Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-08-27
The Virginia Canvass.


largest crowd assembled here to-day
% hear the discussion between Major
Daniel, the Democrat, and Col Cam
,ron, the Readjuster, candidates for
Governor, that has been in Staunton
IN court day for many years. Nearly
TWO thousand persons listened to the
speeches in the courtyard. Major
Daniel lead off in an hours speech.
He said that between him and his OPP
ponent there was not cent difference
in the matter of taxation, and the
platform on which he stood was pledg-
ed to no increase of taxation. In the
matter of the public schools, Major
Daniel said he was a member of the
which founded them and in
seven Legislatures he never cast vote
against them, but always for their
interests. The fact that two thousand
more schools had been opened since
the Readjusters got possession of the
State government, was owing to the
that previous Democratic legislation,
including the Henkle school bill had
provided the means to do it. Major
Daniel asked Cameron the question,
"Are you a Democrat or a Repub-
lican ?" to which COL Cameron rose,
and replied: II am Democratic
Rerdjuster, with liberal principles,
while my competitor is Democratic
Funder, ANY man can tell you with what
principles Maj. Daniel here read,
with much effect, Cameron's record,
as made in his editorial in Peters
burg paper several years ago, in which
extreme debtpaying principles were
avowed, fifty millions fixed as the
amount of the debt, and those who
were not willing to pay all of it, indi-
rectly characterized as community
of thieves. He called up the memory
of a ballot that was used in some parts
of Virginia last fall, on which Gar
fields name was put at the head of
the ticket bearing the names of the
Readjuster electors, in order to deceive
the ignorant blacks into voting it,
under the impression that they were
voting Republican ticket. This and
the fact that Auditor Massey said he
could have bought forty votes at ten
dollars each in the recent gubernato-
rial convention Maj Daniel held up as
illustrations of the Readjuster idea Of
a free ballot and fair count.
Mr.. Cameron replied to Maj. Daniel
in a speech of an hour. He pointed
out the inconsistency of Daniel going
around the country and telling every
body Of how rich the State was becom-
ing, and yet standing here with a
proposition to cut six per cent down
to three per cent. He said the Fund
ers left the legacy of an empty treas
ury to the Readjusters. When they
got possession of the State, as Daniel
well knew, the legislature had to au-
thorize Auditor Massey to go out in
the streets and borrow 100000.
Whatever might have been his former
views about the State debt, they were
formed on the false reports of the re-
sources of the State made by officials,
and none could Say that since 1877,
when he, himself examined into it, he
had wavered from firm advocacy of
REIMBURSEMENT. He accepted the state
ment of his opponent, that he was not
opposed to the. public schools, but the
record showed that the legislation of
his party had almost ruined them.
Col, Cameron put the question to Mai.
Daniel: "First, what will you do if
three per cent cannot be paid at the
present rate of taxation -? Second, are
you in favor of the capitation tax ?"
He closed by predicting the success
of Readjustment.
Maj. Daniel opened the reioinder
by saying that Cameron's prophecies
about the success Of the principles
of Readjustment will meet the same
fate as Mahone's prophecy last fall
about carrying the State by $4,000
majority, when he only got 81 900
out of 100000 votes. With reference
to the capitation tax, he said he voted
in company with John E. Massey j ohm
Paul and others of Cameron's friends,
to put the prepayment clause in the
constitution, and he would now ask
Mr.. Cameron, Are you in favor of
abolishing the capitation tax? ?"
Cameron-I am in favor of repeal
ing that clause which requires its pre-.
payment as a prerequisite to vote"
Daniel.-"Are you in favor of abol-
ishing it. and ifnot, how will you col
lect it.
Cameron,-"Iam in favor of abolish
ing it as a prerequisite feature, and l
would collect it by some mode like tho
louisiana method"
Daniel.-"Then you are in favor of
letting a poor man vote free, and then
sieze his pig for the capitation tax ?"
Major Daniel went on to say that
the acceptance of the Governors chair
has nothing to do with the repeating
of the capitation tax as prerequisite,
as it has to be done by an amendment
to the constitution; but if he was elect
ed Governor he pledged himself to