Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-17

far the most important thing now before
the people OF Virginia Is whether taxes (as
a general thipg) shall continue to be paid in
money, or shall be settled by q "tender OF
coupons" Notwithstanding the efforts
used by holders Of coupons for years past.
the great bulk OF the taxpayers have
shown their patriotism and their sense by
refusing to have anything to do with cou-
pons. This is fully proven by the fact that
The holders OF Virginia bonds in England
recently held meeting and madean assess
ment on themselves to raise funds in order
to carry on the fight TO compel the State to
90 back on its resolves and, falling in that.
TO use, suppose, the money in such way
% to try and seduce the taxpayers OF the
State to buy their coupons. Judging from
what Is cropping out in the newspapers,
and The circulars that are being sent of TO
x.payers by the agent or agents
Of the English boudholders, it looks
as II the main stack just now Is directed
against the sense and patriotism OF tax.
payers. 1t also looks as II no stone Is being
left unturned by the owners OF coupons TO
.educe the taxpayers OF the state (regard-
less OF party 10 90 esquire back on
their solemn pledges, made time after time
Why, one OF such agents has gone 40 far
s. to undertake to show bow taxpayers can
not only get rid Of paying any taxes, but
absolutely TO make money IN addition.
Agents aud lawyers seem TO be "bob)ing
up almost everywhere TO convince tax
payers that it il TO their interest TO settle
their taxes to the State by "a tender OF
COUPONS In other words, they are
urging taxpayers to take such action a,
will completely destroy the government %
the State and close up her free schools, asy
lum., &C.
TO further the schemes OF the holders OF
COUPONS, las It would seem,) all sorts OF
"learned" opinions are being given a.
freely almost as the dropping Of leaves on
q windy November day. Some OF such
opinions are really amusing, and remind
one Of what is termed ga muddle stew"
made up Of "cean and unclean" things,
such os catfish, cells, club, pike, tat meat,
&c. One will appear with his opinion, in
which he Just kicks clean over a decision
| Of the Supreme Court OF The United States,
and after doing that be will build up
magnificent monument TO his learning OF
| the muddle-stew" order. Perhaps the
same one will 90 further aud satisfy even
| the few who propose to buy coupons to
| settle their taxes that one such purchase (i
| the officers OF the State 90 on refusing 10
accept coupons for taxes) will last
| such taxpayer ten years. 1t may
not strike such one that il his
view OF this branch OF the matter is
correct, it will completely destroy the sales
| of coupons to parties who have made one
purchase, as that purchase Will (ii the Off
| GERS Of the State continue TO refuse them,
and WHICH hope they will do) be sufficient
| to pay their taxes for ten years 10 come.
| therefore hope the officers OF the State
| will continue to refuse TO accept coupons
| rendered in settlement Of taxes, even il
| such officers have to refuse afterwards. a.
| private individuals, to commits d" trespass :"
| by levying on the taxpayers property for
| any purpose whatever. by decision OF
| the Supreme Court OF the United States, it
| is an officer OF the state who can refuse to
| accept coupons for taxes. The same court
| has decided that any one who levies on
| taxpayers property with a SUPPOSE
| view Of compelling such taxpayer to pay
| his taxes in money (f such taxpayer had
| rendered TO All officer Of the State coupons
| to settle his taxes Is no officer Of Virginia.
aud that being the fact, for committing
such trespass he IS only responsible rs an
individual to the aggrieved party. Thi: be-
| ing the fact, OF course the securities OF an
| officer Of the State are in no sort OF way
bOundior the action committed by private
individual. TO be palmer still, the Supreme
Court OF the United States has decided that
II an officer Of Virginia refuses 10 accep:
coupons rendered in payment Of taxes he
has no right as an officer after wards to levy
on the taxpayers property and sell it TO
compel such Taxpayer TO pay his taxes in
money. Consequently. when a levy is made
the action Is committed by one having
no more authority (aecording 10 "the
supreme law q the land "a decision
OF the supreme Court Of the United Stiie,l
than would have 10 so to Richmond and
levy on property and have it sold, when the
owner never owed me one cent. With the
decision referred TO "as the supreme law
OF the land" 1t Is clear that no act OF the
| Legislature conflicting with that law is any
law at all, consequently the State could not
| confer authority on an officer OF hers which
the supreme Court had decided she could
not do. This much as 10 the cold. blooded
law In the case. Now there are many laws
existing in Virginia, which, because Of
public opinion. cannot be executed. II is
murder II one man in q fair fight Kills
another in duel. Think you that law
could be executed? II Is murder when
dozen men hang some brute to the limb OF
a tree who had assaulted some innocent
girl. Think you that law could be exc
cuted' Now, public opinion in yirglni,
justitles the state dong everything
she can in a legal way TO make
"void'' most outrageous and incon.
sistent decision OF the Supreme Court OF
the United States. One way II 10 urge
upon our people not TO buy coupons. II
that don't succeed, then let the Legislature
meet and adopt some plan q am satisfied II
can he done) by which the selling, loanIng.
or giving away OF coupons will be Knocked
on the head, and with such power as will
make It plain to the English bondhoIders
that Virginia and her people were In
earnest when they declared "tbat the Rid
dlsberger settlement was finality.o The
few who have heretofore settled theis taxes
by "a tender Of coupons" and the few
who have been backing up the English
bondhcldeTs In their claims against the
State. are solely responsible, ss I believe,
for the present state OF things concerning
the debt question. II we can succeed IN