Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-02-03
For the Enquirer.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

If vigilance is to the preservation of freedom II is
also essential prevent the excessive enlargement W w
State debt and the mpus lion OF onerous taxes. n f
spec,fy invite you 10 examine the financial conuoh VI
the Cn:umonweah- to reflect upon the many nluaicous
appropriations which have been made, and then seriously ~
ask yourselves whether present clrcuhistan.es, % @
past events do require you henccorward 10 nes'o"
attention l., the conduct representatives. especlay III
regard loans and appropriations. , :,
large has already been expended upon WORKS o.
internal Improvement, and very few OF them yelu any
nue A. this time the State of Virginia owns uhplouuc'e
stocks amounting to 5O2O3 The productive STOCKS
amount to ST. 256 l6 3D. and of these productive sochs e
largest revenue obtained from The honus on bahS ca.a
and the semi annual dividend the Bank STOCK hea oy e
State Deduct last and The other stocks VIII eShloi
begeay account. Notwithstanding our BANKS are III
credit and condition. furnish good currency anu pay e
State per cent per annun exclusive OF the oonus soe
persons desire establish rival institutions and oters re-
commend the State should sell out her socS 10 ouci
thai your atives may avoid the responsibility OF
raising the on The property vi the Cominon"eal' a
policy unwise, suicidal, cannot think receive your
approval opposed 10 these schemes DOGS i noa
YOU to make known your wishes your representatives.
without delay {! 1890
The actual debt of Virginia on the ls of January 1852
was 81 92l OBS 80 cents do mol know the exact amount
of the Stat, liabilities but am they exceed ten Millions
and that the actual debt and liabilities of the state amount 10
not les. renty t,eo millions Of dollars II Is mPoss-
bic to tell what sum will be required to complete Inc Puoc
works which going on leaving out OF cohsaeus,oI
those which contemplated and likely TO DC
hereafter think that may safely assume that esheen
millions Of dollars will be required ~ complete the SEVERN
public works now in the Of construction, ana of
which filth ohe S;aes in the opinion ol some peoecn'
IF add eighteen millions 10 the twenty Two iilohs &c
.l1l debt and liabilities your State debt will then Oe IDLY
millions; annual interest upon which, will DC S-4ouoVo
To this last sum- may add annually for expenses OF Inc
civil list and incidental appropriations, S6UOOUO more. II
will then require three millions OF dollars annually 10 defa!
exponscs Of your State government and tho interest on
your Stale debt The Inconvenience OF paying TINS sum
nuay be imagined when you bear in mind that e TAX
on the propery of the State produces only about Blk nun
dred thousand dollars Recoect that the friends OF internal
improvement expect to derive very little revenue from me
not longer you pay the interest by taxation or disgrace
yourselves the eye Of the civilized world by reputation
Gov Johnson in hs recent message 10 the re-
marked that the exertions TO be made Tor the purpose u
paying existing and future debts will DO doubtless let
very sensbly BY the country" You are destined soon 10
realize the truth of the observation. lapprehend that nohhe
short of increased taxation will you Of duty,
and induce you watch the conduct of your representatives
with that degree of vigilance which the true Interests Oh
the Commonwealth and your own security demand =
For the present posture OF financial affairs and the
many wise and Improbable expenditures OF the last
y yau nna You elected men to the L.
gsaiue, and when they assembled, yon failed 10 eI-
ercise proper and reasonable supervision orer their
conduct. fou manifested no disrus OF their wisdom
or discretion and you evinced ,rahf ulnss You conf
ded in them if they had been angels or SoomonS I'm
limited confidence is liable TO be abused, and you have
reaped that reward which you ought to have anticipated
Had you held your representatives TO JUST 10
YOU the pcrncious practice Of legislative "log rolling for
have been arrested a, the threshold Millions Of dollars
squandeed by this corrupt System of legislation
Is you-the fountain and OF powe-to decide
whether this system shall continues for you TO de-
eide whether those who engage in og rolling schemes
shall hencefUrward retain your confidence receive your
contempt for you determine whether or not you VIII here
after hold your responsible for honest dis
charge OF their legislative trusts. Political immortality Is
not tie friend but lie enemy of good government. With.
out regard political ethics free peup= enjoy per.
prosperity, md il becomes ynn u consider whether
the standard OF political morals in Virginia ought not 10 be
elevated and improved.
BY changing organic law TO render nearly al! Of
cers dependent upon the popular choice and support you
have indicated your desire increase the responsibility oil
your agents The desire for increased responsibility Is
striking characteristic of the Constitution. Is II not
as much your duty increase the responsibility OF your
representatives in the Legislature that OF the Judges l.
If the heretofore been remiss in the discharge OF
their duties what think you of the conduct OF the former
concur with Governor Johnson in The opinion that no
appropraons ought made for purposes of Internal I'm
except few great leading works upon the COM
pletion of which might anticipate good revenue. All
local and petty objects should be discouraged because the
will never probably yield any revenue
The tulip mania in Holland, and The norus multcdnis m
mia in the United States did higher than the present
mania upon subject OF internal improvements They
held 10 as the panacea for all the evils that flesh heir TO-
not the enemy of internal far from It,
But am the enemys of "log-roing and of anaticsm In
regard 10 internal improvements and all other subjects and
agree with your and my in maintaining THAT no
free government the blessings Of liberty be preserved
to my people, but by firm adherence to justice moderation
temperance frugaly and rirtue That you may ever re-
member and observe these haowed truths the sincere
wish of ONE OF YOU.