Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-07
The Crisis.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch

The condition Of the State Of Vir-
ginia is anomalous and alarming. Be-
sides, the current legislation Of the
State is so loose, ill-advised, and corrupt
that the labyrinth in which her debt has
placed her, by legislation Of our own
State, the decisions Of our own Court of
Appeals, and Of the Supreme Court OF
the United States, so far appears to be
inextricable and alarming. 1t is need
less to look back to the errors Of the
past the grave and momentous ques-
ton confronts us-viz., What can be
done to relieve us Our Legislature.
both under Malone and Democratic
rules. has striven by ingenious and
artful contrivances to shield us
from the baneful and harassing
effects Of that Pandora's box, the
cause Of all our troubles, the
funding bill Of 1871. But all in vain,
while the Supreme Court Of the United
States, in its overshadowing and ON
nipotent power, rules, whether right or
wrong. that they will strike down the
power of a State to control its own
affairs. enforce her domestic regula-
tons, and, by the potent mandamus,
execute the municipal laws Of the State,
administer her finances, and imprison
her officers for contempt. 1t is rather
amusing, if it was not too serious a
matter, to witness the futile strategy
Of our Legislature. 1t seems to be
manifest they are at their wits end.
In former days, in the early history of
our country-th period Of the alien
and sedition laws, when party spirit
was fierce and threatened crisis, grow
ing out Of the assumption of con-
structiye powers by the Federal Gov
eminent, to the Disagreement and de-
struction of State sovereignty-the
voice Of our Legislature, uttered IN
calm, truthful. and logical form, was
sent forth in appeals to Congress and
the people. The celebrated resolutions
of 1898 and 1899. immortal because of
their soundness and purity, accomplish
ed revolution and saved the republic.
We then had Madison, Jefferson, and
others, who fought upon the idea that
truth was powerful and must prevail.
That same power and spirit which
launched forth the declaration Of Ameri-
can independence, generated in State
Legislatures, brought forth the famous
resolutions of '9S and 80. 1t may be
thought to be in vain and useless to ap-
peal to an memorable power, accus-
toned to all the outrages Of reconstruc-
ton. This is an unmanly excuse. Let
us, at least, enter our protest and give
form and shape to great fundamental
principles. Under the crushing hand
of the Federal court we may have to
pay the coupons, but an appeal to the
sober " second thought" Of the nation
may yet save the conceded sovereignty
of the State and stay the hand of Fed
eral encroachment.
In the mean time it has occurred to
the writer that inasmuch as no man in
the Legislature seems wise enough to
devise a remedy, let them appoint q
commission Of such jurists as Judge
Robertson, Judge Staples, and j. X
Tucker to devise and submit plan o
action in reference to the State debt
If anything can be done they will do it
and il nothing can be done they ma!
put an end to the expense Of litigation
growing out ofcrude, stratetegic shemes
| Again Let us appeal to Congress t.
arrest the oppression Of legislation a
to the powers Of the Federal judiciary
They can only reach the State by th
exercise of the power to issue the com
mon law writs Of prohibition or NAV
damus. This power is regulated a
present by statute, and if Congress
seeing the dangerous extent to which
is used, will modify the statute as
should be, the decisions OF the Suprem
Court would not embarrass us. Th
jurisdiction Of the court is defined b
the Constitution, but the mode Of pre-
ceeding and executing judgments b
statutes enacted by Congress.
The crisis is too alarming, gres
fundamental principles are at stake
and II there be any craftsmanship !
the land it ought to be called into n
QUESTION. CHATHAM.