Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-05-19
Taxation, Democracy aud the Public Lands

v.
had an interview with the Sheriff on the subject
will feel disposed to deny. That the necessity
for this decreased aud onerous taxation has re
suited mainly almost entirely, from the large
appropriations made by the Leg slature of late
years to works Of internal Improvement IL fact
known 10 all-and thu, u,e dominant party in the
State is ,no more responsible. IN proportion to ITS
numbers.for these appropriations than the MINOR
ity is concession dse to truth and fairness
But while these things are tras, II Is not less 20
that the democratic party, by reason of its long
and comp e.e ascendsnoy in the State of Virgin
ia, are accountable for the tardy development
and laggard increase of the iax-paying resources
Of Virginia. Other states. under n different
policy, have advanced with tenfald greater
rapidly in population and material wealth,
while Virginia. blessed with physical advantages
equal to the foremost OF them, has made so slug.
gish and lingering progresses TO have become
a hy-word of thriitlessncss aud illustration
of premature seniIity and decay. Democratic
statesmen and politicians have been too eagerly
.engrossed with the affairs of the general govern
ment, too ambitious Of national distinction and
TOO covetous of federal honors to bestow that At
tention 10 the condition and improvement Of the
State which was demanded by the home interests
other citizens and which related alike TO her glory
asa commonwealth and their prosperity aud hap.
piness as a people. Agriculture. manufactures
education and all the arts and auxiliares ofindus
try have been shamefully neglected. Whole dis.
tricts of the richest aud fairost portions Of The
State have been nearly unsettled for want of Ia
-cilities for market and the means of commnniea
ton with tho world. Immense deposits Of The
most valuable minerals. fertilizers and fuel have
lain untouched in the bowels Of the earth Scarce
ly an attempt has been made 10 apply to prncti-
cal uses the great manufacturing capacities of
the State. Thousands after thousands of our
best citizens have been compelled /, cmigrnte
and make their homes in States not pnraly Ivy
The palsying Influences that have benumbed Nr-
ginia. If democratic politicians and Legislators
have no, caused these deplorabe results by acts
of mistaken policy and injurious tnkerng with
pubic interests they have been guilty Of ,he no
less rerrehensibIe conduct of having failed to
prevent them, by measures of wise legislation and
theories sf true physical, political aud social pro
gress For what we are us IA people and com
monweaith, compared with what we might have
been under other management, and ought to be.
the party who have controlled the affairs Of the
State are justly responsible-and should be
made to account. II they are not responsible for
the a mount of taxes levied on us.they respon-
sible for their burthensomeness if not for what
we have to pay.what we have to pay with fnot
Tor the size of the debt, for the pauoty of tho
means. Nor is this solely attributable to general
incompeteney and neglect. but there have been
positive act, of omission and commission which
add very greatly to the present embarrnssmenis.
The Report OF the Finance Committee nadc to
the last Legislature exhibits wretehcd mismaa-
agement on the part of those who have con,rolL
the public finances. But it is chiefly in conneo.
ton with the Public Lands that the democratic
politicians of Virginia have pursued course the
most singulary stupid and suicidal that the histo-
ry of parties furnishes an instance Of While 9th
.er states have been building railroads. digging
canals, opening rivers con structing harbors and
rearing institutions of learning by means derived
from this source giving to their citizens all the
benefits of these great agents of civilization and
prosperity without adding to their taxes, and
while there has been power to prevent these
lands, to which Virginia has much legal and
after year parted with and lessened in this way
her democratic rulers have obstinately refused TO
receive one acre, and have compelled the people 10
pay from their own pockets for advantages which
others with no superior claim were receiving as n
gratuity. They have not only refused to ask for
any thing, but have rejected it when proifered.
They have not only failed 10 demand that the
state should be put upon an equal footing with
other states, but have resisted and repealed the
attempt of Others to put her there. We have
been led to oonsider, this extraordinary conduct
ofthe democratic politicians of Virginia by BRIEF
article in the Nashville Banner alleging similar
complaint against them in Tennessee. That ar.
tole, by change of locality. is equally applica-
BILE to Virginia SO applicable that make
it part Of this. Says the Banner: At this
''monept while the people Of Tennessee
fare struggling along under the burdens of II
"vast taxation. self imposed. for the construction
'of their railroads, we desire to call their atten-
''tion to the recent report Of the Illinois Central
RAILROAD Company. This r'ad, readers
fare aware. is intended to connect Chicago with
"Cairo. aud will be completed it -expected in
august. To aid in its construction, Congress
"made donation to the State of Illinois of up
''wards offwo and a half millions Of acres Of the
"psbiic lands. situated along the line of the route.
The whole of this donation the State of IlIinoi.
subsequently conveyed 10 the Illinois Contra
''Railroad Company, on condition that they
''should construct and equip the road. OF The
Glands. $3.50 acres have already been sold by
.the Company for s5,5S3.577-an average ol
"over $40 50 per acre. The Company still owr
.2,O66.i76 acres, including some of their bes
stands. The managers express the confident be-
lief that the lands owned by the Company viii
The eniire af lie rand anil enuin