Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-04-13
y.i.ERE yvlLLrnE 1.aD III.


The Richmond correspondent q tie Ere
publican says the report Of the Committee
On Finance exhibits startling view Of tie
Commonwealth. The actual debt Of the
State is now above sixteen millions four hun.
bred thousand dollars, besides subscriptions
and guaranteed bonds -making in all the
sum Of 81, 34S,750. "Tbc amount neces-
sary to meet the demands upon the treasury
for the two fiscal years ending October 1853
viii be upwards of Sa,700,0O0." Here is
indeed pretty picture to present to the as
tonished gaze of the PEOPLE, who have been
iuiled .nto fancied security, by the cry of 'rc-
tfenchment and reform" aud I'll this, too,
brought upon the State By legislatures which
have been, with few exceptions, from time
immemorial, Democratic And what is the
remedy? 1dxes. Taxes increased, and bur
densome must be borne BY the people, from
which there can be no possible hope Of es-
cape.
The present Legislature must. and will
impose burdens greivous to be borne, and
for this there is no remedy, 'ye would lie du-
ped, and ye are. This in brief, as the
Richmond Wig says, is our present condi-
tion under wise Democratic Administration
Is it not high time to change it Is net
some amendment. in cur condition demanded
by every consideration Of patriotism and
sound policy? What prospect does Demo
cratic rule hold out Of such improvement
They have no measures which promises re-
lief Next year, according to their own
showing, the taxes will he greater than they
are this and still no work of Improvement
can be aided The increased taxation will
be required to pay interest on the debt, the
salaries Of office-h holders and other current
expenses And so it will continue for SO
years, until the public debt is eztiuguished.
The people for all that time will have to pay
taxes simply Cor the pleasure of being gov
erned by Democrats. What, in the mean
while, will become of the works of Internal
Improvement already commenced, anl those
projected, we leave to their several friends to
The Wigs cont,nl, and We tlnk Justly,
that our condition would now be far different
from what it is, if their policy with aspect
to the public lands had been adopted. The
18th instalnent under the Distribution Act of
1886. would alone Lave given to Virginia
upwards of 100000. That went by the
board when the Democrats gained the ascen
dency and since then, Mr. sepator Douglas
grabsystem has prevailed, and the public
lands are being appropriated to tie States III
which they lie
"By arrcsting this iniquitous system, and
giving to Virginia her due portion of the
public domain, the Wings think that all cur
wants would be relieved. We published some
statistics last week, Which showed that Vir-
ginia 5 share in the public lands still unap-
propiated, would amount to about $50 mill
ions of dollars One half or one fourth Of
that sum, would make us easy. Is it not
worth striving for? Virginia is as much en-
titled tor as to any money in her treasury
or rather evor was in her treaury--for
there is none there now. BY change of
men and measures, she may stand a chane to
obtain it Certain It's, that she will ncvor
get the first cent of it ii for the honor Of be-
ing ruled BY I.ocofoccs, we leave it to be
seized upon by the squatters