Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-21
Opposed TO n Commission.
SENATE CHAMBER,


To the Editor of the Dispatch:
I had hoped that the agitation of the
debt question in Virginia was nearing
the end, and that the people would soon
be relieved from the trials and ankle
ties resulting from bitter contests
among themselves over this question.
For nearly four years the people of all
parties in the State have stood in solid
column demanding the enforcement Of
the laws passed by the Legislature
Of 1SSl-'S2. For the same length
Of time the creditors have resorted to
every means to harass our people and
huIpiliate the State, and have exhausted
every effort to enforce the payment OF
their debt as nominated in the bond"
What has been the result With de-
eision after decision from the courts the
receipts Of coupons into the Treasury
have decreased from year to year until
during the last fiscal year out of a reve-
nue. of over two million of dollars only
about fifty thousand dollars were paid
in coupons. From all their decisions
the bondholders secured no lasting
and beneficial results. The people are
still masters Of the situation, and
every consideration requires firm adj
herencc to their position.
1t is no time now to swap horses.
The issue has been joined, and it is no
time now to hoist /" flag Of truce"
and open negotiations with syndicate
Of SPECTATORS who have scrupled at
nothing to Cypress and humiliate our
people. care not what Limitation is
put upon its power, / am opposed to
any commission to treat with the cre-
ditors for any purpose whatever. In
my opinion, it would be fatal policy.
Such a step would be pregnant with
untold evils to the people of Virginia.
Whence comes this proposition for a
commission? Do the creditors ask it:
If so, so much stronger are the reasons
why we should not comply with their
request. 1t only shows that notwith-
standing the decisions Of the courts
they yet feel and recognize the power
of the State to enforce the Riddleber-
ger settlement or make it worse for
them in their further opposition to the
repeated expression Of the will of the
people, and not that they bear any love
towards the people of Virginia or de-
sire to relieve the State in its despe-
rate struggle for existence. They
have exerted every power to drive us to
the wall, and now such request from
them is adding "insult to injury"
fit is made as an unsolicited propo-
sition upon the part of the State, it will
be Justly regarded as showing the white
feather and giving up the fight. Such
action upon the part Of the Legislature
will doubtless produce deep feeling
of discomfort among all the people Of
the State, and especially in the South
western section. And it should be
remembered, as goes the Southwest so
goes the State. The Legislature should
put its foot upon such move at once
and let the creditors understand that
we ask no quarter and will give none.
Virginia has proposed her settlement
and that is her ultimatum. Its terms
are more just and equitable to the
creditor than those upon which every
other southern State has settled its
debt. The creditors know this, and we
want no commission with salary Of
$4,000 a year each, besides clerical
force, as has been suggested, to inform
them again Of our situation.
If the creditors will fund, Virginia
will carry out the settlement in good
faith; if not, they must accept the
consequences of their further opposi-
ton.
My position is the Riddleberger bill
or nothing and lam in favor of making
the fight on paying nothing very soon
if the creditors continue in their stub
born resistance. If Virginia has the
power to go as far as the Riddleberger
bill and no farther, she has the power
to abSolve her people from the payment
Of any portion Of the debt claimed
against her; and if this unrighteous
warfare is continued to be waged
against her the time is not far distant
when the people will use this power.
Virginia should stand firm and fight it
out on her "own line if takes all the
summer" Firm and immovable, and
the victory is ours; yield an inch, and
disastrous results will follow. Re-
specially, WILLIAM f. RHEA.