Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-23
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 20, 1885
Virginia to be numbled.

The letter OF Mr.. ROYAL, which we
published yesterday, aud other indications
that We need not mention, give evidence
that the bondlolders are bent upon using
Judge BOND as an instrument In the work
of appropriating the revenues OF the Com
mopweslth 10 their own use and behoof.
when he was last here Judge BOND,
instead Of following and being gov
crned by the decision OF the Supreme
Court OF Appeals OF Virginia as to the
taxes levied for the support OF the public
schools, actually had the face TO reverse that
decision, and, in contempt OF IL, TO say,
upon the bench, that the school-taxes might
be paid IN coupons. Now, q Judge who
would render such a decision as that
NAV be relied upon TO issue an injunction
forbidding the Board OF 1ndemnlty to pay
the damages assessed against her officers for
leyying upon the property OF persons who
refuse TO pay theii taxes in money.
That Judge BOND will be asked 10 issue
such an injunction, Mr.. royal himself
informed the public through our paper
Yesterday. Ii Is serious threat, and may
well challenge general attention and con-
sideraiion. II IL true the Constitution OF
the United States forbids State 10 be
sued, but that fact has not prevented Judge
BOND from rendering judgments which
had TO be paid 10y the commonwealth. He
well knew when he rendered those judg.
ments that they were TO be paid by
the Commonwealth; but II there
was any doubt on that point, il
will be removed when be issues an iniuuc-
tion forbiddiDg her officers to pay those
judgments. 1t Is true the law OF Virginia
provides that the Board Of Indemnity shalt
Fay such judgments, and that the Bond
consists Of none but her trusted officers
elected under her Constitution and laws,
and representing the sovereignty OF the
State; but all the same Judge BOND, a
United States officer, Will take charge OF
her finances and forbid her TO pay out her
revenues in obedience to her own laws.
OF course, too, il the Capitol officers re-
fuse to respect bis decree, and continue to
pay his judgments out Of the State Treasury.
and also any fines that he may impose upon
them for what he will no doubt hold TO be
contempt OF court, Judge BoSD will have
no remedy left but corporal Imprisonment.
He will be compelled to send to Jail the
officers in the Capitol, and turn the Old
Dominion over to anarchy, or else be will
have to run " the Stale gov"ria mont him
self
But that Is not all. II the Legislature
should refuse to levy taxes enough TO pay
his judgments against her,-5aager BoSD
wffrhsve 20 send the members to Jail for
contempt OF court, and become himself the
legislative department Of the State govern
ment! II not, Why not? He has just as
much right to interfere with the legisla-
tive as with the executive department.
In a word, II Judge BOND can rightiully
take jurisdiction an decide for what pur.
poses the General Assembly may appro-
pirate the States revenues, he can right
fully grant the Injunction which Mr.,
royal intends to ask him for. But not
otherwise. II is evident, too, that II he
nav righuully decide that the General A.
sembly has no power 10 divert from the
bondholder money in the Treasury, he may
rightfully decide that the General Assembly
shall not reduce the taxes, as this measure
would be one method Of depriylng the
boudholder OF money TO which he and
Judge BOND consider bin entitled.
This Is a serious matter, and well merits
the most profound consideration Of the
Virginia public. The money OF the bond