Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-15
Hheresoever the Carcasses Are,
There .wui the Eagles BE Gathered
ToCesber.


ysberesoeyer the Carcasses Are,
Tbere .wMi the Eagles Re Gathered
Together.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
You say: alt would be 3 feather In the
cap OF Colonel Parsons II he could effect an
Arrangement with Virginia's creditors under
which the state debt would be taken wholly
out OF the arena OF party politics" doubt
that. But l sm certain II would be discredit-
able 10 Virginia IL she permitted compare
tive stranger, Ss Mr. Parsons Is, 70 settle q
debt which she herself has in her sovereign
capacity declared shall he settled in one
mode only--to vii, according 70 the terms
prescribed by the Riddleberger bill. That
IL her ultImatum, and she should net recede
from It.
A good many people seem 10 think that
the creditors have legal rights in this mat
ter, and tsat those may be prOperly made the
subject Of negotiation. This IL a mistake
growing ont Of the present ideas OF the
power OF money. II was in reference TO this
very question that Alexander Hamilton un.
reseryedy admitted the sovereignty OF the
States in the following words;
cit IA inherent in the nature OF sovereignty
no. TO DO anenabie 70 the suit OF an Individual
the general PRACTICE Of mankind: and the
exemption, a. one OF the attributes OF soTe-
regnty. Ia now enjoyed by the government oil
every S<aUe ia the Union. Unless, therefore,.
thore Is surrender OF this immunity In the
PLAZA Of the convention II will remain with ihs
States, and the danger minated must be merely
IDEAL The circumstances which are necessary
u produce in alienation Of state sovereignty
wero discussed in considering the article ot
taxation. and need not be repeated here re-
carrence 70 the principles there established will
eastsfy us that there Is no color 70 pretend that
the Stale governments would. by the huop-
ton Of that plan. be divostei OF the priTi-
lsge OF paying their own depts In their own
way. free from every consuaiDt but that
which flows from the obhgatoos of good
faith. Tho contracts between nation ana
individuals are only binding on the conscience
OF the sovereign and have no pretenson TO a
oompulsivo force They confer no right OF
action independent Of tho sovereign will To
what purpose would 10 be 20 authorize suits
could recoveriee be enforUed7 10 Is evident II
could not DO done without Waging war against
the contracting state, and 20 asci1be 10 the fede-
raj courts by mere implication, and IN deStruc-
ton Of a pre-exis,ing RI ght Of the state govern
ments, a power which would involve such
consequence would 10 altogether forced aud
unwaIrantabl bic n-kedeTatsSt, bdtfion 1857, 10.
L1AIL, Tdye 5iA
The lawless efforts OF the Supreme Court
OF the United states have failed up TO tbs
aid OF such distortonIsts as the late Justice
stanley Matthews. Whenever they have
thrown the State upon her back she has
managed, like sklliul wrestler, TO "turn"
her adversary and to come out on top with
strength enough left to continue the contest
indefinitely. There is, therefore, no occa-
sion for uneasiness now, aud II Is beneath
the dignity OF the State 10 dicker with these
iobbers.
But what sort OF arrangement will Mr..
Parsons make? You say he sis a Blaine
man, and Dir. Blaine Is Secretary OF State OF
the United States, and has been friendly TO
the proposition TO turn over her share OF the
internal revenue 10 Virginia to pay her debt
with, and to relieve Virginia entirely OF
West Virginia's share OF the State debt"
Now can you tell from Mr.. BIaine's decla-
rations what he really Is friendly to? Have
you forgotten his whole record, including
bis speech when Mr.. Cleveland defeated
him? Can YOU DENY that it is one OF de-
ceit, intrigue, aud indirectionf And II he
succeeds will he not expect political recog-
milton and power as the price OF his
friendship? And are you willing to re-
ward him for taking the State debt
out Of politics when be leaves negro suffrage
IN politics! You say Virginia Is a Demo-
cratic state. BE pleased to say by what ma
iority and what margin you can spare for
experiments. Why mention Dir. Blaine's
iayOring the relief OF Virginia entirely OF
West VIrginta's share Of the State debt
Virginia has already relieved herself Of that.
You say YOU LEARN from the highest
authority" that Mr.. Parsons aud the rest
shave been invited 10 meet Amsterdam aud
London bankers on the debt question"
And may not that invitation have been ar
ranqedg We see every day the announce
ment that Mr. A Il c has "dceepted
position with" Mr. So g. So. But the phrase
deceiyes nobody; for everybody knows
that A Il c has begged Ike dog, az people
say. for that very position, and bad all bis
friends trying 10 get 1t for him. May 1t
not be so here? / apprehend 1t IL.
You say those Amsterdam and London
bankers" who, you think. have invited this
commission, must own or represent good
deal 81 the stock "to pay the expenses OF
three commissioners from this side OF the
Aantic." Now, they may not own or
represent any OF the stock. or pay one cent
OF the commissioners expenses. Let us
look back = little. On March s, 1887, Gov
ernor Lee said IN his message Of the 10th
OF March 10 the Legislature 81 am
informed by the counsel represent
ing tina, association " (tbe Council OF
Foreign BondhoIdersl that they own
or practically control all the consol and
teo.forty bonds. 81 am also 10 re-
eeipt OF copy of csblegram to their coun-
eel, bearing date London, March s, 1887. aud
saying, Council and committee, certainly
control English bordholders.' But when
the fact was screwed out OF the commits
sioners-I am referring 10 the legislative
conference with the commission OF foreign
bondhoiders-Sir Edward Thornton said
"We control none." Do you think they
would be more candid with Mr.. Parsons, q
new man, than they are proved 10 have been
with Mr.. RoysR. who bad been their con-
hdentisi counsel for ten years 7
have been lately looking into the history
81 the settlonent Of the Revolutionary debts,
and have found 1t full OF jobbery aud cor-
ruption. The settlement OF ours began In
corruption in 1871. Are the money -geiters'
morals better now, or are they not getting
worse every dayf think know something
about what Is going on, and tell the people
that In my judgment the question now 10
whether these men shall prey upon each
other, or whether they shall pick the bones
OF the State.
But m any settlement let US keep clear OF
the man who Ia 1850 gottb State Of Virginia
TO practically give him the James, River and
Banzwbs Canal. Look into the history aud
effects OF that transaction before you enter
Into another with the same party. go