The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-09

can to the creditors OF the State. Mo'c
anon.
Tne state Debt.
,Ts OBLIGATION C0NTRAsrED WITH STATE
SOVEREIGNTY.
10 The Editors OF the Dispatch y,
! m :. Si,tes' ricbts,v or the "soverciehlt
Of n State, as taught and undersooe U!
! bomas jefferson and other ieadioe 'ign's
of his political school, were pTdCuco'
oucstiof, at the present day, the very 'uu'.
nous editorials that grace the coiutnns OF
your neirbbor the Wing, and lis elaDOra'e
onotations from the ancient fathers OF the
ronubI,c and the "Bili OF Rights OF Wiz.
,iniaD I'm demonstration and support OF
these glorious old Democratic doctrines
wopId be Of profound interest aud pTacu'
cal importance TO the public; but 10 see
that old Federal cynic, winch Tor thir'y
wears before the war was ieauinS
champion Of an opposite creed ana vioen.
armament OF the S;ates'.rigbts doctrines OF
Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson now step
pompously to the front to eXpound anu
maintain the ancient doctrines OF popular
sovereignty, makes the conduct OF that Jour
mai decidedly amusing IL not ridiculous
for what practical bearings have the reso'h-
tjons OF '08 100, or the doctl ines OF States
rights. rs taught by our fathers and strug-
oled for as a fundamental feature OF the
Democratic creed for nearly century. To
do with the present politics OF the country,
and especially with the settlement OF the
debt question Of Virginia!
You know, Messrs. Editors, that the au'
thor OF this bret article has been lifelong
States'-rights" man and a full believer in
the sovereignty OF The States. | do not
know that have always endorsed to their
fullest extent all Of the doctrines OF the
great champion of that school, Mr.. Cal
noun. but did endorse and advocate the
right OF secession, which the Wing did not,
and without which the sovereignty OF q
S,dtev becomes soicism and an absurdlty.
But since practical results OF the late war
Is there any rationa. mind 10 the South or
country who would champion such an en-
| ploded theory under the present materially
changed condition of things and radical
revolution in our form Of government a.
cXpounded and understood by US in the
past
But in this brief article it is not my pur-
pose to re0Den with the wing the discus
sion Of these old and exploded doctrines OF
" States rights" which were my creed and
very fine cloth before they we're forever set
tied by the iual arbitrament Of painful
civil war. | only wish 10 expose ana com.
bat fol a moment the absurd pretentIon OF
that journal IN its idea OF Estate sovereign
iy" as apple Ible TO the right OF virginia TO
repudiate or reGdjust Der debt, or any part
| Of IL, in her own way, and without any re-
gard TO the rights or wishes OF her create
OrS. Such Il revolving doctrine never en-.
tered the brain, much less the eXpounded
creed. OF the founders of States rights and
State sovereignty. They would spurn such
doctrines if living at tins day as cor
rupting and dishonorabe in the last degree
10 n Safe as well as 20 individuals. The
founders OF the republic 10 carefully de-
6nipg the preserved rights" Of the states
never intended to include among those
rights the privilege or power of govern
ment to swindle its public creditors. Tbev
were not dishonest men themselves, and
did not intend to grant a perpetual charter
of dishonesty and bankruptcy TO their chill
dren after them. Thank heaven, "repudia-
ton" or forcibe reimbursement, was never
counted among the preserved rights OF
the states, nor claimed as among the attri-
buies of State sovereignty unit! the present
day, when new eXpounders OF old creeds
have sprung upon the stage 10 corrupt and
undermine the fundamental principles oil
an honest system OF government and an
honest confederation OF States.
have uniformly maintained through
other channels. as l now do through your
courtesy, Messrs. Editors, that Il State, be-
eau it is of more dignity" sovereignty
if YOU please-has no more right TO borrow
money under false prctences or rob IT'S Gre
ditor. than has Que of its individual mem
bers. A citizen does not cease 10 be "free'
man - or lose Of any OF his preserved
rights" by being forced to pay his honest
debts. Neither docs the State under which
he lives, and which passes proper laws Il
enforce its DEGREES lose any OF its boastel
:. sovereignty" by beng subjected to th'
same universal and Just crucible. 1t is only
the hIghWay-robbcr whO wants to cOntrac
debts and pay them in his own way
and at his own time, without any respec
| TO the wishes or rights OF his creditors
Even the invading army OF cvil'Zed ma
tion cannot nowadays 90 back on It's help
less creditors without just compensation o
restitution. But the bold and seemlngl,
popular proposition is now preached up II
Virginia by its modern "States'.rights
men that public debt, contracted thIrt.
wears ago uDon The honor and credit OF
State, can be repudiaied or readiusted b.
the borrower in defiance and contempt o
the rights or consent OF the honest creditor
And they honor and seek TO legaIize thi
system of public robbery under the films
disguise Of State sovereignty" and til
} .'rights OF the people,.
such State sovereignty, Messrs. Editors
will not bear either the dignity or force o
that tern, or respect among the nations o
peoples of the earth. 1t is not Estate,
rights" bet The wOrSe form Of "highe
tdtc"f
IL Is true that one legislature has n
right 10 bind the action OF a succeeding lt
gislaturc. but it is equally true that no sue
ceeding legislature has the right TO MULTI
, the laws or contracts OF its predecessor!
i. had, then no individual or cOrporatio
would ever deal with a State. No ma
would ever loan it money or contract wit
it for ANYTHING. On such principle W
would never have had a railroad or canal o
! any public buildings or monuments. Til
contract OF a State with creditor is as 81
cred and binding as that between ind
yidHals, aud il State laws add stat
courts are not able to enforce such cor
/, tracts, then there ought to be, anC
2 | i'm my opinion, are, laws and court
o OF the United States amply sufficien
to make States comply with their obligi
tions as well as individual citizens. Tn
: Virginia Legislature OF 1871 and OF 1877
made taxes receivable in coupons for 5
6 many specified years, and no succeedn
: legislature, nor eUen the unanimous Uote 0
all The people Of Virginia, can repeal Q
nulhfy those contracts between debtor an
creditor unless by the consent of th
latter! And predict now, that II eve
the State courts shall refuse or neglect I
enforce those laws, or seek TO nuIlify then
the Supreme Court OF the United State
Will apply the proper remedy, and max