Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-01-25
The Virginia Tax Case.

The iocisiaa Il he u. 6. Supreme Cau,t,
rooicIed yesterday thgous; justice Field, 10
tie case Of ICrt:aaa W. GiccnhoT, Treasurer
OF tbs city Oh Richmond. p!on1uGcire urconsti'
tuticual th4 Law OF he Vi1gilia Legislature Of
1876. which imposes q tx on tic COUPONS OF
tho Fireiaia corso!s, funded ia 1871, aid pso-
hltitg lax collectors lrom receiving Tho interest
coupons Ct such bordiin payment Of taxts with.
GU! first decu,ins from Ihcm the amount Of
the State tx ca the bonds, i5 tho principal
theme CT discussion at the capital. Tho court
held that tho &c: 10 question. imposing such o
tax snd prohibiting the reception Of tic coupons
at their full valro 10 payment ct tsxOs, is uu-
constitution! end vGid, because it impsirs the
|! obligation Of contrsc. made between tho State
and l!s c;cdltcrS, and which is contrary to
public iGish AID publ, ro!ic!. There vas
| large a.tCEdei c, ia tho ojurt room in cypecSs-
| !ioD ti tho rcrde!iog CT tho opinion, which was
given shortly after QUO o'clock. Justice Field
rcsd tho cplnioa Ia q ccar ard di3i1cs voice,
| and the greatest attention YES paid TO what be
slid. Seen after 10 had concluded tho last
| scaterco thrro was something of o rush toward
| tho door, and 10 less than tn s,co1ds after
wards the telegraph oficts in the lcbbits CT the
| Capitol Wcrc besclged By crowds, Who sent Gu!
| tho ncWs 10 eli paris CT tic country. While Tho
| decision was voGy important ono financially,
! what gives It additional iotorcs: is tho Influence
| 1t will exert on Virginia politics. 1t ia generally
accepted that it is disastrous blow for tho ro-
| aCjusters. The VirginiaDs who Oppose Malone
sCd bis Dolio7 think that this will ctFectually put
8 stop to such legislation Gs YES demanded ard
cCac:cd y The esdiusters, End that under tho
judgment Of tho Supreme Court tho Malone
| patty will G:s,vo. Sonntot Johnston said that
| tho decision will necessarily check any laasla.
| ton looking 10 O fo.cibo adjustment of tho
Virginia State debt. "Mahono's mission" ho
| said, "es conceived BY myself ard his followers
In regard to tho readjus.ment Of tho debt. ia
ended. Hereafter the legislative bodies of Fir.
Ri0la will Cot attcmp! 10 make settlement Of
| tho deb without tho consent of tho c.aj;to 5,
IS Was detisncd b. tho readujters' PARTY" Lilo
believed that the result OF tic decision would DO
| to etrspethcn the credit of the State aud p,c
pa'c tho way for 90 amioabo s0tllcmcnt be-
| twcon tho State AID tho bopdho!dcrs. Other
| representatives. Of VirRitia wcro lika1iso of The
Option thst tho decision takes from tho read
luatcrs their power for further mifchc. AID
! futuEo :iukrEIug with tho State debt. The
Court d8cll5 With emphasis on tho Obligation Of
a Stale to its creditors. and tho danger of
States rcpudlatlog such contracts. In giving
| their opinion, that they have not tho SLIGHTEST
doubt Is to tho urcons.tutiously Of such laws
es these ct 1876. they Comment upon tho fact
that Tho State will be better situated If Guah
! sentiments do not prevail.
The Court Inss il dowa ccnl|y AID uc ins
| tekaby that a state has not tho right 10 distc-
gard ns obligations and violate o solemn com
pacs which it has mado with Others
| There is considerable curiosity to know what
Gc7. Malone GOV proposes 10 do. [. il not cx-
p1c;ed that no will leave the Marty Of which re
10 tho heal, nnd slICw it 10 dissolve. lie vii
conflcuo his fight IS before, and will not ehsa
don it until 80 bacly whipped that 10 vl be
| forced 10 Withdraw from it.