Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-03-16
"EnvestigatOr's'' Reply to Eau.
Guier,3

ter0gaio1ies published 10 recant number OF
theGtz lite respondent has appeared. He signs
himself "Fauquier." His frs: query is who is
Investigate" or what is his political status p
Thoush this Is matter 20! material to the
issue between US. which ISSUE involves the
"rcsolutiors" only and not the character Ct
| those who oppose CT those who advocate their
| adoption, ct tho same time We have no tic ion
to answer, that We Investigator prefers the
plural we" IS it SQUADS more modest than tho
singular "l') arc opposed to reputation
in every shape and form. and always have
beeo. whether it appears 10 tho plain gcrb with
which its GvoWed followers irvast it, or lurking
amid tho decorations cf lundtr rhetoric. wo
care not. That in 1879, believing with Eau.
quet" that the Funding bill of 1871 was q
hy.uro and beyond the reach of legislation, 10
voted fer what We regarded smaller bill, theMc.
| Culloch bill; that NO never approved of tho lat.
tor IN tho abstract but simply as the b.st We
could do. That the Riddlebslg,r bill vas after.
wardsproposed aud framed, as it was in accord.
auce with "Sneod vs. Tennessee" We believed ii
was sn I'D quate remedy for the overthrow Of tho
fraud OF 1871 end, with slight amendment,
settlement of tho debt fair alike to State and
creditor. We believe so now. Aud moreover.
that this settlement will be accomplished not as
"tauqoier' fears by tha Republican parly of
VIrguia" tus by the Liberals" of the Stale
led BY Gen. Mahouc-al united upon o common
platform OF opposition to 90 ultra, intoleraut
and blundotiug party. We understand you,
"Fauquer. y You iotcnd 10 tho coming con.
test to cry "neeEo su9rcmscy'' to ftisbton the
whites into your party. 1t will not d.. 1t is
played cut. You tried it Tor your partr.
rathcr.l 10 1879 whenever o CHANCE appered
1t fell Hat Your party tried it again in 1880,
aud tho ST 00O votes pollod for tho Malone
tickets. electoral and Congressional. leaving
your party 10 pi!iGble minority as opposed by
tho two other parties, told you unmistakably
you would have 10 find some other political
bu&bcsr With which to work upon Tho tears Of
ignorant VOt.r9. You suggest that "Iovcsti-
gator is probably republican. You knew
before you wrote that ho was. Yes, "Fauquior,"
you arc right. lie believes 10 tho principles
Of the national republican partg-.ho tariff,
hard money, the equality of every man before
the law tho hoaess payment of our debts
being 10 the naiu its platform. Now ccm,,
"Fsuqa2r." honor bright don't sou agree
with me in ralional politics? And is this the
OILY difference-that | vote my principles aud
you voto somebody clso's. Aud nov, having
ans 1ertd yon Gs to Tho political status of 'Iu4
Vestigator.' pray what is your political
siaiu:?' You say that Investigator is az uti.
ma!o result Of various political trausmuta,ions"
Yoo. on the other hand. arc tho result OF 90
effort OF CERTAIN political fOrcs to mako poll.
tician who could 'st on tho tcrco" and be on
each side at tho same time and b. perfectly
co1'c onilou5 IN every position. But. with oil
your political defects, "Fauquier," you arc
heightened conservative. ocratic.republi.
canores d uster-iunder gentleman, and aro tho
very man to lead your party ut time when
they sr, wiling to be anything and everything
to keep 10 power. So much for "Fauo oie1;;"
nCw let Us como to tho ISSUE. Tho question we
proFouuded YES simple one. The second
resolution declares that starting with the net
revenues, proper allowance should be mado for
tho support of the State government, tho main.
tenanco of tho public schools, the sinking fund
aud The contingent liabilities cf the State, and
tho balance BIO devoted to The interest on the
public deb: adequately to ell classes of its cred.
TORS What wo wished to know was, die
you lotead TO scizo upon the revenues of tho
State uoder the ruling Of the Supreme Court
Of The United States 10 "Snoed VS.. Tennessee"
sud dcduo,irg tho allowances for government,
schools, &c., 10 squander the pitilu balance on
| Thirty millions, which, according to Fundor
statistic, was tho debt OF Virsiois 10 1879.
| Tho S; c'nder of the resolutions said it was over
thirty-tWo mions) This would hsvs the ef-
teot OF paving Interest 90 the illegal war inter
| est, funded by the two first funding bills, and
thus perpctuate Troog upon the holders of
tho honest part ct our debt But tho rcpudis
ton feature of The scheme is that, under its Oh.
Grafton the creditors msy get nothing, whereas
the Riddeberger bill fixes liability ca tho
State for every dollar of Understanding Gebt
for which this Virginia is liable, and promises
10 pay. three per cent iotsrts We believe
that Elk per cant. should BE- substituted erd
hca Ve Woull 30 paying less on cur ontiro debt
than We now pay annually under tho funding
bills. which recng1z' OILY q part of our Just
| indebtedness. But takon as it stands il is an
equitable aeiu9tment and far better than auy
| thing that tundGlism will cff1r. The pcoplo
VII adopt this measure and Should, AID doubt.
less will, keep down every cent. OF interest &C
Gu ng undsr il.
how much our revenues hcvo boon reduced
by tho last assessment is not known. Our belief
| is the reduction is eDormous-nay to ouch m ex.
tent IS 10 Lave little after paying the expense Of
government, the schools, &C. II our appre- |
| honsion should prove to BIZ we'll grounded there
is but orc honest course. and that IT, after max.
ing the Riddleberger bill q law, increase ta1es
sufficiently to meet its annually accruing inter
est This may BIO an unpopular sentiment Be |
an Improper assessment and make her creditors |
| sutar for it. Investigator" may be inconsist.
ent as "Fauqaier" alleges. but no will never DO |
found advocating such policy. But should our |
apprehension prove (as We trust it willy false and
there be need OF an increase. then ell the bet.
ter. Tho Riddlebarger bill. reaching ell the |
ends OF Justice, will: when it ia properly under.
stood, cleanse Virginia from every stain of re-. |
pudlsilon and settle the debt question finally. |
l! will never DO done Otherwise. 1t will never
DO done "Esrquier' by your psrty-mark what |
We ,sy Tho PISS: With its honors belongs to
To conclude, "Investipstorn spnesIed n rou
10 explain the meaning of the resolutions bro
posed here last court day. In your reply You
| let tho cat out of tie big" Your party YOU
Inform US will tread any path of policy with
sooner than lose its grip on State offices. This
| is substantially what you say, and this is the
| meaning Of thu Resolutions" You are an hon.
| est msn "Fsuquier" You would disdain 10 do
| a wrong act, to defrsud for instance, however
much good might afterwards spring from It,
You admit that Virginia owes come debt. You