Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-09
ss5 interest to the amount of Sc. o94 s7e.

81 on her public debt. and she has redoena
ed coupons to the amount of 50 702 1850.
Ali This mas been done by d people who
have just emerged from sanguinary War
of four years duration, whose fiercest and
greatest battles were fought on her soil,
whose labor and currency were swept away
by its disastrous termination, and which
only bequeathed her legacy of woe and
suffering.
Now an overwhelming N sjority of the
people of Virginia have ordered the settle
ment of 1881 49, and no abuse of the State,
no denunciation of her officers or agents,
will have the slightest effect IN changing
our policy, our purposes and our meas
ures. If Tue people of Virginia will be true
to themselves and the pledges of their rtp
resentatives, they can settle the debt ques
ton, and terminate forever the present
perplexing and unhappy condition of the
State. The remedy is indeed, IN their own
hands.
Let the people refrain from using cou-
pOns in the payment of taxes; for every
sacrifice thus made. If indeed 1t can be
termed sacrifice, the citizens will be mole
than compensated by a restored tranquility
as result of the removal of the debt ques-
ton from the arena of party politics, and
by the progress and development impaired
to all OF our great Industries. Any sur
surplus IN the Treasury after paying the
expenses OF government, will he appropri-
ated to liquldating all just claims of cred
itors.
The impediments in the way of final
adjustment OF the debt question are due
to those W hO persist III paying their taxes
with coupons. They who thus pay, not
only discharge the just dues of the State
In that which is unservicaabie for all pur-
poses OF revenue, but they receive in the
way OF costs the money contributed oy
others to support the government. SUCH
state of things is well calculated to tx
cite the profoundest dissatisfaction. We
can well understand the prevailing senti-
ment when the idea gets abroad that men
of wealth and lnhuonce-ln many III
stances men who have the greatest stake
III we'll administered government-pa
with coupons, while the great body If the
people pay their dues with money. Every
man who uses coupons i'll paying his taxes
must 'ucede to every Other Citizen the
exercise OF the same right and privilege -
He Can scarcely desire or expect Others to
pay in money whilst he pays with depre
ciated piece of paper which adds nothing
to the support Of the government Ii VIZ
suppose that all pay with Coupons. it is
certain that for several years TO come The
coupons will absorb the entire revenues OF
the State. The Treasury will become bank
rupt the courts will be closed, the public
schools and all the charitable institutions
of Virginia suspended. and the operations
! Of the government cease for the Want ut
the means to subsst.
d. gentlemen who pay their taxes with
coup ms desire or expect such condition
of things Can they contemplate 1t with
out the gravest apprehensioDs DO they
consider that their example and then
teachings contribute directly to such re-
suit ? If any such crisis shall arise in the
future, and if the Judicial executive, and
legislative departments continue to be
supported, if tranquility aud order shall
prevail and life and property remain SO
| cure, it will be due to thu great 'dy OF
the people, who. resisting all the sugges-
tions Of self Interest and the allurements
held out by paid attorneys, cheerfully and
willingly p y whatever They owe the gov
ernment ia that which supports and sus-
tains government.
They who pay in coupons contribute
nothing to the government which throws
its protecting arms around them. The
security of person and property afforded
them is due to the contributions and Sac
rifceS of others.
The only answer ever made to suggeS-
, tions Of this character is that the taxes
should be increased. Suppose they are,
will gentlemen who now pay with coupons
any the less pay with coupons then The
burdens on them will be but little aug
mented, but they will fall heavily on the
great body of the people. Every one &C
quainted with the present condition Of
the people knows we'll that there cannot
for years to come be any substantial in-
crease of the present rate of taxation.
There are s2,996 242 of past due coupons
IL,
maturing. The idea of such an increase
of taxation as will meet these demands.
and at the same time defray all the neces-
sary expenses of State and county COVE, n
ment, is in the highest degree eXtIavagant
and impracticable.
Much has been said with respect to the
decisions of the Supreme Court of the
United States. We IN Virginia are not
inclined to detract in the slightest degree
from the respect due to that exalted tri-
bunal; but we cannot forget that the de-
c'sion which stripped Virginia of her SOW
ereignGy guaranteed by the eleventh
amendment to the Constitution was made
by majority of one in Curt of nine
Judges One of the most eminent Of that
court did not hesitate to say with the con-
currence OF three others, including the
Chief Justice, that it was 1.-THE first time
since the eleventh amendment was adopt.
ed in which a State had been coe, ced by
judicial proceedings at the instance of in
divlfuals in the general courts, and in his
opinion none Of the suits could be 10 in
tained, for the reason that they are in
substance and effect suits against the
State of Virginia"
What is the real ground of all this eX-
ultation at the defeat of Virginia aud the
triumph of her creditors before the Fed
eral courts ? 1t is based solely upon the
idea that the patriotism OF tie people Is
not proof against the temptation to use
coupons in payment of taxes ; that when a
few so pay. all the rest will be Inclined to
initiate their example, and that thus the
sons of Virginia will be- the FIRST to render
abortive all her attempts at a settlement
of the debt question.
To pay our taxes with money is not on
ly suggestion of patriotism but a dictate
of the soundest public policy and [ earn
estly appeal to the people To stand by their
State. Let every man exhibit some of that
self denying patriotism which has made
Virginia famous in the annals OF the past
and her citiz-ps equal to every cOmbina-
tiOn of Giro umSt ances requiring tbO.e viz
tues and actions whose only aims are to
serve well The mother Commonwealth.
For tbesb reasons invoke the people TO
meet in their accustomed manner i'll all
Guo COuulieS, CiClcs, duu 'o"ho " ou0
State at their earliest convenient time to
give emphat C expression to their senti
ments and purposes. that an outspoken
declaration of the public sentiment may
visit with its rebuke those who appeal to
the law to enforce the reception of cou
pons, whose birth and original imposition
upon Virginia was the result of fraud,
bribery and corruption.
Given under my hand and the lesser seal |
o. the Commonwealth, at Richmond, this
55h day of April, 1886, and in the 10th
year OF the Commonwealth.
FITZHUGH LEE.
BY the Gov rnor:
H. W Flour4aoq.
Secretary of the commonwealth.