Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-01-21
Address OF the ltradjustrrs Of
The General Assembly To the
People AdODtrd jan. IS
1879 in Caucus.

me OeHPfal ASSNADlN 10 inc
People adopted jan. IS
1879 in Caucus.
To The Peoph IF Virginia:
The convention which assembled in
Richmond on tho Sth day OF August.
1877, adopted a platform that declared
in favor Of readjustmeut of the obi
cations Of the Commonwealth which
should "bring the annual interest upon
our entire Indebtedness within the rcye-
nues Of the State derived from the pres
ent rate of taxation and do equal Justice
TO all classes of the public creditors, -
and which urged that "in the selection
Of members Of the Legislature the peo-
pie should elect their representatives
with n view TO their ability TO deal with
the difficulties presented by the Gnan-
cia condition Of the Commonwealth, "
it being the manifest spirit and intent
of that convention, to remit the whole
question Of the debt to the people to be
dealt with by them in the selection of
representatives to the General Assembly,
and by that branch of the State govern
ment to be treated and disposed of def
nitely. In conformity whereWith the
rcadjuStcrs of the General Assembly at
the last session diligently devoted their
time and earnest thought to the framing
and perfection of such measures as
would execute thcir understanding Of the
popular will in that respect, defining,
and for the first time, the amount and
condition of the public debt, and appro-
! priaiing to its discharge the maximum
amount possible to be appropriated from
| the income Of the State under the exist
ing rate Of taxation, when every posi-
| bic reform and reduction in the expenses
Of administration, compatible with nee
cssary efficiency, should have been in
| stitutcd.
The result was the passage Of bill,
! known as the Barbour bill, wherein il
is declared, MS we now reitcratc, "tlmt
the condition of the people of the Com
| mOnwCalth Is such rs to render an in
crease Of the rate of taxation upon the
property imprNcticable, and the Gcncr-
al Assembly concedng that the power
to TAX the property of the citizens must
| at all times be confined within The rpa-
S0uablc limits prescribed by what in The
judgement of the General Assembly Is
the ability Of the citizens to pay with
out rllinOus damage to his property and
business, ANA that the present rate OF
taNatlCn--to-Wit, fifty cents on every
hundred dollars Of assessed value of
property, the utmost limit to which
the General Assembly should proceed IN
lcvyiug taxes: that the revenues of the
Commonwealth with tie present rate Of
taxation (Which Is the highest that
should be imposed will not enable Tie
government 10 maintain i,S g1ylraWca-
tai organization by paying The necessary
expenses incident thereto under he
most rigid system Of economy, aud 70
discharge It's obligaiians 20 the system Of
free school, ordained by The ilEdamcl-
tai law of the Commonwealth, and 10 pay
the present rate OF interest on lhp amuuH,
claimed as the principal Of the public
dcb;; and that the preservation Of the
State government is absolutely uorcSS}-
rs not only for the projection Of the per-
son Wd property Of the citizens, but fo,
the preservation OF the rights Of The
citizens, but for the preservation OF the
creditors Of the CommDnWral,h.n
In coulormi,ory with such dc, hwtiOn
and in the belief that the authority to
levy taxes and control lhccollcytion and
disbursement of revenues L. mn imh!cuH-
bic attribute OF the sovereignty OF the
Commonwealth, which tho General ~
sembly must and can exercise but Is
powcrGss TO ALLEVIATE, provision was
madc-llrst, for the mainlainGucc Of the
State government; second, for the sup
port Of the public free schools, leaving
the balance Of the net income from all
sources ~ the utmost the State Is able to
pay upon the public debt,
The Will Of the people, rs thus expires
ed, was defeated by the exercise of the
ycto-p0Wcr by the Governor. Adhcrlng,
nevertheless, 10 these principles, aud 10
the NiCWsCNprcsspd astO the ability Oflhc !
people to endure Il higher rate Of taSn-
ton than IiIly cents on the 500 of prop
crly, and with an ernest desire for the
earliest adjustment Of the public debt IN
conformity will, your views, and salts
fled as We are that the people IN their
sovereign capacity must take measures !
to enforce their viii in This respect, and |
In view of the fact that they are now com !
lOntcd by an organized party, openly |
proclaimed, whose purpose, 80 far NJ de- |
clarCd, II TO effect the election Of mem !
bcrs to The next General Assembly whose I
qualifications shall be- courage, talents, |
ana character oNutc Whnlcyprincrcusr !
however excessive. of your taxes may bc |
20 pay the public debt In full: |
to cut down the appropriations to your
free schools by The arbitrary destruction |
of the funds dedicated TO them Ivy the |
and to raise among them !
selves whatever money may bc ncecssl- |
~ To conduct their crllsede against the |
people.
II Is believed to be- our duty TO advise, |
Ns We do earnestly advise, those uI you !
who favor u restoration To ;hc Ninlo goN- |
prnmrnl uf IT, mlpnahlr control OF the /
revenue OF the State, who FAVOR The hp- |
(Wlll liru mld lntniiillg |
iidclity) tor public frc~scloul purposes /
the whole fund 40 dedicated by The Con. |
sliiullnu, nud Who favor rcHujtlslmtlil |
of the public debt upon the principles /
and within the limits prescribed by thc |
Barbour iii, which has been herein set |
forth, 10 appoint delegates by county |
district. aud ward mcriing,, ns you uhy |
see A. ~ attend convention OF itiVI- !
busters 10 brhrld IN the city Of Rich |
mund on Tcueduy tlc ldth day OF trhfll- |
AIRY. 1917, that you may for Yourselves |
rive direct expression to your views III /
This respect and take such measures ~
may seem to you proper 10 protect your |
imrctillcd right aud md interest IN citl- /
lcns Taxpayers Of the commonwealth
..---
Enjoisrd by llip l'ncully. The rpru.