Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-02-20
Oh! We HypOcrites !

treachery of Pashas and their
troops in whom he had confidence.
So the gates to the citadel OF VIZ
Cinia sovereignty have been thrown
wide open again to the stealthy
and vicious horde of foreign specu-
lators upon her misfortunes by the
treachery of those of her sons who
boosted the gre test superiority as
patriots and professed the most
ardent devotion to the Common
wealth.
Never in the history of any state
has such deception, such fraud
been practiced by her own citizens
as in this.
To-day we find the whole debt
settlement being upturned. How
and wherefore? Suit was instituted
bv a New Yorker before Judges
Bond and Hughes to compel the
state of Virginia, or rather her
auditor, to receive S499s, in cou-
pons. and these two judges have
decided in favor of the coupon
holder. Herein lies the fraud ::
the Supreme Court Of the United
States declared that the Riddle
berger Coupon Killer No. j." was
not violative of any provision oil
the Z. S. Constitution, including
that prohibiting the impairment Of
the obligation of contract, and
this was admitted by men OF all
parties to be conclusive Of the de t
ouestion-so conclusive, in fact,
that the fnnder party met IN con
vention at Lynchburg and declared
their entire acquiescence in all that
had been done. Within less than
sixteen months since the election OF
the legislature, we find a suit being
brought for TWO dollars less than
sJOOD lthe appealable minimum),
before two inferior judges, who
ignore the decision of the supreme
Court, and decide contrawise.
Does any rational man believe
this was for any purpose but to
prevent appeal to the Supreme
Court Z We think not. Does any
man believe the New Yorker owed
Just S4,99S OF taxes for which
coupons we're made receivable Z
We think not. The fact is the
New Yorker owes no taxes, and the
effect of the decision of those two
Judges is to make Virginia go be-
yond the so called contract and
pay out money for the coupons. 1t
goes in effect to the extent OF say
ing that State can be sued shy
citizens of another State - which Is
expressly prohibited by the NJ Art.
OF amendment to the u. >.
Constitution.
Let us recall the accusations so
repeatedly made against the read
justers, to wit: that they wanted
to disregard law and the judiciary;
and then note, that after years of
struggle against odds and money,
they enacted a measure which the
State Court Of Appeals and the
U. $. Supreme Court declared to
DO in nOwIse repugnant to the Con-
stituU0ns state or federal; and
that now they who made the ac-
cusations set 1t defiance the con-
stlued law by do &c that would
be a disgrace 70 semi civilization.
Should this decision be acQUesced
I'm, the State OF Virginia is relegated
to the position she occupied with
respect to her debt in 1879. Four
teen millions will be added to the
principal Of her debt, all of which
bears 6 per cent. interest, or $50,
600 per anuum. The McCulIocl
bill remains intact with its double
compound interest machinery, and
with its graduated interest scale
The peelers still out are entitled {
their 6 per cent. without power t.
enforce it's collection. The Onl,
difference is that S6,OOO,OOO wa
turned in tor funding under The
"Riddleberger act before thii
decision which will bear but pc
cent.
Should la. decision stand all tb'
interest thai has accrued aud il
represented by outstanding cOu
pons since 1871 under the first
funding act anl 1873 (ander the
McCulloch OiiD will be so many
mortgages upon the revenues OF
the state to absorb the taxes before
asylumns, schools or any institu
ton of government is provided for
Should this decision stand the
funding Of outstanding interest
into principal under the McCul-
loch bill goes on. Should this
decision stand, the taxes Of the
people must go from 40 to so cents
on the s1oO Of property.
Such is the situation we are
facing to-day. Some will naturally
inquire whether we are equal to it,
Yes we are. 1t is unfortunate and
to be deploIed that we must 80
10 issue again; but good soldiers
have taken the same line more
than once in the same battle
Governor Cameron has issued al
order forbidding the Auditor t.
receive the coupons rendered un
der the decision, and notifies al
collecting officers that if the.
recognize it and accept coupons
f.n,o othars they will not be re