The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-10

State government, including the public
schools, and also the fr.terest upon the pub
lie debt fixed by tie said bill, and leave
annually in the Treasury surplus OF from
100000 to s400, 700.
I then referred to sections 7th and 20th
of Article Z. Of the State Constitution Tor
the purpnse OF showing that the Legislature
was ln.ited In It's power OF taxation to
.sthe necessary expenses Of the government
and she public debt.'
insisted that the rcadi ustment pro-
yided for Ia the McCulloch bill was within
the present revenues OF the state, and
strictly In conformity to the requirements
OF the platform OF the Conservative party
adopted by the great Convention OF All
gust, 1877.
This being true, said in substance that
in relation to reassessment, and speaking
as an Eastern VirginiaD, and in the interest
of the debtor class, whose lands had to be
sold to pay debts, did hope that there
would be no reduction upon our assessed
values in 1880. That as the question OF
taxation was disposed OF, as above indl-
Gated, l hoped that instead OF reducedaS-
sessments we should have an Increase
of from five to twenty-five per cent, with
a view simply and alone OF increasing the
market value Of our eastern lands, many OF
which were then upon the market The
only hope OF saving even homestead Tor
many OF our best citizens was to increase
the market value Of land. From my expe-
rience as Il lawyer in full practice l was OF
opinion that the assessed value OF land bad
much to do with its market value; that per-
sons desiring to buy looked at and were in
1uenced by the assessors books in making
I'D their mind as 10 the price to be offered
and given. Then said, in the name OF the
debtor class owning land, give us higher
assessments, that we may secure higher
prices.
further insisted that the great need Of
Virginia at this time was not capital, but
population; that population would bring
capital: that population would make capt.
tai. Man makes capital. God alone makes
man. Give US men and women, active, in
dustrious, and frugal, and we will redeem
and disenthrall the old State. That to
induce immigration, let it be known
in the northern and central land agen-
ces that our lands are worth and
are assessed at from SIS to S25 per
acre and our rate OF taxation low.
Then when the immigrant, looking for
home where, in obedience to the high i'll
junction, he will seat his bread in the
sweat OF his race," he will turn his eyes to
Virginia where lands are good, where taxes
are low, and health distils from the very at
mosphere. Holding this opinion, protest.
cd against any dminution OF assessments in
Eastern Virginia.
This same line OF argument was pursued
by me at Staunton, ut Petersburg, ana at
Madison Courthouse, and think was not
misunderstood by any one. All may not
agree with me, but only a telc seem TO mis-
understand my argument.
Indeed, Petersburg correspondent OF
the Whiq stated that In my speech there L
claimed las I did, that if the settlement
proposed by the McCulloch bill was accept
ed, and the revenues OF the State were
what it was supposed they would be, the
McCulIoch bill would prove to he bill for
the reduction rather than for the increase
of the rate OF taxation.
The foregoing is the substance OF the ar
gument complained OF. l submit 10 you, to
nv friends generally, and to the generous
public. to know il it has been fairly stated
or Justly dealt with in the "slip' re-
ferred to.
The author OF the slip commences with
4 biblical quotation. | hope | do not de-
part from a rule prescribed to myself, to
say nothing harsh or unkiud OF or to any,
ii | commend to his attention the ninth ar
ticle OF the dccalOgue, rs follows Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbour"
And now, nv dear sir, allow me to wish
that the conflict and excitement will soon
be over, and that whoever and whatever
falls, the star OF the Old Dominion will be
seen elorlously in the ascendant, and her
true, loyal, and loving sons at her side,
prepared to DO and die for her and the
right.
/ am, very truly and sincerely yours,
laws & EIrID