The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-05-21

party of Reputation is to be found Ill the
act approved November IS 1854. which
imposes on the creditor a tax of fifty cents
for every bond, no matter what may be
the denomination, issued to him under the
act.
J 1t will be difficult to realize that the ann
of the measures above recited was to pro-
mote settlement and final repose Of the
question. The Interpretation must be
that it was, as the result is. to inclte DIS
trust and hostility where confidence and |
friendship ought to be strong and cordlals
The policy can no longer be dlsgui sed. |
Misiudging the character or this people.
the local leaders of the Democratic party
give tongue everywhere throughout the
State to the covert scDeme. a new issue
must be raised by which they hope to
reach coveted place and absolute power
over our public affairs.
The scheme is so to harass the creditor
as to induce him to stand away from the
Riddleberger settlement, and. by Until
ating proceeding, contend for other terms.
while the prejudices of the people are to
be- aroused at the failure of settlement,
and the consequences that would follow
in return to the funding law of ISL.
This the people know would saddle upon
them debt largely in excess of the two
thirds Of the correctly ascertained debt OF
the original State, and an annual demand
for interest which no rate of taxation they
can bear would suffice to meet.
1t is that alternative which would bring
ruin and reputation at last, or constl-
tutional convention and the eXtingulsh-
ment of the debt at once and forever.
REPUBLICAN AIMS.
The Republicans of Virginia understand
the scheme. and will resolutely resist both
of the alternatives it presents.
They mean to uphold the Riddleherger
settlement as it was before its mutilation
by the Democratic party, believing that it
fills the measure of justice and equity.
To attempt in this paper afull presenta-
ton of the acts by which the debt paying
sentiment of the Bourbon party in Vir-
ginia might fairly be measured would eX
tend it beyond readable endurance 1t is
enough to say that they had. at heavy
extra expense to the State. two regular
and two extended sessions of the General
Assembly. when one in every two wears is
Inv the Constitution contemplated. and has
usually afforded all the time needed for
legislation.
Their expenses of Government were
s.. 269. $40. when our Republican admins
tration had redpced Them to $500. 600 an
nnallv
In All that time no measure of public
Importance engaged their attention. Par
tizan investigations aft a cost of $50 600
resnIting in neither discoveries nor re-
forms 1artizan nrosecution of indicial of
ficers the formation of political machin-
erv for controlling fine electoral power of
tbe neonla tba nassaga of nocket
charters ana of over one hundred re-
lief bills whereby defaultlng Bour-
bon collectors OF revenue ana tnelr
snretles were released from the payment
OF ruby SlUO,UU0 OF taxes pald tnem by Inc
people. and which had doubtless Deen eA-
pended LII promoting their polltlcai cam
paigns these expiolts NANNY clfcum'
scrloe thelI leglsiaGlIe VOTE.
Nob conIent Win the release VI 50 much
Oh the puplic revenues as mad peen, hilsap-
propfiated IN theSe certain cases, tile sen :
constituted guardians Oh the pupilc laleh
and the rights OF the Dondholder-Ihe
Democratlc party OF Elrgiilla.lm one
sweeping act, approved tne .tn OF Match,
1904. cancer the clallhs OF tne common
wealth., covered ny every olilciai PONG eA-
ecuted prlor 10 Inc ISL OIL Juiy, io'o, lor
any uelaulI III returns ol revenues COZ =
lie cted. State or county ana What sum Oh
money TINS pldhkeI IelleI plll WIInAoluo
ir0nl the treasury Vi the oIaue let tlle nian
tel VINO Can;
oo"NIA 80, o"c AoooAoH 'o0 - wv -.
tne people OIL virginia are 10 choose aI Iiie
polls IN November. IN tiiaI struggle eiie
Repuplicahs OF TINS STATE nope 1or Inc
earnest corporation ana moral suppoIt
lIoul their pollIicai oreeileh eiIoushoue
Tie country.
ADDENDuM.
THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION.
The divided opinions delivered by the
Supreme Court Of the United States since
the preparation of the foregoing paper
make this addendum necessary to a proper
understanding of the present Status of the
debt question in Virginia.
The Riddeberger law. as originally ell
acted, is merely refunding measure. 1t
ascertains the true Indebtedness and fixes
the proportion of the share of each class
of obligation heretofore assumed to rep
resent the debt of the unpartitioned State
for which new bonds of the Virginia that
now is OF proposed to be given. In no
sense or relation acas this lalo before the
Court, nor does the Court deal Nth it,
1t was with the prerogative of the tax
receivable coupon. and the legislative and
official acts that are alleged to invade the
sanctity of the contract which it imports,
that the court dealt.
These several acts. the more conspic-
nous of which are referred to in the