Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-11
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER IL, 1885.
Solve the Problem.

The Democratic party Of Virginia
has gained great victory, and, gaining
II. has assumed great responsibility.
II has been entrusted by the people
with the final settlement Of all ques-
tons growing out Of the public debt oil
this Commonwealth. II will be COM
PEELED to solve the debt problem; or
else IL will have to account to the peo-
ple for its failure to do so. The last
Democratic State Convention passed
the following:
"The Democratic party heretofore
pledged its final acceptance OF
the settlement Of the public debt,
known as the Riddleberger BILL
which had then been declared
constitutional by the courts, State and
Federal. and its opposition to all fur
Their agitation Of the question or any
disturbance Of that settlement, by re-
peal or otherwise. This pledge was
observed with scrupulous fidelity on
the part Of our representatives by the
enactment of all needful and proper
measures OF legislation and the State
Of Virginia would have been forever
freed from the harassing demands Of
the public creditors but for the sudden
and inadequate reversal Of its own de-
cision by Republican court, rendering
still further legislation necessary for
the protection of the State. To such
further legislation, and as a part there
Of, 10 The protection and iHdemnifca-
tion Of The rerenue officers Of the State
for all official acts done in obedience TO
ITS iaps, the Democratic party pledges
Itself. We appeal to the people to re-
fuse wholly to pay any tax in coupons,
and thus at once, by their own united
patriotism and sovereign will, to rid the
Commonwealth Of this long and bane-
full controversy.
"The question Of the State debt has
ceased to be one of dollars and cents.
II has become one Of State sovereignty.
The question is, whether the State Of
Virginia shall be arraigned before the
Federal courts controlled by Republi-
can judges, adjudicsting upon the SOW
ereign rights of the State in the interest
of the bondholders, in defiance of one
Of the plainest provisions Of the Fed
eral Constitution. We appeal upon
this question to all men, irrespective Of
party, and invite them to unite with US
in defending the imperilled rights of
the Commonwealth
The Democrats, therefore, stand
pledged to whatever further legislation
may be necessary to the end had in
view. That end is to induce the credi-
tors of the State to accept the settle
ment offered in the RIDDLEBERGER
bill. Up to this time they have labor
ed under the delusion--or what we at
any rate hold to be a delusion-that
the Federal courts can compel sOver-
eign State to "speci6c performance "
when she promises to receive coupons
for taxes.
In this case, as in the Ohio case to
which we have lately referred several
times, we stand upon the Constitu-
tion-this time, the Federal Constitu-
ton. There must be some method of
convincing the Justices Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States that the
Constitution forbids that tribunal to
entertain suits against State, whether
these suits are disguised or appear in
their own character.
The Constitution, We repeat, is on
our side. Surely Virginia statesman
ship can devise method Of interposing
that Constitution as shield between us
and the Federal courts. Surely the
Democrats in the Legislature can in
vent or discover a means Of defending
Virginia from unconstitutional prosecu-
ton and persecution. Surely, in a
word, a State which has the law on its
side can produce lawyers able to make
that fact appear.
Put on your studying caps, ye mem
bers Of the General Assembly. A diff
feult task is before you.