Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-03

frsmed Il. No minority report was made
the Platform was adopted ~ whole, ana
heard no voice raised against u. Wben
Governor Lee came 10 accept bis nom'na'
t,op he claimed that the State should be
the custodian OF her own revenues. Inc
parly had nut itself on record IA not wish.
Ing 10 interfere with the present settlement
OF that question:" Mr.. johnson was ms
warm supporter. Could he advocate hts
nomination without endorsing those views
he must perioTce carry out when elected
Upon tins platform Lee and every Demo
cratic men Der OF the House OF Delegates
and one bali Of the Senate were elected. IL
Was the pledge OF The party TO the people.
II was the pledge OF each member 70 MS
constituents. Honor required that he should
redeem thai pledge. The Legislature passed
the indemnity ill 10 protect treasurers
carrying out the debt settlement. MT.
.Johpson derides the execution OF that mea-
sure. quo declares II TO be unconstitutional.
And vet the platform declares, "To such
further legislation, and rs part thereof TO
the protection aud naturalization OF the
revenue officers Of the State Tor all oincla'
acts done in obedience 10 its laws. the
Democratic party pledges ITSELF" lie tled
no minority report he did not dissent In
The Convention; he aided Ia nominating a
Governor who stood squsrely upon that
Platform, whv did he not then den 'dnce
The proposed measure as unconstitutional
sppeal 10 every reasonable man TO know Is
II just or proper to 0en0unce legislators
Tor doing that which they were sent to the
Legislature instructed TO do, or the agents
Of the State for executing that lawf And
II NAV be noticed that when this platform
was adopted In 1885 nearly every important
debt decision had been rendered by the hye
Judges OF the United States Supreme Court
against the dissent OF four judges.
Statistics show that but few taxpayers
can yet the benefit OF the coupons, and
that The large majority must pay into the
Treasury In cash. The policy OF the State
officials in forcing payments In cash is up to
this time the policy OF the Democratic party
in Virginia, II their Convention could an
nounce il, and this they were elected to do.
That policy must continue until the party
determines upon new line OF policy; any
other course would at once swamp tue
Treasury. That taxpayers may use cou-
pon. IL now settled by law; that they
have not the Auditors letter demon
strates; that they will not TO any
appreciable extent Is the reliance Of
those who fear greater loss TO the bond
holder from further agitation OF the debt
question, as well as the loss OF the State to
those who should control 1t. Further set
Elements OF the debt by the Legislature are
idle unless they are ratified by the people at
the polls. Is there any sign OF wavtring
on the part OF the press or Of the people in
their acceptance OF the Riddleberger set
Element? | see none. The msjority OF
the State are as firm in their opinion that
the fve-to-four debt decision was wrong as
you, MIR. Editor; that the eigbt-tO-seven
electoral decision was wrong, and vet a
part of the Court decided each. Time will
correct the one wrong as 1t has the other.
CHARLES Z, STUART