give me 4 readjusted debt and
will then go for any measure Of
economy, for M,n The people will get
the relief. But enough! These
amendments cannot pass. Time
alone will defeat them. They aim at
the throat Of our Free School System.
and while | have lived, and while ]
may live, have been, and will be
friend and defender of Free Schools.
] have no need of free education for
my children, but am willing TO be
taxed TO educate the children Of 9th.
ers. They assume that the ante-war
state Of affairs exists in Va. We can
no more be ancient Virginians, by
adopting the constitution of 1900.
than we can restore paradise by wear.
ing the fig leaf costume. Enough !
THE DEBT QUESTION
now swallows up nearly all others
To-day was the great day in the Senate.
On Tuesday that body set to-day at
3o'clock as the time to vote on it,
At noon Col. Fulkerson took the
floor against the proposition Of the
Bondholders, and spoke two and
half hours. He made very power
iul speech and was listened to by 4
crowded house. Several OF his thrusts
brought prominent Senators to their
feet, and there was a sprinkle OF salt
and pepper between him and the
President Of the Senate, Lieut.. Gov.
j. A. Walker. There were bruises,
but there was no blood. There was
a clear majority against him, and the
Senate adopted the bill by vote Of
10 to IL. have never seen more
dramatic intensely interesting day in
the Senate. or the Southwestern
Senators, Messrs. Slemp, WoMl and
fulkcrson voted against il and MesSrs
Dickinson, Tyler and Phleogar voted
for IT, On Monday II will come up
in the House. Some Of ow friends
seem to think ! erred by stating last
week that the House stood then u for
Il, and IS agains, Il. but have al
ways made It rule to aequaint my
readers with the absolute facts. Now
said | could not tell what changes
would be made. cannot tell now.
hut this | rc.iteratc. mean to move
TO submit this bill, II II passes, TO a
vote Of the people at the May cleo.
ton, II the people adopt II they
have then exercised their sovereign
power, and cannot complain Of the
result II will give time for discus
sion. II they do not want Il, they
shall, so Ear as am concerned, have
the opportunity to reject IT, Never
vill | be q party to ticing the hands
OF tho people Of Va for 30 years.
Against this odious coupon feature
mean to enter my protest and |
mean to Try 10 allow the people q
chance to enter theirs, IL they agree
with inc, II now seems that mere
majority vote u all that Is needed to
adopt the Proposition, Mud feel
|, my duty TO again tell my friends
a, home that there Is danger OF il
passage. This may all be changed
under the friction OF discussion. and
I mean to ny to represent the people
by exptcssiat my Views against Tie