Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-04-29
Wednesday, April %, 1855.
RECALCITRANr vIRcINIANs.

The people of Virginia are not accepting
the recent decision of the United States
Supreme court with that unanimity which
is desirable and wise. It is reported that the
State auditor has directed the treasurer to
refuse to accept coupons in payment of taxes,
in spite of the decision which makes such
payment lawful. The decision is sharply
criticised by some of the newspapers. One
writer asserts, as an overruling idea in Vir-
ginia, that ''the central government has
aimed a fatal blow at State sovereignty " The
Richmond Wing cannot understand the de-
cision, and declares that ''there are political
questions underlying this whole subject
which courts can never finally adjudicate.
They are for determination only by the
people and their legislatures. Even as
mere question of obligation and money, there
is no mode by which courts can enforce judg
ment against State and its people" 1t
warmly defends the reputation scheme and
says: We must now return squarely to that
scheme; place it fully in the competent and
resolute hands that devised it, guard it care
fully from the treachery of pretended friends
but real enemies; and backed by the people
of Virginia and all the departments of its
government, it will prevail against all the
forces that brokers and other coupon
scalpers can bring against it.
1t is pleasing to see that all the Virginians
do not hold these opinions. A writer in the
Richmond State claims that many Virginians
have only acquiesced in partial repudiation
as an extreme resort to save the State from
grievous political complications, and that
they will now give no encouragement to re-
sistance to authority or evasion of the
law to sustain financial policy that
they believe to be dishonest. In
stead of such an attempt at nulli-
hcation, he counsels at
tempt to reach settlement. An opportuni
ty will be offered for a compromise that will
save the finances of the State, that will eff
fectually settle the debt question, CLEANSE
the escutcheon of Virginia and place her
fairly and honorably before the whole world.
Thousands are eager for such a consumma-
ton. 1t is natural it is wise; it is in order.
1t will be interesting to see how far the at
tempt to nullify the decision of the Supreme
court will go. Probably not far. As the
Boston Advertiser points out: The auditors
design is apparently to compel the person
who offers coupons to invoke the process of
mandamus to compel them to be taken. But
inasmueh the opinion of the court ex-
pressly recited that the tender of coupons to
the amount of given tax relieves the tax
payer from further liability in regard to the
tax, and that the State cannot distrain or
sell his estate, or any part of it, for taxes,
after he has rendered coupons in payment,
and that he may seek relief from oppressive
proceedings of that character in the United
States courts, it would not seem that the
holder of the coupons need resort to any pro-
ceedings to compel them to be taken. The
State can begin an action, if it sees fit, to
force him to pay his taxes in money, but he
need not have much doubt of the result.