Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-15

held himself ordered dozen pairs.
Count D'Orsay had accomplished his
purpose, and the delighted tailor came
no more with his troublesome bill.
Shall There BE a Constitutions al Con-
vention7
Moss1NGFoRD, Va, March 81, 1888.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
My reply to Judge Dabney has been
delayed by an effort to get an authorita-
tive statement of certain facts and
figures bearing upon our industrial
economy. Our learned friend has argued
his side OF the case with great ability,
giving lucid and logical historical
statement of the facts and events lead
ing up to the present Constitution. Lord
Macaulay said that the american Con-
stitution was all sail and no anchor. /"
The Judge would reverse this and give
us a constitution all anchor and no sail.
The question is not whether the masses
of the people have called for conven-
ton or what changes are necessary in our
present organic tar, but how can Virgil
MIA be brought up abreast Of the age in
which we ive-hoW can she be made
prosperous-how can she recover her
lost prestige ? Under the influences ex-
erted by steam, electricity, science, or
ganized capital, and organized intellect,
the world around us is going ahead with
a rush States which have come into the
Union since Virginia adopted her pres
ent Constitution have shot by her in the
race and now instead of standing rs she
once did in the van she has been rele-
gated to the rear. Clearly we are in the
midst of q great revolution. social, po-
litical and industrial. Man in all
of his relations to his fellow
man, but more particularly in
his relations to the objective world,
seems to be in state OF progressive evo-
luton and development He cannot
stand still-he dare not 60 back. Then
let us keep step with the march OF events.
History, PHILOSOPHY, geology, and the
ology all teach that in the economy Of
Gods government progress is only made
by revolutions in the social and political
by cataclysms in the physical world.
Then let Virginia boast the chrysalis
shell which now environs her. Let the
autonomy Of the State be assumed by
her true sons. Let them first wipe out
the stains which have been flood upon
her fair escutcheon during these twenty
years of misrule. Let us retain all that
Is good in the present Constitution, but
engraft upon it certain new features
which are absolutely demanded by the
changed condition Of things. Permit
me to state some of these briefly and
then discuss them:
]. Debt settlement.
.. 4 bureau of labor and statistics as a
basis for n board of equalization in taxa
ton.
3. Technology and manual training en-
grated upon our educational system.
/. Railway control and restriction Of
corporate power.
). Prohibition OF any further grants
to corporations of rights, privileges, or
franchises unless tho rights TO exemption
from taxation is relinquished by them.
6. The exemption OF capital invested
in all new manufacturing enterprises
from taxation for ten years.
1t is the honest conviction OF the writer
that any one OF these provisions will put
into the Treasury Of the State and
pockets of the people annually double as
much as Judge Dabney estimates the
cost Of the convention, new Code, &c.
!. Can the debt be settled by con-
vention of the people? Undoubtedly.
Make it an issue in the canvass, then re-
affirm and establish the Riddiebcrger
settlement az tie COnsfitutiOn-frst, by
declaring our unalterable determination
to stand by it ; second. by exempting the
bonds from all taxation; third, By re-
curing all fduc1aries to invest in them,
all insurance companies doing business
in the State to hold them az security to
their patrons, all banks to hold an amount
equal to the State funds deposited with
them or a certain per cent. of their capt.
tai. all literary and other State institu-
tions to invest their funds in them
there are eighteen institutions of learn
ing. receiving Si42, 269.34 interest on
State bonds, also seventy-seyen insurance
companies and seventy nine banks doing
business in the State, all of which would
take more or less bonds); fourth, levy
specific tax for the interest, which shall
be set aside as sacred fund in the
Treasury and paid in legsl-tender money
of the United states in New York and
London.
According to Judge Dabney's view,
the debt question is now in q worse con-
dition than ever, and must in the near
future press upon the State with irresist-
able force. Yet he is unwilling to trust
its solution to the sovereign peOpte Of
Virginia, who alone, in my opinion, are
competent to deal with it. Let the Su-
preme Court of the United States decide
what they may, unless the sovereign peo-
pie act, and that soon. the end Is inevi-
table.
1t is alamentable, humiliating fact that
Virginia has lost her credit, and the peo-
pie of the State are in no better condi-
ton. This is the heaviest burden we
have to bear. Go to New York, go to
Chicago, 90 anywhere among business
men, and you will find that this is true.
As a mater of policy it is to our interest
to be honest. But have We been ? Have
we StOOu Nv our COubIhCtS III ROOu lhitH :
Have we paid our debts Look at the
funding bill. Look at the McCulloch
settlement, aud then look at the Riddle
berger readjustment Don't they say
now that the people only want one more
whack at it ? DO you think the bondhold-
ers still have faith in us? Are they all
born fools? Do you blame them for
wanting their money and for trying to
get it? My dear Judge. let us. in the
name of ali that is pure and lovely and
OF good report, seize the opportunity Of
fered TO us in this year of our Lord 1883,
and settle at once and forever this
damnable and damniDg contest. Let
not the honor and good name of our
dear old mother be longer made the
football of politicians upon which to
ride into Office, nor her body furnish
meat for the yultures OF Wall street.
What better evidence can You wish of
the ruinous effect of the present condi-
ton of things than that furnished by the
Auditors last report Though the coun-
try il enjoying period OF rapid expan-
sion and development, in which North
Carolina and other States around us par