Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-30


ment are still in an unfinished coj.liton and will
require large additional appropriations to effect
their completion. These appropriations cannot be
withheld without arrestiug our public works and
thus depriving the State for years to come of any
return for the large sums which she has invested
in them. Indeed total loss of what we have al
ready expended would be a not improbable conse-
quence of pausing at this time in the prosecu-
ton of these important enterprises. 1t may,
therefore, be regarded fixed fact that the State
debt, large as it Is has not yet reached its maxi
mum, but must necessarily be increased to con-
siderable extent.
In the face, however, of these considerations
the Democratic party of Virginia still obstinatey
persist in their old policy of resistance to the dis
tribution of the public lands or their proceeds
among the States, and as long as they continue to
hold the ascendancy in this Commonwealth, that
policy will never be departed from. With all the
blind and obstinate bigotry of Bourbon or Stuart
dynasty ocofocosm still clipgs to its Anticipated and
pernicous distractions, and it is only by throwing
OIL Its yoke and bringing its neck to the political
guillotine that the people of this State can ever
hope to relieve themselves from the effects of its
Virginia overreceive from that great national fund.-
which her blood and treasure so largely contrib
uted to acquire, and which she is so Justly entitled
to share, as long as Democratic legislature shall
control her public action Her people need ex
pect no relief from the burthen of taxation un-
der which they are destined soon to groan from
this quarter Taxation is the sole resource
upon which our locofoco economists relv for the
extinguishment of our debt the payment of our
current expenses and the prosecution of our great
internal improvement enterprises. They will not
contaminate their fingers by receiving dollar of
the proceeds of the public domain, though taxes
should grind the people to dust and Reputation
stare the government in the face. IF the people
of this Commonwealth, upon a calm and dispas-
sionate consideration of the question, shall SYM
pathise with the scrupes of these Democratic DO
lticans and shall think it better to be taxed than
to receive from the federal government what lust
y belongs to them we shall cheerfully acquiesce
in their decision, however suicidal we NAV regard
it.
But we insist that the issue shall be distinctly
and fairly brought before them. The Gazette
well remarks that the question they have to de-
eide is whether they will have heavy taxation
with Democratic policy, or relief from that taxa
ton with Wing policy.
STATE DEBT
The recent report Of the Finance Committee made 70
the Legislature, estimates State debt at SEQ
I57 Co. tIwenty two million five hundred and
thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars and Six
cents Much Of this debt has been incurred in the
cutlon OF important works of internal Improvement and
much more will be required for thir completion To re-
aze profit upon the large already invested and Sc
the completion of these lines Of Improvement if is in
dispensaby that additional means sbond l.,
furnished by the State. -N 70
The important questions them are how is tbe debt
already incurred to be padand the additional means for
the complexion OF these improvements obtained? Will the
people OF Virginia prefer heavy azes or an abandonment
OF those improvements of such ncaculabe Importance
to them to the adoption of of policy BY which
their state debt may be paid without heavy iaratoa
upon then and at the time the completion of those
important improvements secured? The latter objects
be effected by the of policy long advocated bv the
Wing party in the distribution of the public lands or
proceeds thereof among the States. While the Demoe
racy OF Virginia have been pertcaousy clubbing over
political abstraction for the the mere sado of par
ty consistency other States with more practical views
have sought and obtained large portions of the public
DOMAIN and with the revezue thereof from constructedp pub
TIC that are spreading prosperity and wealth
throughout their borders Besides other immense grants
OF public lands hitherto made States bill was
lately engrossed in the Senate of the United States
which will doubtless pass both houses of Congress bv
large maores granting to the State of Ohio $4,000
acres of the public lands This disposition of the public
lands VIII continue until ere long the greater portion of
them will be disposed of in the very way the Virginia
Democracy profess to oppose. Yet while other States
are reaplng rich harvest the Democratic party of Vir-
gna who have long governed the State for the sake of
party quz66ie, obsnately deny to Virginia her inst
portion OF this domain While this distribution of public
lands is thus being made among those States which glad
y received them and enrich themselves thereby the De-
mocracy OF Virginia in convention assembled are reso-
wing with their Rip Van Wrinkle policy,
THAT Congress has power appropriate directly or
indirectly the proceeds of the public lands OF to grant d
recty or indirectly the public lands to the purpose of in
ternal improvements"
Here is State debt upon US of taceatytaeo millions
IRE hundred and thousand seen hundred and
that will be needed incurred under Democratic dvnas
N and the issue must be met how this sum to be paid?
It's for the people Of Virginia say Do they prefer
eavy torataon by adherng to the Democratic policy of
refusing their portion of the public domain or will thew
rather adopt the Wing policy, in dscardng false pride
and repudating political abstraction and by re-
csivng what justly due them relieve themselves from
the heavy burdens of taxation that soon fall upon
them The choice is between heavy taraion with De-
mocratc policy the hand and relief from such tax
aton with Wing policy, the other hand. Law aside
party preudce-et reason dictate and what Democrat
there in the State that will hesitate to choose the atter
they desire relief from the burdensome taxation that
must be resored to for the payment of this large public
debt if they desire the completion of their great works
of internal improvement then let them vote for WIG e
gislators to outthe only policy that can accomplish
those ends.
PUBLIC MEETING IN CHARLESTON.
Pursuant to previous notice,a meeting of citi-
zens was convened last evening at the City Hail.