Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-01-17
Juagc EEuglles Oh the Funding Bill.
NORFOLK jap. 6. 1879.

NORFOLK jap. b. lci9,
To The e!ii0r o. he Norfolk Tini9iniaa:
DEAR SIR: YOU ssk Watcher aGu c?rrtc ly
ci2sscd With Inc supporters OF The FuadiGg
act OF 1871. will eusger with as Euch frank.
ness ss emphasis
Nlther ia its origin, nor at aGy period Of its
history, nor 1cw, ba7e approved, or DO | ap
prove of that measure. refer particularly 10
that pEosisi9n Ct tic act by which the taxes Ct
the State a:c appropriated fer thirty years 10
advance 10 The psymen! OF g preferred class ol
c0upous, though their payment shall defeat
other obligations ranked By the State Constiu
ton as OF equally hieh CT CT higher dignity.
"A carly IS he days OF Magma Charta, aud
loWn through succeeding centuries to the pre-
s2nt lioIc, notably 10 their war with the Stu.
arts, The EnGilsh pcoplo have asserted the
pEi5cipa of the absclu.c power CT each PailIa.
meet over tic rtysuues raised by taxation
durrs i;a ogn term q existence. That right
OF Parliament has been III adam a;al canon CT
III, constitutional law Of England at al times:
aDG is & CARDINAL prircinlc OF our American
rolity.
Tie right OF e:ca legislature 10 control The
rlytIucS Of the Slate during the period OF It's
service cannot, IL ny opllloa, DO iase0 away
either ty Ir.rogatlvh or c)ntract, or any other
rowtr lr device, legislative, executive or judi
cisl The reFcLucs Ct State derived from
| t2xaticn cannot be eGta!Icd By any legislation.
| Thy aTo trust lrzd to be administered ~
eaeA legislature co is cwn Responsibility to me
people. 1t is not competent fr preceding
body TO couiroi succeeding one bg aIy c0er-
c;Ye pfa enactment; or ! any other maCucr to
! iupcach its fidelity to tiic public obligations.
The attempt CT legislature 10 obst!uc. the
! 81 If. thn
5iugIu year. CT for thirty years, 10 advance. IS,
III my Judgment, violently ultra viz s. and c5
:cntia!lg Gull and vols; nor ca0 Gpy ac,!5n ti
| ;u!h body. designed to effect such purpose,
b. raidsted 81 any cGutt whichever iG tho IauG.
| Ns State, it is t;uc, has pomCr By its leeis!a-
lure oy 0: her Organism, to mpair,h9 obligation
o.! c,atrac which arc legal sod constitutional;
but aCy stipulation OF legislature y hich Il has
10 Constitutional power to make. and which is
ia dcrcgaton OF The equal constitutional pow.
CTS IF is SUCCESSORS Is not contract, aoG does
rot bind its succcs 3oFs. The other party to
such stipulation is bou5a 10 kuoW that such q
body ec!s ultra wires. That u legislature NAV
Criain contract il regard to other subjects
do not deny. But do dcby that any ouc leg
islaturc can "contraca" away the prerogative
c9n,c>l Of succeeding legislatures over the levy
Ing Ct taY:s aud tie appropriation OF ravenuCs.
EEn rcHcr Of each Legislature over the t|t
subjects CT taxes and revenues is exclusive, a5
sOutC, sovereign, Sacied.
Whether such stipulation shall he per
: !nrncd, il q legislative, 70. uGica! question
Each legislature il tic sale Judge isr itself .
th9 obligation ol cirgyins out such slipu'a
,ian TIE legislature OF virginia Is virtually
he government Of Virginia, end lis p)we
world be destroyed II that sacred cap2n # con
s'intioga! liberty, which gives TO the iciae
Gt!0 REPRESENTATIVE legislature 81 ihG people
nc c,ulrGi OF the revenues i! raises By The tax
ston which it lanes s upon them, were ever
throgG.
The coupol feature Gi III, FuldicE Get i
repuguant to the cardinal doctrine, on this sub
i.ct, wh'ci has ben bed by TIC constitutions
statesmen OF .iaYlaud aud America srcI tht
pliacip!cs Ut popular ltcllg have had awe
Gates, defenders, OR martyrs. ia either luotIy
Whether apy legislature OF Virginia snail deeG
itslli bCurd by i, is only moral question lJl
It's cwn decision, and not n legal question foi
tho decision of any court Whatever, SO far from
approving tho Funding ACT, havo always TO
ca:deI :. rs the chief cause Ct tho E1ancis. en-
} bsrrassrfent Of the State: The tax gather g
coupon, the cut worm OF tho revenues, apDro
printing them esch yesr to t:elf with imperti
} n9nt disdain 81 Legislative authority is = de-
vice CT modern ingenuity to subject tho1 legsla'
tuIc, IN the exercise OF iLs highest constitutions"
junction, TO tho power Of tho judiciary; and la s.:
WET with the cherished English and American
p-lnciplo oflno mutual Independence of tho log
i:l4tire, executive .ni j19icisl departments Of
government any messure which brings ltoe
uri;dCIona !E:o cot dict, and !bTusts court into
real or colorado E:urpsIion, Is vci0ua in the
lget degree
APPROPRIATION bills a:a legislative p7erogtives
no less c:ceniiuliy, distinctly and exclusively
;han iry bills: and Wbs. would bo thought Of q
ccur, which should issue its maaaamu5 COM
n!sEGing y leg stature to levy o tex to meet g
pubic obligation imposed through the subtar.
faE3 Of "con,fact?' Nor csn it coAsttutionaily
intercept the legislative control when collected
! TN rs much opposed TO such thing as I En-
t forcb!o re adjustment nnl bsso money.
! Whether any good c;n come TO the State from
opposing il now, is suothor question quite aside
from that Of is alleged inyio!ab!li.y which !
have been discussing.
I Yours sincerely,
Re. ". UUGHEs.