Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-06-08
Readjuster Convention.
THE PLATFORM.

the majority OF Virginia taxpayers.
whose voice spoke them into authority
in the legislative department and over
the Capitol aud other Offices in 1879,
They affirm that the fruits of that
triumph of the people over such i'm
mense difficulties as then confronted
them shou Id be preserved that within
two years they have averted the threat
ening peril of increased taxation that
they have successfully met and answer
cd the aspersOns of eight years upon
| the character and fame of the Com
monweallh and her people, and have
completely restored to her the acknow-
leigment Of the "outside world' of her
| Just claim to superiority as falth-pre-
serving State over those who have been
chief among her assailants and defam-
ers that they have brought back to
the Virginlan mind the once deep
rooted and fundamental conviction that
State Constitution fixes the limit of
legislative power and must be respect
ed 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 prin-
ciple should be the least government
consistent with preservation OF order,
the protection Of life, liberty, and pro-
perry. and this is at the least possible
cost to those who must pay taxes Tor its
support that they have developed
frauds and defaults in the management
Of the public revenues and public lnsti-
tuhons aggregatiDg 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
2, 5O4 for the year previous, with terms
of three months, and have paid much OF
the diverted funds to the college and
humane institutions; that they have
collected the revenues and have hon
estly and constitutionally disbursed
them. Upon this record they ask the
continued confidence Of the people, and
this Convention submits for their ap-
proval the following statement Of prln-
! ciples and purposes, which will con-
tnue to guide and inspire the Readius'
tiers of Virginia;
| First. We recognize our obligation 10
support the Institution for the Deaf,
Dumb, and Blind, the lunatic asylums,
the public free schools, and the govern.
ment out Of the revenues Of the State,
and we depreeate and denOunce that
policy Of ring rule and subordinated
sovereignty which for years borrowed
money out Of banks at high rates Of in
terest for the discharge Of these para
mount trusts, while our revenues were
left the pre- Of commercial exchanges,
available to the State only at the OF
ton Of spectators and syndicatea.
second. We reassert our purpose to
settle and adjust our State obligations
on the principles Of the "bill to re-
establish public credit" known as The
"Riddleberger bill, " passed by the last
General Assembly and vetoed by the
Governor. We maintain that this
measure recognizes the Just debt Of
Virginia in this, that it assumes TIVE
thirds Of all the money Virginia bor-
rowed. and sets aside the other third 10
West Virginia to be dealt with by her
in her own way and at her own pleas
ure; that II places those Of her creditors
who have received but { per cent. in
stalments Of interest II nine years upon
an exact equality with those who, by
corrupt agencies, were enabled to absorb
and mOuoplize our means OF payment;
| that i agrees to pay such rate Of inter
est on our securities as can with Ger
tainty be met out of the revenues OF
the State, and that It contains all tie
essential features 0. finally.
Third. We reassert our adherence to
the constitutional requirement for the
"eoual and uniform taxation" of pro-
perty, exempting none except that
specified by the Constitution and used
exclunvely for religious, charitable,
and educational Durposes."
Fearth. We reasse.t that the para
mount obligation Of the various works
otinternal 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
people such rates, facilities, and con.
nections as viii protect every industry
and interest against discrimination,
tend to the development OF their agri-
cul tural and mineral resources, encour-
age the investment Of active capital in
manufactures and profitable employ
ment OF labor 10 industrial enterprises,
grasp for our cities and whole State
those advantages to which Dy their
geographical position they are entitled
and fulfil all the great public ends for
which they were designed.
Fifth. The Readjusters hold the right
to free ballot to be the right pressrys-
tive Of all rights, and that it should be
maintained in every State IN the Union.
We believe the captation-tax rsstric-
ton upon the suffrage IN Virginia to be
in conflict with the fourteenth amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United
States. We believe that it is a VIOLA
ton OF that condition Of reconstruction