Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-04
FRIDAY. ;. SEPTEMBER 4. 1891.
The Accomac Resolutions.

Virginia.
Their devotion TO the party has saved 1t
from defeat in many close contests, and
they can always be relied upon to enter
every important campaign with enthusi-
ssm, and TO fight it out with determine
ton and gallantry.
The utterances Of such Democrats are
therefore entitled to weight with our poo
nile. and We have no doubt that the reso-
lutions adopted at the Accomao meeting
and which we published yesterday will re-
ceive earnest attention. They speak out
plainly on number of questions, including
one which. though of general interest
10 Virginia, is Of special concern to all that
section of the State in which oysters are
produced.
The Accomac resolutions endorse the
senatorial course OF Messrs. DANIEL and
BARBOUR, and declare that Justice and
prudence indicate the propriety OF re-
electing Mr.. DANIEL" whose term will ex-
pire on the 4th of March, 1898. They CON-
mend our senator's "active and efficient
support Of the free and unlimited coinage
of silver and their efforts in behalf of the
interests of the people, the agricultural
community especially, involved In tho sue
cess OF that great measure"
1t is the opinion of the Democratic peo-
pie of Accomac "that the next General
Assembly Of Virginia should enact such
laws as may be necessary to protect the
people against unjust determinations and
extortionate demands of railroad corpora
tons and other common carriers SO far rs
such legislation may be consistent with
the legitimate authority OF the Legislature
20 intervene for such purpose"
Believing that the discussion Of the pub
lie debt will assume fresh Importance
during the coming session of the General
Assembly. tho meeting declared THAT the
utmost caution and intelligence should be
used in dealing with this important and
dangerous question, and that in no event
should there DO any :material departure
from the provisions of that act or any adj
diuon to the burden of taxation 1t i'm
poses."
Every utterance that we hear from any
assemblage OF Virginia voters warns all
concerned that while O settlement would
be the occasion for much rejoicing, it is
idle to talk Of the adoption of any PROPOSE
ton that differs in any important particular
from the RIDDLEBERGEB bill No departure
from IL will be entertained for moment,
unless it is to the advantage of the State,
and this must be 30 obvious and certain as
to require little or no explanation. In
other words, it must be apparent to the
public. II must carry conviction with it.
When such plan is framed and published
the taxpayers will recognize and approve
it at once, and will be urgent for Its adop-
ton; but nothing else will receive their
attention.
This we take TO be the purport Of the
Accomac resolutions on this subject. This
we feel sure is the almost unanimous SEN
timent in this State. and now that the
bondholders are beginning to realize the
fact there is good reason for hoping that
settlement Is not so very far of in the
future.
The oyster interest is very great one on
the Eastern Shore. and there seems to be
some alarm felt by the people of that Sec
ton lest the General Assembly of Virginia
should take action this winter by which
the possession of the oyster-beds will be
passed into the hands Of monopolies to
the great injury of citizens generally. We
think there need be no fear on this score.
Monopolistic measures will not have many
friends In the next General Assembly. Any
project tainted with such suspicion will
be Jumped on /" and killed at once; but
Ill H. -
made TO put the oyster industry upon q
better footing. and We believe that the
sole and honest aim of the great majority
OF the members will be to give protection
to producers and at the same time enable
the State TO realize from her property in
the oyster-waters q revenue properly corre-
spending with its value.
II Is extremely unlikely that any very
radical measures will be adopted, or that
there will be any wide departure from the
traditional policy of the State. We do not
blame the Democrats of Accomac for taking
. decided position on this question, as
silence might be misconstrued, but we can
not believe that there Is any serious pur-
pose "in behalf of monopoly to interfere
with and take from the people this great
privilege and confer it upon certain indi-
viduals." II is true that propositions.
which are said TO have been made to the
Governor by men ofprobity and means. go
70 show that the oyster-beds Of the CON-
monwealth are Of greater value than has
been supposed hitherto. and this may in
cline the two houses to seek TO obtain for
our Treasury larger revenue than accrues
at present, but We cannot think that any
but conservative counsels will prevail.
Gonopolies will not be encouraged. The
people of the oyster districts will not be
oppressed. No considerable number of
members viii be iound willing 20 dis
possess the honest yeomanry of Eastern
Virginia Of their hereditary rights and
privileges.
All this we believe we can promise for o
Democratic Legislature.
Nov. a. to what legislation Is needful to
protect our oysteryocks from spoliation,
our eastern friends. who understand the
subject thoroughly. viii have to inform the
General Assembly; but there seems to be
NO agreement yet reached between the
tongers and planters. Their interests con-
hiet. The tongers are of the opinion
that the planters take up for plant
ing-grovnd natural rock" that
should DO free 10 them. Upon the other
hand the planters complain OF tho depre-
dations upon their pisnt-b beds by tongers.
80 tho quarrel goes In all probability no
surcease will ever be obtained from those
contentious until all the oyster grounds,
OF wsters rather, are mapped OF and st&ked
out.
To al Of these questions 0 Democratic
Legislature will give duo heed II she
facts arc properly placed before II. II viii
DO Justice ~ evenly a. Is possible; but II
WI necessarily have TO rely upon the Tide
water members for much Of the informa-
tiop 10 guide ~ action. and 10 these We
wond ~. como there united. come forti-
~ viii hets. and you viii And your