The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-21

Quoted for uncolecied taxes. The arrear
ages TO the asylums have been paid during
our session. The figures OF the bill ar
therefore
MANiFEsTLY INCORRECT.
Let US look now TO the means reSorted &
FOR inrcible rtEdjustmeBt. They are con
tanned in the 14ih and 18th sections, " hicl
s'aDd like Scy Ila and Cbarybdis to cD2ul
the passing coupons. The first probibit
their beTng taken by the Tax collectors, con
trary 10 The agreement upon their face
and subjects the officer 50 penalty for -
doing. e ttiuFther takes away from the tax
payer the wrifs OF injunction, supersedeas
mandamus, and prohibition, and direct;
that he shall first pay the collector in
money, and then sue him TO get back
the amount which he might cave claimed
TO pay in coupons. This provision i
taken from an act Of Tennessee which
was passed upon by the Supreme Court oi
the United States in the case Of Tennessee
Us. Snead, 9th Osio. In that ease the State
OF Tennessee had agreed 10 take the notes
OF the Bank Of Tennessee In payment OF
her taxes, under a charter in 1888, when
there was no law allowing suits sgainst the
State. Afterwards law was passed allow
law was repealed. the notes issued during
the war were prohibit ed fropi being taken,
and an act similar to this section was passed.
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAYS.
The Supreme Court admitted that all laws
in existence at the date OF contract affect
ing its construction and enforcement form
a part OF it and cannot be changed so rs 10
impair its ydlue-a principle which has been
asserted over and over again by that court.
But as the law repealed was not in existence
at the date of the charter, they held that that
question was not involved, and that The only
question presented to them was whether the
rcucGy given was sufficient to enforce the
contract and equivalent to that taken away.
They decided this in the affirmative. In the
very next volume OF Otto the ease Of Keith
Us. CLARK is reported, in which the question
arose whether the prohibition by Tennessee
Of her taX-coilectOrS from taking tie war
issues OF the bank fOr taxes was contrary to
that provision OF the Constitution Of the
United States fOrbidding State to iDpalr
contracts, and the Court held that it was.
These bank notes were similar TO our tax
receivable coupons. | will call attention tC
ANOTHER RULE OF THAT COURT,
found in the Gaze Of AlcOtt Us. Supervisors,
to the effect that where the highest court OF
a State has once decided that contract i,
binding on the State, the United States SUI
preme Court will 20 hold il, although The
Legislature may attempt to change the con-
tract and the State court may reverse lis
own decision. Now, our Supreme Court
in the case OF Wright rs. AntonI, 22d Grat
tan, has held these coupons TO be binding
contracts OF this State No act OF the Lee
gsiature and no change OF decision by thai
court can affect them, for they VIII be en-
forced by the Supreme Court of the United
States. and this section OF the bill will b'
declared void. And just here | desire tC
ask the Readiusters Of this body who meaT
10 vote for this bill question which de
sire each one TO answer. Ii these coupons
are contracts OF the State, a. declared b.
our highest courts, and if this bill is draw
for the purpose OF impairing these con
tracts, what do they DO with
THE OATH THEY HAVE TAKEN
as senator's 10 support and maintain tn
Constitution Of the United States and OF th
State, f0rbldding the passage CT any las
importing the obligation Of a contract! Th
10Th section attempts to destroy the cot
BILE scrip, called loan-ovriidcates. by whic
the loan OF half dollar to the state sha
cntitIe the lender 10 n certificate OF one dol
lar, winch he may use sor it's face-Yllue II
the payment OF taxes. The Whole amOun
OF the tax to be levied upon real and per
sonal estate is to be anticipated in this way
II amounts to about one million and quar-
ter Of dollars. These certificates are to b
issued after 18th July, 1882. No doubt 1t
expected that the next Legislature viii dou
ble the taxes upon property in order tha
the revenue may not be reduced by this al
rangcment. Our Constitution forbids us I
borrow any money except to meet casuf
deficit in the revenue or to redeem preyiou
| liabilities OF the State.
PURPOSE OF THE CERTIFICATES.
Accordingly these certificates purpOrt
| be issued for these purposes. Let us exam
inc the pretext. BY the dictionary iurnishe
by the Readju>ting clerk OF this body, whic
must be authority with the majority here
the word casual means happening, or con
ina 10 pass lCithOW design, and lrdhOl
| beinq tOreSeen or expected, accidental, 5
that the craftsman Of this bill has locke
ahead two years, and has foreseen and el
Dpcted a deficit which is 10 come TO pas
! without being foreseen or expected, and
| to be accidental. But the loan j. also to n
deem previous liabilities-that Is, bonds
the State. In other words, two years fro
now the whole revenue 10 be derived fro
real and personal estates is to be applied
/ the previous, not the current, liabilities {
the State, and the State officers and Il
schools are to go without any revenue e!
cept what may come from llcenses-a Kin
arrangement indeed for the creditors. Bl
! doubt the sincerity OF the proposal. fe;
tits intended 10 be but the
REHEARSAL OF THE SCENE BETWEEN JOAg An
AMASA,
when J0ab took him by the beard with Il
right hand to kiss him. saying, cart tho
in health, my brOther!" And so sayin
smOte him with sword in the fifth ril
and struck him not again, for he died. FC
shame, senators, make no such excuses an
resort to no such devices as this bill col
tains. Say boldly that we mean to cut III
debt down TO twenty millions and TO repl
diate the balance and the coupons. Blu
Mr.. President, | wish to call attention
the fact that this bill perpetuates tw
OF the features OF the funding bill
OF 1871 and 1879, which the dom
nant party have PROMISED to get rid o
This bill makes capital OF the past-due il
terest OF the peeler bonds; but, worse tha
that, by its 18th section it makes an appr'
prlation for forty years to come, for Il
benefit OF the creditors OF the State, OF oil
third Of the revenue from property al
income, and Of 40 per cent. OF the reyen'
from licenses. 1t is TO be paid into the IRE
sury to the credit OF the public debt al
applied to the payment OF Interest; an
being part OF the act creating the nc
bonds. by the decisions which | have cit
1t is irrepealable, and your officers may
FORCED BY LEGAL PROCESS
to comply with its requirements. Suppo