Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-16
ror Gale nv WEST. JOHNSTON & Co.
MIR. Cooper, OF England, Makes Long
Answer 40 q short Paragraph.

To the Editor 81 TIE DlSpdlch:
Sir.--In your issue OF this morning You
have on editorial reference 10 the Tact that
| am here in Virginia, and you suggest taat
must have been startled at the result OF
the trial. IN the coupon eases which nave
lust been decided I'm the United States CIR
cuit Court. You also add that | have no
doubt before now reached the conclusion
that there i no money for the bondholdcrs
I'm those suits. As YOU have thus proml-
ncntly brought me before the people OF
Virginia, | trust you will allow me space
in which TO make a short statement OF the
situation rs view IL.
do not belong To- that class OF Nirglna's
creditors TO which the Dispatch and other
Virginia papers hahitually refer aS shy
locks" have never met an English bond
holder OF this type. nor do | believe mat
any such exists. The bonds OF the state OF
Virginia which own were purchased for
me years aro on the faith Of Nirginl's high
credit, with the expectation that the prom
Uses she made when she issued them would
he faithfully fulfilled II ! now submit
TO the settlement which the authorities OF
the State demand, the principal OF my
property will be reduced one-half and the
annual interest nearly three-iOurthS, whilst
the tax.rcceiyability Of the coupons OF
nv bonds, which is the one thing that
makes the latter OF value. will be taken
from me. appeal to every right-thlnk-
ing Nirginian. whatever his political con-
victions may be, and ask il this
is a Just way TO treat those who have
already twice accepted reduction OF their
claims and are willing even now TO meet
the state fairly and accept whatever the
state can fairly pay. The argument that a
political patty in Virginia has made up It's
mind, for patty reasons, not to pay the
States lust debt or even TO listen TO pro-
posals for reasonable settlement based on
her ability to discharge her obligations
scarcely commendS itself to a creditor, like
myself. who sees the Treasury Of the state
full 10 overlooking, whilst he aud his family
have 10 submit TO priyatlOn in consequence
Of the acts of those who n few years ago
repudiated with horror any connection with
the movement to deprive the bOndhO!ders
Of their rights.
Now, in respect TO the litigation which
has been gong on in the courts. you must
bear in mind that this litigation has not
been forced on the State by the bODdhOld-
GrS, but il has hecn forced on the bOldhOld-
crS by the State. The State agreed with
them. when they surrendered one third OF
their claims in 1871. that they should have
the privilege of institutng Just this litiSa-
lion to secure their rights in ease ut any
time some new political party should fail to
accord them. There is surely no oDprO.
brium to be east upon me and my fellow
bondholders for simply seeking to avail
ourselves in the courts OF rights which the
State promised that we should have, and
which she has forced Us into litigation to
secure.
A word now as TO the pratcal result OF
thl, litigation There have this week been
either tried or settled tifty-One suits for
damages on account Of trespaSses by coun-
" treaSurers and by the Board OF lndemul-
", who have levied on the property Of
tax. payers aftera tenderO coupons. Two OF
these cases were first tried aud re,ultedna
verdict for the plaintiffs for all the damages
they had sustained and their costs. TIe
states officers, after these two trials, Of
ferrCd to settle all the others on the same
terms, which offer the counsel for the plain
tifT, accepted. The result was that judy
mcnt was entered against the defendants
for SS,G97.5i, and when you add 10 this
amount tie damages and costs in Ford
and Dulaney's first case, amounting TO
1871 A., it appears that the Indemnity
Board VIII have to take - 1850 OF the
peoples money out OF the Treasury TO set
tie the account. 1t j. to be noted that
amongst the cases Just decided there - an
other recovery for Mr.. II. &. Delaney Of
2,95j. So on account OF take. that that he
paws in Loudoun county-hk former re.
covery Of Sl27.G7' being for taxes in She
nandOah county.
The account against the Indemnity Board
j., therefore, as follows
Ford's q Dulincy'S first ease ELS 73l II
Fifty-One trespaSS cases, decided
October 18th TO 18th ........ S,G91 81
Mr.. fuckers fees according TO
Mr.. Rufiin). observation-disclosures. 800 %
Costs paid by Indemnity Board
for summoning their own wit
ness-say so 90