The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-03

completely restored to her the acknow-
ledgment OF The "outslde world" OF her
Just claim 10 superiority as faith-pre.
serving State over those who have been
chief among her assailants and defamers {;
that they have brought back 10 the Vlr.
ginian mind the once deep-rooted aud
fundamental conviction that a State Con.
sIituiion fixes the limit Of legislative
power and must be respected; that the
sovereignty resides with the people and
cannot be alienated; that government Is
not supported by force, but depends upon
free will; that the great desideratum and
governing principle should be the least
government consistent with the preservation
OF order, the protection OF life, liberty, and
property, and this at the least possible cost
10 those who must pay taxes for its sup
port that they have developed frauds and
defaults In the management OF the public
revenues and public institutions aggre-
eating over 20 per cent. OF the gross reve.
nues OF the state for any one year: that
they have opened 4,S54 public schools for
! five months as against 2.504 for the year
| previous, with terms OF three months, and
have raid much OF the diverted funds 10 the
colleges and humane institutions; that they
have collected the revenues and have hon.
eslv and constitutionaly disbursed them.
Upon this record they ask the continued
confidence Of the people, and this Conven.
ton submits for their approval the follow
| ing statement OF principles and purposes,
which Will continue TO guide and inspire the
Readiusters OF Virginia:
| First. We recognize our obligation to
support the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb,
and Bind, the luDatic asyums, the public
free schools, and the government out OF the
revenues OF the State, and We deprecale
and denounce that policy OF ring rule and
subol dinated sovereignty which for years
borrowed money out OF banks at high rates
OF interest for the discharge OF these para
mount trusts, while our revenues were left
the prey Of commercial exchanges, available
to the State only at the option OF spectators
and syndicates.
Second. We reSssert our purpose to set
tie and adjust our State obligations on the
principles OF The " bill to recstablish public
credit" known as the Riddleberger
bill" passed 10y the last General Assembly
and vetoed by the Governor We main
tain that this measure recognizes the Just
debt Of Virginia in this, that it assumes two
thirds OF all the money Virginia borrowed,
and sets aside the other third TO West Nir-
| ginia TO be dealt with by her IN her own
way and at her own pleasure; that II places
those Of her creditors who have received
bat 6 per cent. instalmens OF interest In
nine years upon an exact equality WITH
those who, by corrupt agencies, were
enabled 10 absorb and mOnOpOiZe our
means OF payment; that it agrees to pay
such rate OF interest on our securities as
can with certainty be met out OF the rev.
enues OF the State, and that 1t contains all
81 q nnli
Third. We rea-sert our adherence to the
constitutional requirement for the "tqual
and uniform taxation" OF property, eX-
empling none except that specified by the
| Constitution and used exclusively for "re-
| lgious. charitable, and educational pur-
poses
Fourth. We reassert that the paramount
obligation cf the various works Of internal
Improvement is TO The people OF the state.
by whose authority they were created, by
whose money they were constructed,
and bv whose grace they live; and it
| is enioined upon our. representative
officers 10 enforce the discharge OF
that duty to insure to our people such
rates, facilities, and connections as VIII pro-
| tect every industry and interest against dls-
crimnation, tend 20 the development OF
their agricultural and mineral resources,
| encourage lhe investment OF active capital
| in manufactures and profitable employment
OF labor in Industrial enterprises, grasp for
our cilles and whole State those advantages
TO which by their geographical position
they are entitled, and fulfil all the great
public end, for which they were designed.
Fifth. The ReSdiusters hold the right to
free ballot TO be the right preseryaliye OF
all rights, and that il should be maintained
| in every state in the Union. We believe
| the caDitation-taX restriction upon the sur
frace in virginia to be in conflict with the
| fourteenth amendment TO the Constitution
OF the United states. We believe that ii Is
n violation OF that condition OF reconstruc-
ton wherein the pledge was given not to so
amend our State Constitution as to deprive
anv citizen or class OF citizens OF right
| to vote except as punishment for such
crimes as are felony at common law.
We believe such prerequisite 10
voting to be contrary to the genius
Of our institutions, the very foundation OF
which is representation as antecedent to
taxation. We know that it has been fail.
ure as q measure for the collection OF reye-
nue., the PIE ended reason for its innovation
in 1876, and we know the base, demoral-
iZing, and dangerous uses TO which II has
been prosltuied. We know 1t contributes
10 the increase Of monopoly power and TO
corrupiinS the voter. For these and other
reasons we adhere to the purpose hitherto
expressed to provide more efectual legi,la-
latjon for lhe collection OF this tax, dedl-
Gated By the Constitution TO the public free
seh,ols, and to abolish it as a qualification
for and restriction upon suffrage.
Sixth. The Readiuslers congratulate the
whole peopic Of Virginia on the progress
Of the last few years in developing mineral
resources and promoting manufacturing
enterDriseS in the State, and they declare
their purpose 70 aid these great and growing
industries by all proper and essential legis-
lation, State and Federal. To this end they
will continue their efforts in behalf OF more
cordial and iraterna relations between
the sections and States and especially for
that concord and harmony when will make
the country TO know how earnestly and sim
cerely Virginia invited all men into her
borders as visitors or TO become citizens
without fear OF social or political ostracism;
that every man, from whatever section or
country, Shall enjoy the fullest freedom OF
thought, speech, politics, and religion, ana
that the State which first formulated these
as Fundamental in free government is yet
the citadel for their exercise and protection.
II was here moved that the Convention
take recess. Lost.
THE NUMBER OF DELEGATES.
The Chair said the report on the number
OF delegates was called for, and the secre-
tary reported that there were 759 present.
THE PLATFORM READJCsTED.
Mr. Gardner, OF Henrico, moved that the
Convention proceed to nominations. The
Chairman said that the chairman on Plat
form and Resolutions requests time TO re-
tire for conference. and be could not enter