The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-05-20
The Frnits of Ring Rule

The Fruits of Ring Rule.
The foolish bull issued by Gov. Lee
gainst the coupon is having contrary
fleet to that designed Had this
ublic call upon the people 20 traverse a
ecision of the Supreme Court OF the
United States never seen the light,
numbers of citizens would have never
thought of the coupons as a tax-paylng
gent. and gone on in their accustomed
yay to discharge their obligations in
money. But Gov. Lees pronunciamento
md the silly twaddle of the Richmond
Dispatch have caused the people to think
title and to examine into the effect of the
advice thus rendered them. AS an intelll-
gent business man remarked to US the 9TH
er day, II have never paid my taxes IN
anything but money heretofore, and had
not my attention been called to the sub
ject in the way it has been, should have
continued to do So But | will use the
coupon for reasons satisfactory to myself
and in defense of my own interest. Should
| pay in money! he said and you pay in cou-
pons. each 500, as an illustration, would
place 800 in the treasury, and you would
place lot of paper which could not be
used by the State as my money could be,
in meeting the current obligations OF the
State, including the support OF the publlc
schools. This would cause deficiency in
the treasury to the amount OF coupons
paid in, and this deficiency would have to
be made up by taxation. My property,
after Iihad paid my $500, would be taxed
Just as much as yours, when you had paid
in coupons which cost you but fifty cents
in the dollar. My patriotism, he contin-
ued, is not of that kind. and | do not pro-
pose to make fool of myself in that way.
Further, he remarked the policy OF the
County Treasures where coupons have
been rendered, of levying upon the prop
erty for the taxes, after the Federal Courts
have declared that tender Of coupons is
a payment Of the taxes, whether accepted
by the officer or not, is trespass, as well
as defiance CT the mandate OF the highest
court in the Nation, and subjects the Of
fender to be mulcted in damages, accord
ing to the aggravation of the offense.-
This must result in either ruin to the Off
Ger and his sureties or the State will have
to make good its promise to indemnify
such officer from money in the Treasury.
If there should be no money there, and that
necessarily will be the condition, how can
the indemnity be effected, without addi-
tionel taxation IF the amount Of dam
age should only be..$1 600 to the county,
that would necessitate an additional taxa
ton of 100000 to meet the demands
And for what ? Why, to defy the Supreme
Court of the United States, and crafty a
condition of affairs, by their stupid legis-
lation disturbing the original Riddleberger
settlement. Now, said this taxpayer. |
do not propose to be a party to any such
measure. The law says that coupons are
receivable for all taxes and dues to the
State, and I am simply conforming to
what my party directed when they made
coupons receivable for taxes, when L pay
nv taxes in coupons. 1t is legal eur
rency, so far as State taxes are concerned,
and 1 mean to pay my taxes in that cur
rerey, let them boycott as much and as
soon as they please. And this, he contin-
ued, is what all my acquaintance are say
ing and intend to do.
And judging from the attendance at the
public meetings called in response to the
Governors appeal to boycott the coupons,
this is about what the people of the State
intend to do. 1t is a condition brought
about by the attempt of a Democratic
Legislature to tamper with question and
a law that the members of that party new
er understood, and do mott understand to
this day, unless they have had the scales
knocked from their eyes as our friend
seemed to realize that he had, by thinking
over the effect of this invitation of the
Governor to defy the decision OF the Su-
preme Court.
We should like to see every man in the
Commonwealth pay his taxes i'll money.
but should he prefer to avail himself of
the law to pay in coupons, no one has the
right to denounce him or prescribe him in
his business for doing so. In fact the
threat to do so, has aroused the resent
ment of self-respecting men, and caused
number of them to do what they would not
otherwise have done.
And what guarantee has the County
Treasurers for any losses they might sus-
tain for obeying the order Of the Auditor
in levylng for taxes after coupons had
been rendered? In every such case of
trespass he may rest assured suit for dam
ages will be instituted in the United
States Court, with the probability of YER
dict for the amount stipulated. Where will
the UNDERWRITING board'' get the money
to protect the Treasures If it should
not be in the Treasury and certainly it would
not be with half the taxes paid in cou-
pons, how could it be raised ? Do these
foolish boycotters think for moment that
the people would submit to additional tax
alton to relieve them from their dilemma
It would be made an issue in the election
of the next Legislature, and not a member
of the present Legislature who would en-
dorse the stupid folly, would ever be COM
missioned to speak for the people again.
And this is the outcome of caucus rule
the fruits of primary elections and ring
manipulation. VIII tie people never learn
that they are supreme, and that whenever
they submit to the dictation of few ring
politicians, they surrender their rights and
compromise their manhood
What Page MCCARTHY Thinks of a
Staunton Democratic Boss.
The last number of the Refogmler, an
able Democratic paper, published in Rich
mond, by Capt. Page Mccarthy, has the
following incisive paragraph about a
Staunton Boss and the methods employed
to accomplish certain ends. The refer
ence is easily understood, and the sting of
the thrust appreciated
There are some ugly rumors afloat, con-
corning ring in Staunton organized under
certain influences to control certain offices.
A short time ago most competent and
worthy officer was turned out. and at that
time we refrained from publishing the