Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-19


10 The General As'fmbIu.
\ constitutional obligation obliges me 10
bring 10 the consideration OF the General
Assembly of Virginia such mattersas may
deem expedent.
My purpose IN this communication is 20
call the attention OF the Legislature to the
rccen; decisions rendered by the supreme
Court OF the United states. which seriously
AFFECT The rights and interesiso OF Virginia
for while we believe in the sovereignty Ot
the Stale. and that under the Constitution
OF the United States she cannot be sued by
citizens within her limits or by those with
out and while we recognize no distinction
between the State and its officers, because
the State facts by It's legislative, It's eXecu-
tive. or its judicial authorities. and can act
In no other way, we are also firmly persuaded
thpt constant conflict between the courts
and the Stale is an agitation 10 the body
polite and should cease.
Our financial condition already sufficient
ly embarrassed, viii. IL Is feared. be still
further complicated by them, and 10 be.
hooves all departments of the state gov
eminent To labor and confer together. 50
that, II possible, remedy may be provided.
The people Of Virginia, after long and
acrimonious agitation of the debt question,
reached in 1881 and 1852 the settlement
which bas since received the sanction ot
bath 4poiiiical parties Of the state. From
the position thus taken the people Will not
rectde.
II Is unnecessary at this late day to recall
The history OF the debt legislation OF this
STATE. or 10 refer 10 the bitter pOlitical
struggles which resulted in the triumph of
a sentiment which found expression Ia the
settlement made IN 1881 and 1852. Suffice
IL to say that that settlement reflects stl
the overwhelming VIII OF majority OF the
people of the Commonwealth; that II was
reached after long aud exhaustive agita
tion: that any renewal of which would be-
injurious 10 the interests Of the creditors
and Of the State; and the representatives
~ ha at IN
tenance and should invoke every resource
OF law necessary 10 enforce It's acceptance
10y the creditors so that they " fight not as
one that beats the air"
IL Is believed by many, and Indulge ~
least the hope, that II a dispassi onate repre-
sentation was made 10 our creditors OF the
condition of The state before. during. and
since the war. Of all her resources and taxa
ble values 81 the time the Virginia debt set
Elements we've entered into by the Lngisa-
ture in 1868 and 1896 In 1871 and 1873,
that II would he made apparent 10 the cred
ilOfs That the debt recognized by these seNe-
IA acts involved recognition oil the part Of
the state Ofa larger volume Of indie btedueSS
than was actually within the ability Of the
Stale 10 pay. = here are duties resting
ulon the state and recognized by the Con
stitutiOn Of lhe United states, Of dignity
higher than the Obligations TO her creditors.
such as The absolute necessity OF controlling
at least so much Of the revenues as is neces
sary 10 the support and maintenance otour
Government, our free-schOols, our chari-
table Institutions and the adm inistratiOn Of
Justice and the sense Of the more impsra.
We nature OF these duties largely cOntr'-
buted 10 bring about tue settlement oflssl
and 1852.
virginia from her geogra phical position
became the battle. ground fOr four years Of
cont tending hosts. Her soil WAS exhausted
TO supply armies; houses. barns. farming
implements, and fences were destroyed
her industries paralyZcd: the wheels of her
comm cree stopped; the fires in her fur
naces were eXtinguished: her heroic sons
fell beneath shot and shell, or were en-.
feebled by exposure and disease; her beau
tful capital city was swept by fire, and
her boundaries changed 30 as 10 show two
states where only one had previous
existence Free schools we're established
and freedmen made voters. The State
was without banks and practically with
out currency. Her citizens when return
ing to their various aNOcatiOns in 1855 III
most Instances had to begin their business
lives again. The land was before them, but
IL was confronted by change IN the labor
system, while stock OF all kinds had 10 be
provided. The funding bill OF 1871 mort.
gagged the life blood Of the state and threat
ened destruction 10 the schools; the bill OF
] e79 went down when made an issue before
the people and n ma iOritY OF the voters OF
the state demanded It's repeal ana decided 1t
should he replaced by the settlement Of1SSI
and 1882. The party in whose hands the
reigns of government has now been placed
was restored 10 power upon pledge not to
disturb that settlement, because tine voice
OF Virginia, speaking through a majority OF
her voters, so ordered IL. Whatever dif.
feTences OF opinion existed among our peO-
pie ri the time OF the passage of that settle
ment have i'm the main disappeared, aud |
the people of the State, without reference
to party distinction. are OF one mind in
their resolution TO uphold and maintain i'm
all It's integrity and by all lawful means the
settlement thus declared. u may be well
Z n a 10
mentioned which undertook TO deal with
the rights and Interests OF our creditors.
were passed without direct conference or
with them. We would sup.
pose that a people SO jealous OF their |
good faith, so SeduOus TO preserve their |
good name as NirginiaDs have always been. |
would not propose a settlement TO their |
creditors which was not based upon princi- !
pies OF equity and fairness. Notwithstand- |
ing the great diversity Of sentiment that |
existed among our people when the aglta- |
ton upon the State debt first began full |
and free discussion OF IL has resulted. as we |
have seen, in perfect unanimity among our |
people OF all political parties, and there is
reason to nope that the same arguments |
which have brought this about In spite OF /
The preludiCes and passions which for "a
long time surrounded the consideration OF |
The subject will prove equally effective
when addressed to an intelligent and hon
est creditor.
IL may be said that nothing in relation to
me OeDl OF ' llBlnld mas De6n ODle IN a
'Orner; that the press published all that
mas been said and done in regard to IL; that
m political conventions, upon the hustings
through Executive messages. and through
itigaiions in the courts the creditors have
been fully Informed OF the just measure |
If their rights and the liability OF
he State TO them. All this may be |
rue rs 10 any syndicate or organiZa.
ion which controls or directs the for
ign bondholders. For II is understood
"a IN
absolutely controls. directs, and governs
he interests Of their principals or the actual
,wners of the bonds, and 1t may well be
hat the syndicate or agent is thoroughly
informed as TO all of these matters, while
he principal remains entirely in the dark.
As, therefore. this settlement has been
inally enacted, there is every reason To be-
ieve that we can impress Others with the
Onditions which led to It's adoption and
{ is at least due 10 the traditional love Of
air play of our people that every
Mort should be made TO acquaint
'ur creditors with the terms OF set
lemeDt offered before concluding they are
unwilling TO accept IL. But Ii is vain 10 re- |
a apltulate the difficulties OF the situation
nless II be with the purpose Of suggesting |
remedy. Aftera most careful consideTa. I
ion OF the situation, with a full sense OF the
meal obligation, with q consciousness
With "A knowledge that the peril TO
he settlement which We have decreed I
5 serious. | earnestly recommend TO |
he General Assembly OF Virginia the
ppOintment Of q cOmmis issiOn whose du- |
les shall be plainly defined, whose powers |
hall be carefully prescribed. guarded. and |
limited, that no mlsconceptiOn be INDUCED |
u on the part OF any one. Such a commits.
ION should only be empowered TO explain |
he settlement OF 1851 and 1882 TO the cred
Tors and point out that which addresses
tsef to their Interests as well as To the |
interests of the State. IL should be |
lothed with no other power and have no
ther duties 10 perform but 10 urge them 10
ccede to the settlement Nir- inia has de-
reed, TO represent how futile had oeen their !
forts in he past to resist the determine.
ION of our people, aud that the future held |
ut 10 them only the prospect of intermina-
lie litigation, injurious alike to them and
, us: that the achievement OF mere
lusory triumphs In the courts are fraught
lth no substantial advantages To the liti- ,
ants on either side. IL would be the duty
the commission 10 point out TO them the
asst untried and uneXpended power which
q ides in a united and resOlute people and |
iutiOn them aga inst the danger ofaruosing | {
public continent which might s,;6 torget. !
\ OF sll seUse I" ls,4ce, and taking cOun-
! only ..om passion destroy the interests 7
.sich we are nov sti wing 10 protect. .
IL is believed that II those holding the |
ltstaDding Indebtedness o. tie rtate could
eet, Though their committee face TO face
ch commission here IN VIRGINIA or else
here and hear and see for Themselves be |
nfrOnted by the stubborn fe.cts as they | ,
list at present and be impre ssed with the
lcertainty which dwells IN 'she future and |
ises from the unsettled iSroblem which | ,
instantly exasperates ar d harnesses the