Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-06
A PROCLAMATION.
GOVERNOR LEE ADDRESSES THE PUB
Lie CREDITORS.
They are Asked to Fund, and Oar Peo-
pie are Urged Not to Pay Taxes in
Coupons, &C., &C.


pie are Urged Not to Pay Taxes in
Coupons, &C., &c.
The following was issued yesterday;
A PROCLAMATION
Bv His Ezcellency FItzhugh Lee,
Governor Of Virginia.
Whereas the following joint resolu-
tons were adopted at the last session
Of the General Assembly
Resoirtd 5y he Senate Of. Virginia (the
House OF Delegates concurring), That this
General Assembly reiterate ana reanfIn
the Joint resolutions unanimously auoptcu
by the General Assembly OF 1883 "a. APP
proved December 81, 1888, declaring the
acceptance by the people Of Virgil OF the
tettlement OF the debt Of the state pro-
vided for by the act approved February IA.
1852.
The people OF virginia are determined
that no settlement OF the State debt shall
ever be made upon any basis less iaNorap'e
TO the Commonwealth than That proVldel
for by that law and the acts amendatory
thereof, and they Will carry out IN soou
faith the terms OF that settlement so FAR as
the same have been or may be accepted Dy
the ere ditois OF the State.
The highest considerations OF patriotism,
public policy, and self-interest demand tnat
Inc tax. payers OF the State shall not CO.
operafe with these public creditors, who
ale hsrrassing the people OF the Common.
wealth by yeXatious litigation by seeking
to force coupons into the Treasury IN the
payment OF taxes. And the General As
sembly appeals to the Taxpayers OF Nlr-
ginia not 10 speculate upon the necessities
OF the Com monwealth or take advantage
OF the state and those OF her citizens VINO
cannot avail themselves OF this means for
49,. Ntgal ArQFAf hlI .
dues to the state in deprecated paper:
The Governor of the commonwealth is
requested TO communicate these and the
resolutions above referred TO by pubic pro.
clamaiion or otherwise TO the holders OF
the obligations OF this state, calling upon
them 10 come in and accept the terms OF
settlement proffered 10 them.
The Governor is also requested to issue
his PROCLAMATION to the people and TAX
PAYERS Of this state urging upon them the
duty and importance OF standing by the
Commonwealth In this emergency
Now therefore1, fitzhugh Lee, Gov
ernor of Virginia, in accordance with
the request contained in said resolu-
tons, do hereby issue the following
proclamation for the purpose Of COM
municating to all concerned the fore
going resolutions and to carry out the
purpose Of them by an appeal to the
people Of Virginia to stand steady in
defence of the position the State has
taken in order to promote order, peace,
and prosperity within her limits.
The troublesome coupon is the off,
spring by direct descent Of the funding
act Of 1871. The circumstances under
which that bill was passed are well
known in Virginia, and are of charac-
ter to excite general condemnation, as
was shown by repeal Of the law at
the very next session Of the Legisla-
ture. 1t is not my purpose to enter
into any detailed statement here to
prove the injustice done the State by
that act, and | cast no reproach upon
those members Of the Legislature who,
in accordance with the dictates OF con-
science, voted for the bill.
1t can be demonstrated, however,
that it attempts to bind the State for
the payment of more than five millions
of war interest for which she is not
legally responsible in any forum; that
it seeks to appropriate to the claims Of
creditors funds inviolably appropriated
to the cause Of education by the Con-
s,itutioD. a Constitution adopted long
anterior to the passage Of the funding
bill.
Since the termination Of the war the
State has paid in cash, up to October
|, 1885, interest to the amount Of
sG,O94, 1891 on her public debt, and
she has redeemed coupons to the amount
Of s9,702,476.j0.
All this has been done by people
who have just emerged from sangui-
nary 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 majority OF
the people of Virginia have ordered
the settlement OF l8Sl-'S2, 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 measures. If
the people of Virginia will be true to
themselves and the pledges Of their
representatives they can settle the
debt question 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
coupons in the payment Of taxes for
every sacrifice thus made, if indeed it
can be termed sacrifice, the citizens
will be more than compensated by
restored traRqmiilHy as a result Of the
removal of the debt question from the
arena of party politics, and by the pro-
gIess and development impaired to all
Of our great industries. Any surplus
in the Treasury after paying the ex-
penses of government will be appro-
priated to liquidating all just claims Of
creditors.
The impediments in the way Of final
adjustment of the debt question are
due to those who persist in paying their
taxes with coupons. They who thus
pay not only discharge the just dues of
the State in that which is unserviceable
for all purposes of revenue, but they re-
ceive in the way of costs the money con-
tributed by others to support the gov
erpment. Such state Of things is
we'll calculated to excite the profound
est dissatisfaction. We can well I'M
derstand the prevailing sentiment when
the idea gets abroad that men Of wealth
and inhuence-in many instances men
who have the greatest stake in a well.
administered government-pay with
coupons, while the great body Of
the people pay their dues with money.
Every man who uses coupons in pay
ing his taxes must concede 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 deprecated
piece Of paper which adds nothing to the
support Of the government. If we
suppose that all pay with coupons it is
certain that for several years to come