The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-27


courts.
| Col. Skinner was frequently applauded dur
| ing the delivery OF his speech. The colored
people were especially generous in their out
bursts from time to time.
CAPT. RIDDLEBERGER,
when he rose TO his feet, was greeted with long
and continued cheering.
He commenced by saying that he cid moi
come to discuss men, There were great is.
sues involved in this canvass, in comparison
with which individuals were but as single
atom. The great difficulty with the Funders
is that they cannot be made to understand that
few individuals are not the whole State.
They always proceed upon the assumption
that it would require powerful leverage to
hold up the world if they would happen to
step aside
In presenting the Riddleberger bill, the
speaker challenged any man to attack it on
principle. The first provision of that measure
was the setting aside Of one-third of the amount
due by the old State to West Virginia, upon
the principle that the obligation followed the
territory. This would leaye the debt, $50,
100000, but it had been increased $12, O00, 900
by the capitalization OF interest. The courts
had decided that interest is suspended, as be-
tween individuals in time of war, when the
debtor and creditor are in belligerent countries,
and the same law is applicable to States This
is why an abatement of war and reconstruc-
ton interest is demanded These are the main
features of the Riddleberger bill, and he defied
any man to attack them upon the law of the
question. Under that bill the Re-adjuster par
ty claimed that the State owed certain
amount, and that they intended to make pro-
vision for its payment. The funders, on the
other hand, announce no platform and present
no principle. They say that we honestly owe
some indefinite amount, proclaim that we are
abundantly able to pay, and then turn right
around and say that we don't intend to pay
unless it is convenient-in other words, that if
the present rate of taxation will not meet all
the obligations of the State, land they know
very well that it will not be sufficiently then
the annual deficit must continue. And their
ticket is about on a par with the announce
ment they make as to the debt. Between two
out-and- out funders, they have placed an open
and avowed re,adjuster, who not only favor
ed the REIMBURSEMENT Of the public debt, but Of
private debts as well. This gentleman has
not recanted one sentence of his re-adjuster
creed, and yet the last funder will be found
voting for him.
Capt Riddleberger's presentation of the
capitation tax restriction was ably and forclbly
made. He said that when he subscribed to
the Constitution of the United States and to
the conditions upon which Virginia was re-
councils, he there and then, in common with
every voter in the State, solemnly swore that
the Constitution of the State, as 1t then stood,
should never be so altered and amended as to
Gisfranchise any class of citizens then entitled
to exercise the right OF suffrage. This imposi-
ton of the capitation tax restriction was in
direct violation of that solemn oath, and per-
jury was added to the crime of restricting a
free ballot when that amendment to the State
Constitution was adopted. The wisest and
the best of our ancestry had favored free
ballot 1t was in search of the right OF govern
ment by the people, that our fore-fathers left
their comfortable homes in the old world and
took up their abode in the Western wilderness
From their landing to the close of Bacon's re-
bellion the right of freemen to vote was not
restricted, and it was only when Governor
Berkeley returned to Virginia, and thanked
God that there were neither school houses nor
printing presses, that a price was put upon
suffrage. He traced the subsequent acts Of
conventions on the subject, down to 1851,
when free ballot was proclaimed. In refer
ring to the effect OF the capitation restriction
on the finances of the State, the speaker
showed by official figures that there was
greater delinquency under the new provision
than under the DID,
The cry OF Africanizing the State was an
other fraud. There was no danger whatey-
er Of the black man getting control, for the
majority of the people in the State were white
and the more intelligent.
Col. Skinner, interrupting- "Are you in fa-
vor of paying the national debt war interest
and all 2"
Capt Riddleberger-"I am in favor of pay
ing every dollar of it, There is no war inter-
est to be paid"
As to the Henkel bill, over which the fund
ers so much exult and to which they point as
the record Of their attachment to the schools,
said before. The authorship of that bill had
been attributed to him. He had neither adj
mitted nor denied the charge. MI. Henkel
was elected to the Legislature as a Re-adjust-
err He had canvassed Shenandoah in Hen
keps. behalf, and after one of the hardest and
most bitter fights Henkel was elected. When
he started to Richmond, Henkel carried the
School Bill in his pocket, and along with 1t
letter of introduction to Genl Malone He
presented the letter to Gen. Malone, and the
Genl also inspected the School Bill Subse-
quently the bill was introduced by Mr. Hen
KEEL and passed, with provision setting aside
rs cents for the schools. When the bill left
Shenandoah it called for 80 cents instead of 70,
and after its introduction the speaker asked
why the reduction had been made Henkel
replied that Gen. Echols said eff you will cut
it down to rs cents, will get, Gov Holiday
to approve it." When the reduction was made
Riddleberger washed his hands of the whole
thing, and therefore could not claim the au-
thorship of the measure as it passed the Leg
islature.
AS to the Re-adjusters of the county having
put debt-paying Republican on their ticket,
he said that precedent had been set in Able
marie, where one of the members of the Fund
er State Committee, COL Duke, had run on a
ticket with E.W. Early, pronounced Repub-
liean. If Yost had been nominated by the
Funder convention and had accepted, every
member of their party would have voted fol
him. He, the speaker, would be willing to
give So so for the photograph of single
funder who would say he would not.
Whereupon red-hot funder, Mr. Ben. Hen
ton, cried out, "you can have my photograph,
Mr.. Riddleberger. would not have voted for
him." Capt. Riddleberger pulled out the
money and insisted on Henton taking it,while
the crowd yelled, take it," take it, and
scene of good humored confusion ensued.
Henton declined, saying "you can use it for
campaign purposes"