Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-01-29
yoR THE sPECTAToR.l
- TAN THE STILLS.
To The Legislature of Virginia
UNUS POPULI.

TO the Legislature Of prsinia
You are now assembled at the Capitol of the
State 10 transact business for the State.-Many
things will be brought to your notice and urged
upon your attention. You will be told that the
welfare of the State is intimately connected with
them. They will be represented TO you as hav-
ing tendency conducive to the public good, and
as operating beautifully upon society. Some
things have already been brought TO your notice.
and your wise consideration demanded upon them.
They are things which are of vital importance to
the interests Of the Commonwealth. That of
State Improvement appears to have fomented
considerable northumberland amongst The items
connected with that subject, which will be before
you Tor consideration, that of funds to aid in car
rying out any proposed scheme, will stand very
prominent, and doubtless will cripple and retard
your movements. The empty Golfers of your
treasury VIII stare you in the face and bid you
STAND. \ our State debt will no doubt cause some
convictions, and create in you a concern for its
discharge. The many petitions which have come
ana VIII come before you, calling upon you to
devise some means in your wisdom for bringing
out and improving the dormant energies which
are now lying hid and ifelees in living, sensitive,
intellectual, but INDECENT youths, doubtless will
create some sensation in your breasts. The cry
the loud astounding cry of actual existent iG-
norance IN large number of the children of
your State, and to whom the State must in part
look and depend for future direction and protection,
cannot fail to create in you keenness of sensa-
ZION which will tell you that reformation ought
70 and must be had. And no doubt from that con-
viction you will be the willing instrument to bring
about such reformation. But your cry and ex-
cuse will be san empty Treasury-no funds-it
cannot be done without money" But i'm order
10 discharge your State debt, or to advance any
Oh these desired Improvements or audable de-
signs, you Will no doubt expend much of vour
lime, and apply much of your skill and wisdom.
In deylsing means by which funds may be raised
70 aid IN promoting the interests of the State
4 GU VIII TAX the sot! from which YOU and your
humble constituents eat the bread of life. You
Will tax the animals by which its surface is made
productive, and by which the produce of the land
rs transmitted from parts where it is in abundance
TO parts Of scantiness, and to the metropols of
the State--even the bread which pou are no,o
eating. You will enter, by your collectors. the
humble domlcs and peaceful cottages of your
constituents, and tax the very accessories and
comforts of life and will compel them 10 paw
.ne taxes on those articles, even if by so doing
me last Drop Of milk or bite of bread is taken
rom the mouths Of starving, crying infants--to
aio you In carrying out your laudable and com
ihenoaoIe designs, and your constituents will
peacefully submit TO your action. But in vour
yearly enumeration of articles upon which YOU
ieVy taxes Ior the support of the government.
~ Uu rave 'orgo''en one article, which appears, in
all justice and consistency, ought TO be taxed
and which would yearly yield a considerable a.
mount OF revenue. STILL! yes STILLS. Above
all other things first tax the SiAs-those fruitful
sources of so much ignorance, crime, poverty.
oisgrace, and so many Don-revenue payers. Does
not not consistency call loudly for their taxation
why leave untaxed an article which is productive
Oh SO much ignorance and wrong, and tax the
very necessares Of life and comforts of society7
GU nave never yet had Treasury full to over
moving and 10 objects upon which to expend it.
INC oid dominion is rapidly and alarminply
falling behind her younger sister Republics, and
the whole blame is laid upon the Legislative