Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-03-05
IrHc History OF the Ross Hu,uiifou
Substitute.
RICHMOND, VA, March

!" tic nhtors Of the Richmond Dispatch.
AS am about leaviBg this oily for my homo,
10 Northampton county. think it but Just to
myself ani others TO state my connection with
the Hamilton debt bill had been Informed
that 1t was tho earnest dosre on tho part Ct
nearly all tho cJlorcd republican members G.
Tho Legislature to present proposition for tho
settlement o! TeadiustmcDt Of tho public debt
ol Virginia that would ho acceptable to the pno
pie and jnst to tho bondholders. The ou,o,mo
OF this 1itep expressed wish was the Hamilton
OH. ino following eoloIcd republicans met
tino nGd "G mo- should say six limos Cr of.
tch"r--and enthusiastically agreed upon the
above measure, ont unanimously ICnueaed the
Hon hess Hamilton to ani for them 10 reprc-
srh'lns ih"lr views IN presenting this bill ia the
House Of Delegates as the republican plan Of
r"t0J n5tmont or settlement Of tho vcXcd debt
qnts.ion. The mctnb .ra nbnvo alluded TO are
Hon. Robert Norton. House ct Delegates.
! ork Co., Va; Hen. T.. d. Bland, IIouss of
Delegates, P!llca George Co., Va; Hen. Geo.
Cole. Essex Co., w.; Hon. Littuton Owens.
iitcess Ammo Co., Va; Hon. W. ID. Evans,
nritoo Edward Co.. Va; Hon. johnson Collins
hruos.lc lck Co., Va; II 1ou. Archer Scott, Not
toway Co., Va; Hoo. Rss Hamtoo, Meek
lenburg Co., Va
Mr.. Paige, ol Norfolk oouuiy, understanding
the rrll cIpal features OF tho hill, cmphaticay
Hid1Iscd Il; hnt owing to tic illGes, Of bis
cllld cou'@ a"t he pro sunt personally, hut sent
lf'quSnt mc:saecs by the lion. LittIcton Owons
and Others that he vas in hearty accord with
them /; and furthermore, stated in my preseCc,
TO li0r. Ross Hamilton that no fully endorsed
the bill! and would not moro cordially with tho
other Republicans 10 favoring it. Senator L. NJ.
Norton, at n mooIiog to which General w. g.
w cslam had been invited to explain tho de-
tails OF tho bill, heartily endorsed tho whole
measure, ard advised hin colleagues 10 stand
b3 II.
The bill appeared TO nc nm cmicc1tly fair one,
honorable alkO to tho State and houdholders.
NO compromise can be a ust one to which all
cono0Ined aro not c)nsontIug parties. This be-
iGg my VuW, entered hUer,ily and c)ldally toto
the contest. feeling that tho adoption OF such a
measure. cmanaiiog from Republicans, and par.
{ cunrIy cOlored Republlcan.. would be crown
OF glcry TO them, and o sui 'ot Of pride in the
future, and advised them to eirc it their warm
support. Tho ssiont features of tho bill are,
reducing tho interest on tho bonds to > pcr
ccnt., runnlng forty ycarP, and making tho oUu
pons non rec ivabn fer school tax Tho for
u'i EIhElSiuu Nou u nave SaVGN Inc SlatC = o.
600 % IN forty Years, and commended itself to
tho q latcrS az being almost don,ical withtho
plan proposed by Gen. Mahoro, aud which was
the platform upon which tho Kca5justers had
been elected to tho Legislature. The latter made
tho bill peculiarly acceptable tc coIored repub-
lIoans as it made the public free schools safo
beyond any prradventurc--iho school tax bciug
payable lD cash money. And being maintained
~ q separate and dlstlLct furd from my other,
relieved me from ary apprehension Ct its be-
ing nllsapprorriatcd by any quasi legal con-
struction OF the constitution and law.
As to tho conduct OF these gentlemen. after
their repeated ASSURANCES of appreciation Of this
bill, and alter frequent pledges to cich other
in their numerous c.ucusos on tho subject, AID
their promises to others, is matter that |
leave altogether with what they deem to be
their duty to tho Commonwealth aod to their
constituents. | have given the above tGcis as
they occurred. nud to which | nako affidavit,
feeling that this il. to q certain extent, matter
of the history Of our State. which should b.
thoroughly understood by the people both NV
md hereafter.
(Siencd,) T. J. CARTER