Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-03
Tho Debt Question.

mo OtDt dutotAcA'
We have noticed in one and another
of our exchanges several paragraphs
like the following from the Eastern
Shore Herald
"ilon. John y. Massey has written
letter TO the Richmond Dispatch adj
yocsting constitutional convention as
the serest means Of extricating Fir-
ginia from the difficulties that now sur
round her. We have long held this
opinion. and hope that our next Cen
crai Assembly will take speedy mea-
sures to call such convention at an
carly date. There never was a greater
need or demand for amending the State
Constitution than exists at the present
time. The absolute failure Of all
attempts TO effect a compromise
with the public creditors, and the
persisiency with which some Of these
creditors have continued to harass the
State with litigation in the Federal
courts. render it absolutely necessary
that the sovereign people shall adopt a
constitution that will be ample to pro-
tect the life and integrity of the Com
monwealth against gambling brokers
and the abuse and usurpation of Fed
ersl power. Let us. therefore, have a
constitutional convention and adopt
new Constitution.
We repeat what We said when we
published Mr.. MAssEy's letter, that
so far as the State debt and all ques-
tons Of State rights are concerned. in
GLIDING Of course the powers of the
Federal courts, constitutional con-
yention differs in no way from legis-
laturc. Both bodies are bound by the
Constitution of the United States and
an ordinance Of constitutional con-
vention impairing in any way the obi
cation Of contracts would in the Federal
courts stand upon precisely the same
foundation as a similar act Of legiSla-
ture. "No State 4" can constitutionally
pass such a law or ordinance, and it
matters not one whit whether such acts
be attempted by the one or the other
body, they would be null and void, and
would Of course be so pronounced by
the Supreme Court of the United
States.
If State could get out from under
the Federal Constitution by the simple
cxpedient Of assembling constitutional
convention, the Federal courts would
soon be dwarfed into tribunals not
worthy Of respect. IL would not be in
relation to contracts only that constitu-
tional conventions would be convened.
No State can coin money, emit bills of
credit, make anything but gold and
silver tender in payment of debts,
pass any ex post .facto law. or grant
any title of nobility. These are some
Of the things--only portion Of them
which stand upon exactly the same
footing as the provision of the
Federal Constitution forbidding
State to pass any law impairing
the obligation Of contracts. The reader
will understand at once that the pro-
hibitory language applies as well to
convention as to an Or
binary legislature. Otherwise, the
would from one end of
the Union TO the other soon demand
State conventions rs a means Of making
fiat money OF irredeemable greenbacks a
tender in payment Of debts. Otherwise.
the silver lunatics would demand State
conventions as means Of removing all
restrictions upon the coinage Of silver
dollars. Otherwise, that provision of
the Federal Constitution which makes
voters out Of the negroes would posi-
bly, be eyadcd by the negro-hateS in
Ohio. and negroes be denied the right
Of suffrage in that State.
Clearly, therefore, whatever is TO be
done as to the public debt must be
done by the Legislature. That body |
csn do whatever constitutional con-
sention could do. II has not yet ex-
hausted its powers; and if the Supreme
Court Of the United States should sns-
tain BOND and HuGHEs in their recent
decision, the Legislature ought to be
convened at once.