Year: 1878

SPEECHES AND PASS REsoLUTIONs-THE


GOVERNOR THREATENED WITH A CON.


sTITUTioNAL CONVENTION.


About half past o'clock yesterday the
Governor sent to the House OF Delegates
the following message: IN
To The Honorable she House of Delegates Z


return the bill !" imposing taxes on real
and personal property, to meet the neces-
sary expenses of the government; for public
free-scho0l purposes, and to pay the inter-
est on the public debt" without my appro-
val.


/ do this most reluctantly; not only be-
cause / do not like to disagree with the Le-
gislature- having high estimate OF Its
ability and patriotisn- but because wish
this question of the State debt to be finally
settled. .zf ~ g


Having this wish, cannot see any settle
ment in this bill. 1t is only iremitting the
vexed and Yexing matter from the Legisla-
ture to the courts. Instead OF bringing
peace it is challenging war between the
State and the creditors, and keeping alive
in bitterness a thing which has already by
its agitation cost more than its whole sum
to the material interests and welfare OF the
Commonwealth.


It may be said that by this very act am
aiding what so much dread. Even in the
narrow light Of consequences, to one filling
my place, cannot see that / would be
stunning trouble by signing the bill. On
the contrary, would be shirking response
bility, and passing to others question
which duty tells me / am bound to decide
for myself. Besides, believe, it safer and
better, when aquestion has grown into such
size and bitterness as this, that, if possible,
it should be settled on that arena where if
properly belongs. tits very unhappy that
it should ever have got into


THE FIELD OF POLITICS,


and severed the people OF the State into
parties. 1t is really business matter, not
likely to be closed by the wrangle OF the
hustings. -g.


Such certainly would be the result should
this bill become law. / do not think its
friends look for, some do not wish, any
| other, believing that it is injected with
grave principles that ought to be tested by
judicial inquiry. But I cannot think thai
this will avail for good, or hasten a settle.
ment after it has been made subject oi
political strife. Evil almost always follows
when questions are taken from that arena
and sent to the courts, with all the acri.
mony begotten by fierce discussion. The
questions are not put at rest, but the courts
and their DEGREES are dragged together
down and their high authority belittled.
| do not for q moment say that judges are
iniallible. They are men, and liable to err
But do mean to say that their strength anC
purity are the


FIRMEST BULwARKS OF FREEDOM


and peace in Republic like ours.


Whilst these are my views with regaTC d
to the tribunal in which this matter ought
to be concluded, springing solely from the


evils Of its discussion elsewhere, there are


other reasons for my action based upon


higher ground.
I have no doubt that every member o.


your honorable body who voted for tbi!


bill was fully satisfied both Of its policy
and constitutionality; otherwise, l am sure


it would not have passed. You had studied


the subject in all its bearings, and believed


that the condition OF our State and Of the


debt justified the law. You did this under


the oath you had taken to uphold the Con


stitutions which bound your acts. Having


done so, your duty is fulfilled and your
| consciences clear.


1t must have the approval Of the Cover
| nor before it becomes


ALAW.


l am equally sure you will accord to hin
the same sense of duty and responsibility
inasmuch as he mas taken the same oath ant
has the same right of decision as your
selves.


I do not mean to enter into any lengthy
argument with regard to the credit Of the
State and the binding obligation upon it:
people to pay its just debts. Iwould in
suit the gentlemen OF the Assembly by ever
limiting that there is one among them who
by denying this is so unworthy OF filing sc
high place. l have never heard any ol
them say, in public or priv ate, that suct
was his opinion, and who would not re-
gard blow at the honor of the Common
wealth as worse than private injury.
! feel quite certain that such man coulC
have no standing in your midst, but would
be spurned as he would if, having means,
he refused TO pay his honest dues. Will
this statement, and with it knowing that
cannot be misunderstood, feel the freer tC
DISCUSS THE BILL.


When read its clauSeS, by themselves
l can come to but one conclusion, that they
are both unjust and unconstitutional
Apart from anything beyond their simple
tcrms-no question presented but the Con
stitution and the laws-no one will deny


that they are violation OF both, as inter
preted by our highest courts. l will moi


take up your time in going over arguments


now so trite that not only yourselves, but


almost every man in the State, though un
| lettered, knows them by r0te. The effort


is here made to deny the taX-paying power
| OF the coupons. This has beeen pronounced
| void yUhv fhon 1raar
| it in the field of controversy? Why tempt
again the inevitable? can see no use in
thus arraying one department Of the gov
ernment against another, arousing contro-
versy and keeping alive feelings that car
end only in bad blood and trouble. Ever
the warmest friends Of the bill will not deny
that this issue will arise upon the clauses
and that such is most likely to be the result
Some may say, however, they believe


THESE DECISIONS WRONG


and liable to reversal. What Of that? Has
the Legislature convened to spend its pre-.
cious time and money to make up points to
be mooted by the courts, whilst Virginia
and all her dearest interests arefn the throes
OF deepest agony? Why not regard the
opinions OF the highest courts, composed Of
pure and able men, as entitled to at least
equal consideration with their own, acting
within the bounds Of as strong and sacred
obligation? These opinions have been
rendered several times by courts of compe-
tent authority. Can we afford to wait till
they are tried again? Why should the LIE.
gisIature wish to have its powers tested in
any case which it can settle for itself2
But am glad to say that few, IL any, de
sire such delay or such discussion. They
insist that this bill is framed to meet the re.
uuirements OF these decisions. I wish
oo,,ld aex,oa with thara Koas. thoir oS,