Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-02-19
THE DEBT QUESTION.

To the editor Of The Alexandria Gazette
From your leading editorials Of the 14th
and 10th instant, it would appear that your
object was to revive the discussion oflhe debt
question from the standpoint of 70. We
thought the results of that and the succeed
lug election had decided that question for
ali Time, 80 far as the people of the State
could determine il, and that the State
authorities are now bound TO utilize al: the
powers Of the State 10 execute the existing
laws upon The subject. The democratic
party, y men it met in convention i'll L.:
burg, gave It's solemn pledge that il would
carry out the Riddle berger debt settlement,
and nearly, ifnot all, ofthe democratic mem,
bers who were elected to the Legislature IN
the fall of 1889 pledged themselves - their
constituents to carry out in good faith ti'ai
settlement. The crisis is now III hnnd.
Another power, outside of the people o! the
State, and outside of State authority, has
come to the front. The United States Dis.
trict Court has made decision that. If
tamely acquiesed in, will result in the total
overthrow of that settlement. Though the
present Governor of Virginia was made 40
in spite of our opposition, though we never
were read justerS and never favored any
coupon killers" or 'cGupou cripplers' a"d
never expect to, yet we think the Governor
is right in making the issue. The basement
officers are the paid servants Of the Stat"
and are bound to execute its laws. Ii
another power lnteivenes ard assumes
authority over their actions, IL is not for
them to determine the question OF which
is the greuter-tbeir day is to obey the
power from whom they accepted the trust,
and to suffer Imprisonment or whatever
el-e may result from the due performance
of the duties of the trust. If these officers
are of he stamp, that men should he, who
assume such responsible trusts, we cannot
conceive how they could hesitate, or how
they should require the order OF ih" Gov
ernor to compel them to execute the laws
OF the power that created them. Let the
issue be made in the manner that will bring
about the speediest decision Of the question
as to the power Of the State To do is 1t
pleases with 81 debt owed by it. There are
Two Questions that should he decided y"
soon ~ possible: lst. Whether the claus.
in tho Il. S. Constitution, forbilding Il State
from passing any law that impalrs The obi
CATION of q contract, applies to States when
to SO called contracts--if il is determined
that it does apply to them. 81. What rcm-
edy can the L. =. Government grant to the
compIainants? In other words, where Is the
!imi To the authority of the L. ). Govern
meul? and where can Stale sovereignty
assert itself? Upon these questions the
cpimions of the people who desire to obr,
the legally constituted authorities are float
inc In the air. We and we think all The
people, desire to have these questions for
ever settled This crisi, is tie inevilahI"
consequence of lha position TAX EN- By I'll"
State in reference 10 It's debt, and shon!d
bring about speedy determination Of these
questions. There is no disposition on The
part of the people TO resist the legitimate
authority of the general government, but
they desire TO have il determined what that
authority is, in cases OF this character, :"
that the Legislature may, in future, makr
the lawa of the State in accordance wills
the laws ofthe United States. DEMOCRAT
FAuouIER COUNTY, February IS.