The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-23
senator wingaeId on the Public Debt

Dir. Wingfield on Thursday offered
series of resolutions, and said
Mfr. President,-His Excellency the Gov
arnor in his message to this General As
,emblv announced, TO the surprise OF the
country, that the Riddleberger bill needed
further legislation In order. 10 perfect II,
and the Senator from Washington (Mr.
Baileyl declared, to the surprise OF this
senate, that the debt question was not set
tied. Ii is pertinent to inquire, sir, why
that debt question was not settled. Two
wears since the people passed upon that
settlement at the hallot-box. They gave
lul and ample power to the successful
oarty TO settle that question; they gave
hem both branches OF the General Assem-
Div: they gave them the Executive. a Sn-
preme Court of Appeals was elected In SYM
nalhv with their views. With all the pow
ers Of the government in their hands, with
the popular will. declared al the ballot-boX,
sustaining them, with their avowed declara-
| ton that II the power was given them They
would settle the question, they now come
here aud say il is not settled-they now
come and say they have not settled this
yexed question. Sir, whyf Was 1t Tor
want Of the willi or for the want OF the
ability to settle it? Why does the Cover
nor OF this Commonwealth now come In
and tell us that the measures already en-
acted for this settlement are not perfect
| The Senator from Washington Mr.. Bailey,
tells us that the debt is not settled, and,
sir, the Governor suggests one or two
amendments to that law, and L refer
ESPECIALLY to this: ''that coupons proven
before the courts q quote from memory,
land therefore cannot be exact)-thal
| toe money for them should not be refund.
ed without q special act OF appropriation
AT nrst that struck me fsvorably, but, act.
| ing on the principle of Z" 1imeo DdndoS el
!donG ferentes," / looked further into it,
and / lind that there Is grave reason fol
suggesting that Coupon-Killer No. vii
be repealed by Coupon-Kiiler No. 2, and
am forced to the conclusion. upon lookinl
to the decisions Of the courts, that the deb
question Is not settled. Therefore, sir,
have introduced this resolution, and l asl
that IL be referred to the Committee o
Finance by way o. suggestion, In ordel
that the serious attention OF this Genera
Assembly and OF the people OF this Stat
may be called to this question, aud 10 erde
that at this early day Of the session it ma,
be taken into serious consideration.
Il am not welded to the plan suggest
I The preamble preceding these resolution
is, however, based upon the principle tina
! setats popali est suprema lex. This princl
, pie Is embodied in the resolutions. Thre,
1 propositions must control In the settlement
OF the debt--frst, the Riddleberger legis
: lation must be left intact; secondly, tina
. IL shall be made TO the interest OF the tax
7 payer not to use coupons, bnt to pay II
: money; thirdly, 1t shall be made a con
! (sideraaon to the bondbolder 10 fund In tn,
new Riddleberger per cents.
My desire is not TO introduce now Ci
gest OF the decisions OF the court on thi.
subject, but rather to open up the matter
2 dealing with it tentatively. / shall, there
fore, not 60 further at this time.
Mr.. WinGeld's resolutions were as fol
. lows preamble omitted:
: RESOLVED, That the Committee on Finance
: and Banks be, and Is hereby, instructed Ia
/ Inquire as to the expediency OF fixing 3
/ certain rate OF taxstion and a schedule Of
/ tax on licenses aud income, providing thai
the ta1-payer shall receive an acquittapce il
iuli OF the amount assessed upon payment
OF u percentage thereof lsay one half In
gold, silver. or other lawful money.
III. As TO the expediency aud propriety o.
. providing for the prompt payment Of ths
interest on the Riddleberger bonds.
Ill. As to the expedlency and prcprIety
OF providing q sinking.fund for the re.
demption OF the Riddleberger bonds Al
their Dar yalue.