The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-17
The Debt Question.

tvcen The Coaltionists and the Democrats.
And by way Of clincher TO its argument.
our contemporary puts the following q'ics-
tyon TO us. We quote:
owe ask our contemporary Of the Dis
xgsch now II he were a member OF the
legislature (aud we mean no disrespcct by
tbe supposition) would he vote for or
against the repeal Of the coupon-killer law
II 1t became question
The voters Of Virginia have twice decided
Of the ballot-box that they will not pay the
debt OF Virginia as asccriained by the fund
ing bill OF 1871, nor as ascertained by the
ucCr1Iocu bill OF 1879. All the Demo
Gratis with whom we have ever eonyersed
on the subject have declared II TO be their
Intention TO acquiesce in that decision, or
rather those decisions. il the supreme
Court OF the United States should atliudge
The g,ppIrBEgoEg bill TO be constitutional.
We'll, that high Judicial tribunal has given
exactly this judgment. The RIrDLEBEBGEE
bill does not, says The court, impair the
obligation Of the contract OF 1871 between
Virginia and her creditors.
What them Is IT the duty Of the Demo-
Gratis OF Virginia toSndertake to enlishten
the Supreme Court Of the United States,
and 10 induce il 20 grant new hearing and
reverse It's decision Of last week! VINO
will answer in the affirmative! We think
we may reply, "Not one Democrat IN Viz
ginia."
What else might be donef The Inder-
lppeai suggests that a proposition may DC
made 10 repeal the coupOn-killinS law, ana
-,sks us whether we would vote Tor or
against such bill? We have no right TO
speak for any party, nor for any person
other than ourselves. Yet ~ the question
has been put TO u, we will answer IL cam
didly. We would not vote for the repeal
Of that law. To do so would bc TO violate
an implied pledge given by us and by
every Democrat who has promised to abide
Nv the decision OF the Supreme Court OF
the United States. To do 30 would be to
20 back TO 1879 and fight over again The bat
ties Of that year. TO do 30 would be TO
make the debt question more important
than any question Of national politics.
To do so would be TO serve notice on NEW
BERRY, LYBRoOK. MASSEY. FCLKERS0N, ana
all other Il, adiustor Democrats, that their
presence i'm the Democratic party was no
longer desired. TO DO so would be 70 ask
The voters TO reverse their own decisions OF
1870 and 1SSi--a task as hopeless, now
that the courts are srrayod on their side, as
would be that CT endeayoring to convince
q northern Republican that JEFF. DAVIS
went honestly and cOnscIentiorsly into the
"rebellion " of 1861.
Again: 4 call is now out for ConVen-
ZION Of the Democrats OF Virginia to be
held in July next. How reads that call!
We reproduce it:
Resolved, That general convention OF
The , Conservative Democracy of Virginia
he held in the city OF Lynchburg on We'd
ncsday, 25th day of July, 1888, at IL O'Clock
NJ, TO take such action in regard to all
matters pertaining TO the interests OF the
Observation-Disclosures party OF Virginia
as il NAV then deem conducive to ITS future
harmony.
All Conservative Democrats opposed to
Radicalism and bossi>m are equally entitled
10 participate in the election OF de!egates
20 the convention.
Resolved, That every city and county
shall be entitled TO one delegate ana one
alternate for every two hundred votes ana
fraction Of two hundred votes in excess OF
nne hundred votes cast in such city or
county for the two Hancock and English
electoral tickets in the last presidential
election.
in
Democrats are invited TO participate in the
election OF delegates to the Convention;
and it was expressly stated in the meeting
Of the State Central Committee that under
the terms OF the call any Democrat in VIZ
ginia, whether supporter OF the RIDDLE
BERGER bill OF not, would be eligible to
membership in the State Convention. we
take II, therefore, that Mr.. RlDpIEBERGER
himself. or any other member of the Legis-
Daturc who voted for the coupon-killing
bill, would be recognized a. delegate to
the Convention If accredited by a county
or district meeting Of Democrats opposed
10 Radcalism and bossism.
Again The call recognizes as Democrats
oil persons who voted for HANCOCK in 1856
provided only that they are opposed tc
Radicalism and bossism now.
II in all this the State Central Committe,
speaks for the Democratic party OF Nir
gnia. as no one, we suppose, VIII deny it
right to do, then every Democrat who may
run for the Legislature next fall ought t'
DC at liberty, and would be al liberty, L
pledge hiyseli TO vote against re0pcninl
abe debt question in any form.