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

A Joint discussion between Col. James H.
Skinner, representing the Daniel ticket, and
Col. J. w. Hansbrough, for the Comeron tick
ct, took place at Mt. Sidney last Tuesday
night. A large audience was in attendance,
the greater proportion OF which was favorable
to Cameron Col. Skinner openedthe discus
sion in neat and graceful speech, in which he
criticised the record of Col. Cameron, Mr.
Lewis and Gen Malone, and touched upon
the political views of other prominent friends
of Cameron, discussing neither of the platforms
of the respective parties.
Col Hansbrough followed ina strong speech,
as we are informed, explaining the Riddleber-
ger bill, and maintaining the general policy
| of the Readjusters as presented IN their plat
form.
In his reioinder, Col Skinner made refer
ence to the debt question, maintaining that
the revenue derived from the present rate of
taxation would be sufficient for the support of
the government, the public schools, and per
cent on the debt He assumed that the cred
itors would be willing to surrender thei. bonds
bearing per cent interest, for a bond bearing
3 per cent interest.
| Col. Skinner ought to know that there is not
the remotest probability of this. After the
creditors have been driven to the Supreme
Court Of the United States, and by that tribu-
nal sustained in the funded securities they
now hold-al of which bear 6 per cent inter
est, except about SS0OO,000 of As.
81 III i IL
tod, that Col Skinner has come down to the
platform Of his party that he has surrendered
his conviction as TO the duty of public speak
ers to educate the people up to meeting the OBJ
legations OF the state as they stand, and that re-
ally he has become a Readjuster. He knows
well enough that the creditors, after all that
has TRANSFERRED in Virginia for the past ten
years, have no idea oil compromising their claims
especially since they have been fortified by
the decisions of the courts. And for him TO ac-
cept the platform of his party and discuss the
debt question from That standpoint, sincerely an
attempt TO delude the people. That platform, on
this question, is meaningless, except as q de-
vice to deceive the taxpayers and voters. II
is disgusting and cowardly, and as bare piece
OF tlemagoguery as was ever thrown into the
shape OF 4 resolution. Unless there is some
Way to force the creditors to reimbursement
there will never be any change in the present
status of the funded debt. 1t will have to be
met by an increase of taxation, or continued
default in interest TO the peeler bond holders
and a continued robbery ofthe public schools
and the charitable institutions of the State II
the Riddleberger bill should be decided by the
court TO be unconstitutional in the event of
lis becoming a law, anu It's coustitutionality is
tested-then the necessity will arise to provide
| revenues TO pay the interest on the debt as it
now exists, by an increase of the rate of taxa
ton. There will be no way to get out of this
and it is the merest delusion to discuss the aues-
ton from any other standpoint
We learn that the discussion between the
gentlemen was conducted in the best spirit
and that everything passed off very agreeably
except that there were very few present who
sympathized with the cause Col Skinner rep
| resented.
For debt payers, the Democratic party is
cutting sorry figure in this canvass and it
would not surprise us if the people of Augusta
condemned the pretense in very decided man
ner at the ballot box in November next