Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-06-07


Of their organization for two years has
been such as to commend itself to the
majority of Virginia taxpayers, whose
voice spoke them into authority in the
the legislative department and over the
Capitol and other officers in 1879. They
affirm that the fruits of that triumph of
the people over such immense difficult
ties as then confronted them should be
preserved; that within two years they
have avertcd the threatening peril of in
creased taxation; that they have success
fully met and answered the aspersions OF
eight years upon the character and fame
of the Commonwealth and her people,
and have completely restored to her the
acknowledgement of the "outside world
of her just claim to super iority rs faith
preserving State over those who have
been chief among the assailants and de-
famers; that they have brought back to
the Virginian mind the once deep-root-
ed and fundamental conviction that a
State Constitution fixes the limit of leg
islative 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 princi-
pie should be the least government con-
sistcnt with the preservation Of order,
the protection Of life, liberty, and prop
erty, and this ut the least possible cost
to 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
aggregating over 20 per cent. of the
gross revenues of the State for any one
year; that they have opened 1854 public
schools for five months as against 1854
for the year previous, with terms Of
three months, and have paid much of
the diverted funds to the colleges and
humane institutions; that they have col
lccted the revenues and have honestly
and cOnstituti0nally disbursed them
Upon this record they ask the continued
confidence of the people, and this con-
vention submits for their approval the
folio wing statement of principles and
purposes, which will continue to guide
and inspire the Readjusters of Virginia !:
First. We recognize our obligation to
support the Institution for the Deaf.
Dumb and Blind, the lunatic asylums,
public free schools, and the government
out Of the revenues Of the State, and we
deprecate and denOunce that policy of
ring rule and subordinate sovereignty
which for years borrowed money out of
banks at high rates of interest for the
discharge of these paramount 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 reasscrt our purpose to
settle and adjust our State obligation on
the principles of the "bill to rcestablish
public credit" known rs the riddle
berger BILL" passed by the last General
Assembly and vetoed by the Governor.
We maintain that this measure recog-
ICES 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 Virginia to be
dealt with by her in her own way and
at her OWE pleasure; that it places
those of her creditors who have received
but six per cent. installments of interest
in nine years upon an exact equality
with those who, by corrupt agencies,
were enabled to absorb and monopolize
our means Of payment; that it agrees to
pay such rate of interest on our securi-
ties as can with certainty be met out of
the revenues Of the State, and that it
contains all the essential features of H.
nalty.
Third. We reassert our adherence to
the constitutional requirement for the
"cqual and uniform taxation" of prop
erty, exempting none except that speci-
fled by the Constitution and used eXclu-
s!vcly for religious charitable, and edu-
cationnl purposes"
Fourth. We rcassert that the para
mount obligation Of 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 by whose grace
they live; and it is enjoined upon our
representative officers to enforce the dis
charge of that duty to insure to our peo-
pie such rates, facilities, and connections
rs will protect every industry and inter
est against Discrimination, tend to the
development Of their agricultural and
mineral resources, encourage the invest
mcnt of active capital IN manufactures
and profitable employment of labor In
industrial enterprise, grasp for our cities
and whole State those advantages to
which by their geographical position
they are entitled, and fulfill all the great
public ends for which they were de-
signed.
Fifth. The Read busters hold the right
to II free ballot to be the right preserva-
tive of NIL rights, and that 1t should be
maintained In every State In the Union.
We believe the capitation-tax restriction
upon the suffrage In Virginia to be In
conflict with the fourteenth amendment
to the Constitution Of the United States.
We believe that IL Is Il violation of that
condition of reconstruction wherein the
pledge was given not to so amend our
State Constitution rs TO deprive any cit
lien or class of citizens of right to
vote except rs punishment for such
crimes M are felony Mt common law
We believe such prerequisite to voting |
to be contrary to the genius of our instl-
tutions, tho very foundations OF which |
Is representation IN antecedent to taxa
ton. We know that II has been u fail |
ire as u measure for the collection Of |
revenue, the pretended reason for Its In |
novation In 1876, and we know the base.
and dangerous uses to
which II has been prostituted. We know
Il contributes TO the increase Of monopo-
ly power and TO oorrupting the VOTER
For these aud other reasons we adhere
10 the purpose hitherto expressed to pro-
vide more cllectual Legislation for the
Of this tax, dedicated by the
Constitution to the public free schools,
md to abolish II rs II qualification for
md restriction upon suffrage.
Sixth. Tho Rcadlustcrs congratulate
Inc whole people Of Virginia on the
progress Of the last few years In dcvel-
,ping mineral resources and promoting