The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-02
THE DISPATCH:
WEDNESDAY, MORNING. DEcEdsnk : lse.
SoTTCE 70 ADvEkTfsERs.


WEDNESDAY, MORNING DEcEdsn $3.50 : lse.
S0TTcE 70 ADvEKTfsERs.
ksxerftsemeuss sbr the DrspArcs mast % mana
"A = by ~ Se,esk q o. Afternoon, IN ofcss ~
pecr the nsxt dag. Ne heavy press "a. ~.
s,..r.nts rce. the cslunss Of en- paper Wsa sst
sauit q Asar reception aser ne nosr
The virginia Lsgi.l.tars-1snns-
Taxatton--InternaiA =" :, .ss.
- res,.,.,ure Of virginia win assemble on
49,. ,sxt II will be az important session
-, ~ Banks will wake up vast amount
- ,,..n..,oa. finance and philosophy. We shalt
s..r considerable upon the subject Of banks that
va, never heard Of before. and great deal that
will never be heard OF again. The subject OF
Ranking 10 one that very few understand, and
therefore that everybody explains. We conse.
ousntly expect to have vast amount new ana
original thought upon that subject at the approach
ins session Of the Virginia Legislature. we arc
sorry that Il IL too late now TO send WORD 10 the
(overnor Of the Bank Of England and to koths'
oh,,a A Co. TO come over aud occupy seats In the
lobby. that they may learn something OF the great
,na.tsrs 70 which their lives have been hitherto
,nefaoicntly devoted. Some new and startling
theories will he broaehed during the approaching
seasion, or all the signs Of the times are deceptive
In the mean time, there is one class OF Banks
which may expect the heaviest kind Of run, but
arr fully prepared to shell out to any amount--ws
mean the Oyster Banks. In the m dst Of the gene
raj pressure, the great fundum stands alone, I'M
approached and unapproachasie. Modern degene-
racy cannot reach the rundum: nothing can reach
ID but oyster tongs. We are happy to say that
good many hands are at work, bringing up the
hard coin from the cool vaults Of old ocean, aud
that BY the time the Legislature meets, the solid
issue of the oyster banks win be ready for distr
button.
The election Of Senator is another matter which
will occupy the deliberations of the Legislature.
but will soon be disposed of; and possibly, the
subject Of Internal Improvements.
In regard to this latter topic, We do not remem-
Der to have seen but one expression of opinion in
the public press of Virginia. All are agreed that
the leading lines ought to be pushed forward as
soon as the State is able to do so without an in
crease of taxation, and not before. 1t is undenat
BILE that the present rate of taxation weighs hea-
Willy upon the agriculturists of Virginia not few
OF whom are emigra;ing from the State, but the
burthens borne by tie aericuItursts are a feath-
er's weight compared to the crushing load upon
the backs of the merchants. The views expressed
by the Dispatch in opposition to an increase Of
taxation, before the commencement of the money
pressure, were copied and approved by leading
Virginia papers, but they receive additional en-
phssis from the fearful financial storm which is
now raging, and which has Frustrated some of
the oldest and strongest houses in Europe and
America. The people Of Virginia, especially in
such times as these, cannot stand another turn OF
the screws. Moreover, know full we'll on
whose shoulders the heaviest load is TO fall in the
event of an increase of taxation. 1t is the mer-
chants, whose interest in the Legislature is in
defenceless minority, and who are completely ei
the mercy of the agriculturists. Weak ata at!
they already are with the burthens they
bear, they will be driven out of the State by any
increase of taxation, and Virginia trade be reduced
to dependence upon the abolition cities of the
North. We see no benefits to be derived from the
completion of our public works, which would be
realized soon enough to avert this ru;nous and dis
graceful catastrophe. If the iDco;ue OF the State
under the present tax bill, will enable her to rem
der any aid to public works, most earnestly
hope 1t may be granted; but the universal cry is
No higher taxation far any purpose. We need
scarcely invoke the attention Of the Legislature to
= sentiment which every member must have heard
at his own home hundred times every day, and
which finds expression on the tongues of the peo-
pie, in much stronger terms than we can put it in
print.
We are sorry that this is so; sorry that the car
of progress must stand still for awhile in Virgil
MA and the realization OF grand hopes be deferred
but there Is this consolation the rest of the world
Is compelled, just at this moment, to stand still
also. Even tAe seven league boots of Great p i.
tain are moving over the earth with cautious and
circunspect steps, and the spry, everlasting Yam
kee is for once in his life motionless as a statue
amid the grand smash up In which his multitude
nous railroads have involved that active and en-
terprsing 'critter" Virginia is scarcely in cond-
ton to put steam and dart off at frenzied speed
when she has no means of firing up, and when
the whole road is strewn with wrecks and obstruc-
tions Loaded to the waters edge, and in imminent
danger of leak, the good old ship ought not TO
put to sea in perfect calm, much less in such
hurricane as is now bowling over the waters-
Let us wait; afford to wait, while the whole
world Is waiting. The old adage of 'the more
hasts the less speed" is eminently true of these
times and we commend it to the consideration of
the legislative Ia ".
But there is one subject connected with Internal
improvements which the Legislature may profta-
1.iv consider, and a full and searching investiga
u. ,,,,d exposition of which would be of infinite
interest to the people of Virginia, and may be
made of no small advantage in shaping the future
policy of the State. Let us know what has been
done with the immense sums already appropriated
to Internal improvements and the results OF those
magnificent disbursements, the heavy interest of
which our people have now the luxury and honor
of liauidating. Let US knowl We travelled n
short time ago over plank road, to the construc-
ton of which the State had contributed large
sum, but which in short period after it was COM
pieted, became perfect wreck, and a miserable
,,,;o IN tl,a frnv aIipO
more such rash and ruinous enterprises has the
public money been sunk in! How many rail
roads, running in parallel lines and terminating
nowherei How many of the public improvements
pay the State dividend? Some of them do, al.
though they are not completed, but the great ma
jority are unable to do any such thing. All this
cannot be undone, but expose these huge wrecks
at the bottom of the waters that the ship of State
may beware of snags hereafter When better
times dawn, let us learn by the bitter lessons of
the past to confne ourselves to one or two leading
works-to works which will tap the great reser
yoirs of Western production and trade, and plant
our heel forever upon all local and conflicting
schemes. But, for the present, this oppressed and
groanng people will not be taxed another dollar to
pay for the most gorgeous panorama of Virginia.
diverting the current of trade from New York and
becoming the Tyre Of the western word-that
was ever exhibited to an ardent and imagipatiy.
generation.
That panorama might have represented reality, |
if the money appropriated for Internal Improve |
ments had been judiciously applied. But no one |
will pretend that it has been. 1t has been squan
dered upon conflicting lines; upon plank roads, mud
and other detestable abortions; in a |
word, sin the deep bosom of the ocean buried
Well, We can live amid the melancholy ruins of
lofty hopes; We can even pay for the empty mock
cries which surround US, and console ourselye.
with the repose and innocence of rural commu-
nity,-but, no more demands for new illusions: no