Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-03-21
Democracy and Taxation.

mode of death, when the tax gatherer visits u.s.
we nav feel a lively concern about the amount
of his demands. In another portion of this pa
pe,. under the head Of 1.-The Tax Bill" will he
found some stirring information the subject.
Never since this good old commonwealth has
been blessed with government have her people
had to pay so largely fer that luxury, as they sil
be compelled to do the next two years, under
the provisions of this law. we do not say this
for the purpose of exciting any popular feeling
against the Legislature--ihcy did only what they
were obliged to do, in supplying means TO pay
the expenses Of the government and meet the
obligations of the State. Nor will charge
that the domnsat party is solely accountable for
these hurdensolae imPests on the people-for 1T
would be disingenaous not 10 admit that the ne
cessty for this enormously increased taxation has
flown mai My opt of the appropriations, Of late
years TO works of internal improvement. IN
which all parties have participated. md for urg
ing and approving which are willing to take
our foil share of responsibility. But we put II
to the people of Virginia. as fair and pertinent
question fer them 10 consider, whether it is not
certain that il the democratic party, who have,
for a whole generation. almost without inter
mission had charge oi the State, had performed
their trust more wisely aud faithfully, she would
not now be possessed of resources ten fold great
-er than she has, 20 meet the crushing DBL cations
that press upon he. Let il be considered
that the State, by common consent from colo
nial times 10 the present has been admitted to
be one Of the most richly endowed by nature, of
the confederacy. In fertility Of soil, excellence
Of climate abundance of minerals. facilities fo
intercourse with other nations and States by
reason of her unequaled hurbor, means OF inter
communication and trade through her noble
rivers the wealth of her forests aud the waste of
her water power. the vigor industry aud intel.
lgence of her sons--in all and everything out of
which sagacious aud provident craftsmanship
may mould a great prosperous and powerful
State, she was endowed by nature beyond al
most any other equal extent OF territory on the
globe. What has been done, under the states
manship Of Democracy, to develope the mighty
elements of wealth aud grandeur with which she
was blessed. Other States. far less fortunate.
have. under different management, outstripped
her in population, commerce, productions. man
ufactures, education and political influence
Can the fact be explained on any other hypothe-
sis than that Democracy has been incompetent
or unfaithful has lacked the ability or the dspo-
ton TO perform the task it has undertaken, has
failed in its high trust and fallen short of its no
BILE mission Is not Democracy n convicted de-
fauiter to the public! Have not the party to whom
were entrusted the fortunes of the State commit
ted depasforii in their administration In the
r, H.. A..
are found dereot in duty &fathless of trusts, they
are removed and punished. In holy writ we learn
that the Improbable steward who hid his lords
talent in the earth, instead of putting to the OK
oh angers that it might be received with usury at
his co ming. directed to be cast Into outer
darkness. where shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth" Is there any reason why Democracy
should be dealt with more lenienty than the faith
less guardian, or the Improbable steward, May
not Virginia Indignantly demand that they who
h ave hid her talent in the EARTH they who have
fed upon her substance, and squandered her
wealth, shall be cast into politicnl "outer. dark
ness TO weep and wall and gnash their teeth =
May she not like q Borrowing mother, demand of
those who have controlled her affairs the children
who have been driven from her domain, beggared
aud wandering into other lands May she not
demand of her servants an account of the uses 10
which they have put her fertile fieldsher teemng
mines, her hoolls and herds. aud the thou sand-
fold elements aud resources of wealth which sh,
gave in charge TO theml Under prudent ant
fostering government, for the last fifty years
Virginia would to day out number New York i,
popul alton, and exceed that empire state in al
Al. -. Il 3,
that were so, the taxation which will no,
press like q mill stone on her breas
would scarcely be felt. That it is nc
so is no more lamentably. true than it is d
rectly traceable to the laundering, heef
!essness, incompetency. faithlessness. and prof
gacy of those who have held her places of tru
and her posts of authority. Other States ha,
pro6ted, too not only by the discreet and car,
,ful use to which they have put all their intern
resources, but by receiving from the federal go,
eminent large distributions Of that public doma
belonging in common +" all the States. TIL,
they laid railroads. dug canals aud reared COLI
ges,without burdening their people with exactior
but to furnish them perpetual sources of prot
aud benefit. But the rulers of Virginia of all ii
States best entitled to whatever advantages migl
be obtained from the use of the public lands b
the federal government, have not only failed
demand her share, when she saw the whole bein
parcelled out, but has actually refused to recei,
an amount once gratuitously set aside for her b.
hoof. These are our reasons for charging tn,
wlsi!e the Democracy may not be responsible f,
the amount of taxation required of the people
Virgina, they are responsible for the paucity
the means for meeting that requirement, and Il
frightful severity with which it will be felt by II
people. We charge upon them. as being f