National Republican., 1883-10-10
THE NEW VIRGINIA BOND :cAsrs.
The Decision OF the United states Supreme
Court at ITS Last Term.


Tho United States supreme court at its last
term rendered what was then regarded as
final decision in the important Virginia bond
case of Antoni vs.. Greenhow, involving tho
question whether the coupons of state bonds
were a legal tender in the payment of state
taxes.
The opinion of tho court, however, was
variously understood in Virginia by the
judges whose decisions II was supposed to
CONTROL aud, MS q consequence, new litigation
arose with regard to the receivablity of
coupons for taxes, and new set of cases has
been brought to this court upon writs OF error
from the United States circuit court for the
eastorn district of Virginia and from the
hustings court Of the city of Richmond. Tho
suits are all against Samuel G. Green
how, treasurer of the city just named,
and the plaintiffs in error are Thomas
Poindoxter, A. Austin Smith, VIM. l.. White,
aud Samuel s. Carter. In behalf of these
plaintiffs William l.. Royall their counsel yes
terday filed a motion TO advance all the cases,
for the reason that they are of great public
importance, and ~ decision of them Is neces-
sary to the peace and order of society in the
state of Virginia" Mr.. Royal, in his argu-
ment in support of the motion to advance,
said: AT its last term the court advanced
and decided tho case of Antoni VS.. Groenhow,
because it considered that case one of such
public Importance that IL ought to be decided
ut once. Now every consideration which
could have impelled the court to advance and
decide Antoni VS.. Greenhow, demands that
these cases should bo advanced and de-
cided. The decision which the court made
is not understood in the state. BY eXamin-
ing Judge Bonds opinion tho court will see
that he holds that under tho decisions of this
court coupons are legal tender for taxes,
and that he will enjoin the collectors from
levying after tender of coupons. Under
this decision oil persons who owe as
much as $500, and can consequently ap-
ply to him for an injunction arc ex-
empted from the payment OF taxes
But by inspecting tho record Of case
No. 800 tho court will see that the state judges
take different view of the decision this
court has made, and hold that tho taxes must
first be paid in money, and that there must
| be suit by the taxpayer to recover his money
back, as the state law requires Thus all persons
| who pay less than $500 of taxes are compelled
to pay their taxes in money, whilst those who
owe $500 pay no taxes at all This is an in
tolerabe state of affairs, aud something must
be done to change it, or great disorder will
ensue.
The defendant in error concurs with
cases be advanced, and his request
should carry great weight with it,
lie represents to the court that he
cannot know his rights and duties as col
lector OF the states taxes until it decides the
questions involved. On one side the statutes
of the state forbid him to receive coupons and
commands him to levy on the tax payers
property; on the other the United States
circuit court informs him that the coupons
arc legal tender, and the tax payers
threaten that they will sue him for trespass
if he lovies ON their property. This con-
dition of things exists in every county in the
state"
The court took the motion to advance under
adviscment.