Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-03-24

W bllC l)LALAoh OOA'NA 49, ~f+-~
city, and he refused TO receive it, be-
cause, as he alleged, the British Minis
ter at Washington had instructed him
that to DO so would be in violation of
British neutrality. In regard to this
matter The Commissioners of the Sink
ing Fund reported to the Legislature in
November, 1868, as follows
1.-The amount payable in New York
has not been paid, because It could not
be paid during
A STATE OF WAR
with the Government of the United
States, without snbiecting the whole to
the risk of confscation, and without
giving aid and comfort to the public
enemy. The convention OF the State.
by its ordinance passed on the Goth OF
June 1861, prohibited the payment Of
this interest during the war.
"On the amount payable in London,
the commissioners have been exceed
lngly anxious TO make punctual pay
ment. The interest was paid regularly
as long as it was practicable 30 90 do
The semi annual interest for July. 1861.
and January, 1862 (beine for the first
yearof the wary, was promptly met
In the month Of April, 1862, the COM
missioners cndeavOrod to make ar
rangements for remiiting the interest
due on the succeeding 1st OF July.
IN A CONFERENCE
with the British Consul, located here
an agreement was attempted to be
entered into. BY which proper provision
would have been made for the future
payment OF interest as il became due
and the consul himself would have been
made the medium by which the subs
iects Of his own government would have
received the amount Of debt justly
due them. II was proposed that the
commissioners should purchase an
amount OF
COTTON OF TOBACCO
sufficient to pay the sum due. ana
place 1t in the hands ofthe consul sub
iect TO our risk, and he was asked 10 re-
mt certificates showing the purchase
and deposit OF the cotton or tobacco in
his hands, allowing him 4 suitable COM
mission for his trouble ; with these
certificates it was well understood that
n proper arrangement could have been
made to provide for the payment ofthe
interest. This was declined, upon the
ground that any arrangement upon the
subject with the agents Of the State
was considered by the British Minister
in the CITY of Washington as viola
tioa ofthe neutrality assumed by Great
Britain between the United States and
the Confederate States Goycnmcnt-l
thus in effect declaring that.
THE SOVEREIGN STATE OF VIRGINIA.
whose lndepence had been recognized
by the Government Of Great Britain
during the revolution OF l7,G, and which
recognition had never been withdraw by !
that government, had not the power TO !
make provision for the payment OF |
lust debt, Acknowledged to be due to Tie
subjects of Great Britain herself, with
out first asking permission Of the
Of the United States. The
idea that a sovereign State cannot
make provision for the payment OF a |
debt to a neutral power. through the
agents of that power. without a viola
ton of neutrality by those agents, when |
that State is at war with another
power, is simply prepOsterous. Ii the |
debt were due TO the government OF 4
neutral power, it would have q right to
demand its payment, and it has the
same right, without
VIOLATION OF NEUTRALITY,
to attend to the interests of its subjects.
But this is the doctrine, and it has been !
acted upon by other consuls of the same
Government in other States. Aud yet
an outcry Is made against the States !
bv the people of Ggoal Britain because
The State of virginia and other States /
have been in arrears in the payment Of
interest, under circumstances like |
these"
The commissioners then sought to ,
pay the British interest through ars
with the Austrian Consul. .
but be declined upon tie same ground :
given by the British consul. The /
amount thea due was for Die half wear
ending Jaly lst, 1862. January lst. 1868. I
July Ist. 1868, and January lst lSjI-
beng for each OF said periods the sum /
1t s4l. .444'4l-makiDs an aggegl.c o. !
lG5,U17G.
Other States were permitted 10 pay /
through consuls aud other AGENTS 10
such currency Or products as thcy had
10 offer, Alabama paid
~ COTTON.
NOW. sir. ask Senators. ia view ol
Ihese facts-tender having been mada.
and refused by British Consular o
Butish Minister IN deroeation OF The
ndepent sovereignty of Virginia which
Great Britain had recognized in tae
'reatv of l7S3-lf they are still wiling
10 declare that they who came ont o.
.he war Impoverished, naked manned,
,re bound in morals. equity, or religion
10 90 to the British bondholdcr and pay
his interest-not only to pay 1t, brt to
compound it, and pay it IN gold at
London, subject TO all the mutations 0l
exchange and the mOaey market! For
,pe. am willing TO stand by the Re-
adjustment Bill as right in morals. il
sonity, and in religion 4; and when l re-
,ard the action Of tie Governor III
yetoing it to shield the transactions OF
the Brokers' Bill, and III violation OF
MS pllghted faith, no matter how highly
[ may respect his private engagements,
can have nothing but contempt Tor his
public and official undertakings.
The annual interest on the sterling
lebt. payable in London, was only
s93, $50 in 1864?
The Commonwealth of Virginia,
Jealous of her honor, issued during tie
war
SIX MILLION DOLLARS
IF her treasury notes to pay the Vr-
ylnia holders OF her bonds. But they
refused to receive them, and the notes
we're then put in general circulation
After the bondholder had refused to
take these notes, everybody else lad to
take them. So used, the notes were
held by Federal construction and force
10 have been issued for war purposes,
and they were directed to be repudlated
by Virginia. If the bondholders had
taken them for interest, the United
States Courts would undoubtedly have
sustained them as good against the
State even If they had gone into general
after such receipt. They |