The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-10-26
PERSONAL.
c A X d

nublished i'm the State an address under the
signature of +. g. Ruffin, president, TO the
tax-Davers and voters Of Virginia, criti
cising and c0ndemning the action Of the
treasurer Of Norfolk and myself in refusing
To levy for taxes after tender oi coupons
has been made. Justice to myself requires
that shall explain my actions III the mat
ter and my reasons for them. Legal DIS
cu.siOns i'm newspapers. eDen Whtn eafrted
on by trained locyerS rarely convince any
body or accomplish anything. And DO
not propose 30 attempt 10 answer all the
arguments of Mr.. Ruifin, president, as 10
the receiyability Of coupons Tor capllatl0i
and schOOl-tax further than to say that the
UejY same arguments have been recently
made. riM n,Uch mare force than ne mares
Than. 10 the Circuit Court of the United
States. and were by that court entirely DIS
regarded and OperyUied. II Is true as SAD
by Mr. +. e. Rutfin, president that ! was
elected by the Democratic party, but III
performing the duties Of my office | have
considered il my duty not 10 mir mp the td~S
of the State with resolutions Of cOhpe1tt'0hS,
policies Of PARTIES. and ChmSicH dictdtioHS
OF indemnity bodrds but to carry them out
as construed and defned by courts OF com
petent jurisdiction and authority Inc
Supreme Court of the United States ne
cided that a treasurer who levied after
tay-payer had rendered coupons was tres
passer. The Hastings Court of the city OF
Richmond Ga State COURT, following the de-
cisiOn of the Supreme Court refused 10
indlct parties who were doing business Wlth-
ont license after tender of coupons. The
Cjrcuit Court of the United States in test
cases gave damages and costs against the
treasurers. In view of these facts 1t became
q matter of grave consideration with me
what | should do. The Supreme Court had
decided Uhdt the tar r0S the Circuit court
had shown what the practical WOrking OF IL
would be even under the most favorable
circumstances The indications amounted
10 a certainty that numbers of suits would
be brought against me, the Actual damages
even and costs in which would amount 10
enough to sweep away all the property Oh
myself and those who had been kind enough
To become my sureties. The probability
was too that these suits would be pending
for years, the liability Of myself and my
bondsmen continuing all the while. In me
mean time the indemnitying act might De
repealed by another Legislature, or 1t might
be decided by the courts uncOnstltuuOnal
and invalid. as the counsel for the pond
holders has publicly proclaimed ms purpose
10 test it, Moreover, it seemed to me tnat
the Board, which was created TO indemnify
treasurers in certain cases, was exceeding lis
powers. and its actions were purely voluntary
when il endeayOred to interfere with or IN
struct the collecting officers OF the state. As
against these circumstances and facts, on
the other hand. was this Board of indemnity
instructing and urging me TO riotdte what
I kBe1g and then admitted To be the tar slin-
plv for the purposes of hiRdrdhce and OBJ
MJuctiOn< / did not consider 1t my d4tg
10 Iead ntyself 10 0ny such purposes anu /
came TO the conclusion that ! ought not to
make the levy. But before deciding finally
about the matter | determined To confer
with my bOndsmcn, whom / considered
liable for any trespasS committed ny me.
And as to their liability (Which Mr.. Ruliln,
president. denies) / have been advised by
counsel that there can be little question;
and i'm support of their opinion they re-
fer me, among others, to the case of Lam
mon u.s. Fe,sier, decided by the supreme
Court of the United States in Ill United
States Reports which so completely de-
cideS similar question, that If Mr.. kutiln,
president. will read it, even he Will be
bound To surrender his opinion as that case
at least was decided bN unanimous court
and he won't have his usual consolation
of asserting that the opinion OF the mWOF"y
is the law. | conferred not with t~o oil my
bondsmen. rs Mr.. Ruffin. president, asserts,
but with all of them except one or two who
dissenting voice, sustained me i'm my con
illusions, and while | did not, as insinuated
by Mr. Ruilin, president, form any COM
bination with any other treasurer, yet II
..1n gratiiicd % state that ccOY trc'~arer
in the StatesI2ith whom ] b9'c conferred,
or from ubOm ,b0fe hcdro, has ejid0rHd my
0ciion. The voters and taxpayers Will
doubtless be surprised to learn, what feel
justified i'm stating upon the best authority,
- stsf.. 30 nor
of the Board of Indemnity, dit not 1Dpro1e
ofthe resolution directing the address Of Mr.
Ruflin. president, and moreover, that ne, me
accrcdifod counsel Cf the SUITE, rhoSe premium
duty IL is 10 adriae its officers, 'rH not "|r4cf
the fJcGsurers To ieJy after a. tellde ~ conpo"S.
| have constantly used all my efforts and
influence to induce the citizens OI hch-
mOnd % pay their taxes M money, ana
not In coupons that the State might carry
ON her government and } believe that
thousands of dollars IN coupons rave Deen
kept ont of the Treasury which would
have been paid in had J adopted a less con-
ciliatOry course. ! confidently peHeFe
that the ugif0fi0u Of the coupon question
Nv the iacnberS Of the indemnity Board,
and the threats and extreme methods and
measures that they are inclined 20 resort
20 hdyc done more to briJig db0W the payment
Of tdIeS iH cOUDOaS N0H MI The act0H" ~
an the treaSurers in The state together.
do not feel that there is any moral or legal
obligation upon me, or that the welfare Of
my State requires me TO resign my position
10 enable the Indemnity Board 10 carry
out. not the lars OF the State but their policy,
and / believe the people of Richmond
will sustain me in the course ! have taken.
The statement made by Mr. Ruttin, presi-
dent. that I ever assured the Board that
would arrest coupon-tcnderer OF levy on
him. or do anything else that might be
ordered bv il. Is a mistake. never did any
such thing. Many of the arguments and
statements of Mr. Rulin, president, | have
not attempted TO reply TO, because deemed