Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-07
opinions From the People on the
Commission.


Commission.
10 the Editor of the DispGich
Sir,-In your paper Of the 2lst in
slant you did me the favor to publish
my letter suggesting quadruple taxation
coupled with a rebate Of IS per cent.
where paid in coin or greenbacks
before maturity, thus making coupons
so worthless that their holders would
be prepared to meet the proposed COM
mission in a frame Of mind disposed for
compromise.
Parenthetically you remark, L" We
fear this scheme is impracticable,' but
do not state the ground of your sppre-
hension. May | ask It?
My objections to the FulkersOn bill,
If understand it, are First, as shown
by you in your editorial Of February
2lth, it actually enhances the value of
coupons second, insofar a. operative
it directly diminishes by one half the
revenue Of the State.
The plan proposed, tsee your issue
Of February 2lst,) or any plan thereto
equiyaent-yiz., heavy increase, &C
companied by a propOrtlonately heavy
rebate, Of taxation-would, | think,
prove &" coupon-killer," while leaving
the available revenue fully as great as
now. Am | mistaken:
Your columns being a sort Of " third
house" for the expression Of opinion
direct from the people at home, would
Ike to keep the floor long enough TO say
that. so far as my observation goes, the
commission scheme" commands by
10 means universal favor. Our hard
listed and hard-run farmers are already
saving: &" Why three fye-thousand-
dollar sinecures for 'somcJoiy's'
friends to tell the bondholdcrs what
they know already-the amount Of ac-
tual work involved being what the
three, if they are familiar with the sub
iect. could perform in as many hours ?
Fifteen thousand dollars, besides travel
ling. clerical, and other expenses, Como
out of poor old Vlrginia's scanty
purse--ior nothing
No, gentlemen. Let our Lieutenant
Governor who has the whole inject at
his fingers ends, associated with any
other two salaricd government officials,
draw up a full statement and ultima
tum, countersigned by the Governor.
Let this be sent, not by personal am
passage, as if we were living in the fif-
teen or sixteenth century, but by mail,
to the syndicate which is bounding us,
and spread, further, upon both the
American and English press, so that il
may reach not only the individual bond
holders. but the entire reading and re-
fecting public of both hemispheres.
Let this statement recount ab Witio
the origin Of this debt in a scheme Of
internal Improvements, the diversion Of
which to seaports without the State
" enriched them and left her poor in
| deed" Let it then recite the calami-
ties that next overwhelmed her for four
long years, during which her hills sell
dom ceased to yibrate to the thunder Of
hostile cannon the cloud, blacker
than battle-smoke, that settled down
upon her valleys. with the return of So
called peace the giving away Of one
third Of her landed domain; the confs-
cation OF so many millions Of slave
property; the destruction by fire and
rapine Of so many millions more in
other forms writing cprreHte calqmo
! cannot itemize) the prOstration Of
every interest and industry within her
borders; the death, disablement, or en-
forced self-exile of large proportion
Of her young men,. the "hOpe and
prop of every State -; that browning
outrage, the injection into the veins Of
her body polite of black and fetid
current, which has poisoned her life
blood forever; the enslayement Of the
days Of reconstruction the treachery
Of her own sons (et IN, Brute y that fol-
lowed it.
Notwithstanding all which, where the
forfeit Of the bond was demanded by
the memorable creditor, she, Antonio
like, having naught wherewith to pay,
offered her bosom to the knife-her
very women standing ready with their
rings and jewels to "make up the
tale" How and why a settlement at
that time was frustrated let impartial
history tell.
In very truth beggared, torn, bleed
ing, and inanimate, the Once-proud Old
Dominion, as the result of war, has given
up the ghost and what is left of her
the new Virginia " that has sue
ceeded-is morally, legally, actually no
more responsible for the obligations of
The old" than were Greece or Poland
after their martyrdom. In such cases,
according TO Vattel, the conqueror is
bound for the debts Of the conquered.
And before high heaven we may justly
claim that the Federal Government is
in equity responsible to the creditors Of
Virginia
At least let us have no ertrdragant
commission" Put the affair in charge
Of suitable parties. If not already in
State employ, compensate them fairly,
and strengthen their hands for the work
by well-digested legislation before they
enter upon it. speak for many.
Very respectfully, TUERI.
Fauguier county, Va, Feb. -, SO.