Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-02-27
The Case as il Stands.

I uuuef the hluuieOcIStI Dlli
inasmuch as that had been finally
and favorably passed upon by the
highest judicial tribunal Of this
Countrywide Supreme Court Of the
United States; but that the
opinion Of himself and associate
was justified by a clause Of the last
tax-bill in which the Legislature
had egregiously blundered in its
attempt to do something with what
it knew nothing about. In a
word, if they had let the debt ques-
ton as severely alone as they
promised TO do there would have
been no more coupon legislation.
The license tax clause was of itself
sufficient, in the opinion Of the
court, to reopen the subject, and
thus jeopardize every institution OF
our state government for another
period of years-till the people
can again assert their purpose
through men chosen to execute
their will.
In the meantime our situation Is
indeed critical. The Richmond
Commercial Exchange have issued
an address exhOrting people not
to avail themselves of the dicisiOn,
but to pay their taxes in money
This is clever, but will hardly be of
much avail. Large taxpayers and
corporations will go back to the
coupons If they can. If they can
pay their taxes with little over half
what they would pay in money, we
may depend upon it that addresses
will not penetrate the receptacle of
patriotism.
Other flinders of the olden time
have become frightened at their
own handiwork, and have asked
Mr.. Tucker, as chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee, to
press through a bill that will allow
of appeal to the Supreme Court in
the lately decided cases, and Mr..
Tucker has presented the matter
TO his committee and from thence
to the House. But with only a
few more session days, aud ap-
preparation legislation unfinished,
it is idle to hope for any speedy re-
lief in that way. We repeat, we
commend their prOmptitude. 1t is
the promptitude which usually
characterizes mere time-servers in
extricatiDg themselves from diff
culties and dangers in which they
may possibly be cleft
One other instance of bourbon
demorahzation was observable in
Richmond last week. A case was
tried under "cOupon killer No. l, +"
which requires proof of the
genuineness of the coupon. The
Jury failed to agree. This is the
first case tried in a funder CITY with
such a result. hi every case hereto
fore tried, in Staunton, Lynchburg'
Richmond and other places, the
finding has been in favor of the
coupon. In this case the treasurer
and auditor avowed their inability
to determine the question OF
genuineness useless the bond ac-
3
companied the coupon. How
humiliating this must all be to the
"best people" who Affected TO
despise so many Of their fellow
citizens How much to their credit,
too, that they march up to it with
such fortitude, albeit fear of future
retirement to the pastures OF
Nebuchadnezzer may be the pro
mOter of that cardinal virtue.
We could be more lavish in our
panegyrics if all these gentlemen
had found higher ground upon
which to base their line of action.
The reason assigned in their adj
dress for its issuance is that unless
something of the kind is adopted
the debt question will be carried
before the people again. 1t would
have been more becoming to have
said that the people have the right
to dispose Of such matters, and
they, having adjusted their public
debt according to the dictates OF
their consciences, it is our duty as
good citizens to assist in maintain
iDgit by every proper method.
Had they done this, it would have
been an apology for their blunder-
ings which many charitable ones
would have been inclined to ac.
cept. A they put it, it is dread
apprehension of the people instead
Of sincere acquiescence in tue will OF
a majority Of them.
Attorney General Blair did all
IN his power to redeem the situation
by asking Judge Bond for a re.
hearing, which was refused, and
then petitioning for appeal TO the I.
S. Supreme Court, which was also
refused because the amount involv-
ed was less than $4,000. Justice
Miller was OF those who decided
the "coupon killer" favorabIy to
Virginia, but he could not be exc
pected to do that which is posi-.
lively forbidden. 1t now remains
for bOurbonism to heal tue sore II
has made. If it shall fail, the re-
adinsters who understand the
business aud have heart for the
work will shOy them how easily
the thing may be done.