Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-03-21
Faets! Pnct- TO the Farmers-The uecknn
jcs-Ubc INK Payers.

Facts! Pnct-..-ro the Farmrrs-The Meekan-
ic.-Thc Tux Payers.
We ask your attention. We address your
reason, your good sense. Read what We have
10 say, not a- partizans-not as politicians read
10 undersiand-rcad to acquire facts for your
own sober reflection
You all know and feel two things to be true.
First, you know TINT by the almost unanimous
voice OF our people, we have embarked this old
Commonwealth in system Of internal improve
uen,- of magnificent and national proportions.
This has been tho work of no party-it is the
reproach of no party. Sound policy State pride
patriotism have prompted the policy. Men Of
all parties have WED with each other in this noble
effort to retrieve old State from that material
inferority 10 which she hns fallen.
As conse luence of this gigantic effort,
have contracted heavy indebtedness We have
issued the bonds of the State for purposes of in
tornal Improvement to an enormous amount
Under existing laws there yet remains to be sold
many millions Of these bonds; aud our various
works of Improvement now languish for the means
which the State has (painiy) promised for their
progress.
The Second fact known to you all-felt by you
all-i-, TINT taxes have been more than doubed
on our people. Our lands have been re assessed,
and old rates have been doubled on their increas.
ed valuation. This too hns been the work of no
party. 1t has been the promptngs of high in
tegrty. The good faith Of our yeomanry requir
ed ut them to furnish the means to pay these
debts of their own voluntary creation. Virgin
inns may groan under such taxation: hut thank
God grumhlr no., they will meet their honest
Indebtedness with their last fnrthug. The dark
olond of reputation can never rest upon sach
people.
Bearing in mind these two prominent facts;
FIRST thai we hive wisely commenced system
of improvements, which when perfected will mag
Nifty 'be importance and glory of Virginia; and
secondly that we have now mantully taxed our
selves to the utmost cent to effect this purpose;
We have yet II third fact. equally cear-and e.
qually essential to be impressed upon tho public
attention,
This third fact l.; that this whole enterprise
Of state inptovem, nj j. failure; noe, an unde-
ninble--ahsolnte failure. We have not money
aud we cunnot get the money to complete our
system Of roads. The millions expended upon
these incomplete works-dre millions icdSfedI
Tho unin he'd roads are totally unproductivr of
revenue AID must remain 50 until completed 10
their ternini.
gloomy prospect lies before us,-crushing
indebtedness -nncompen in its fruits !!
heavy taXations, for no practical good Our
State pride humiated,our State credit depressed.
Virginia under existing rulers seems doomed to
II continued dilapidaiion her citizens 10 bur
densnme and fruitless taxation.
What remedy is there for all this visible oyi!
How nre our improvements to be pressed on 10
complexion How long can the people endure
this heavy tHXatinn. knowing tito he iruiiless of
good and If hupelrss duration! Will they not
migrate in multitude 10 moro favored States, not
borne down by taxes; and for which partial gov.
eminent hns provided roads, schools and cole
gos. free Of cost,
Farmers Tar Payers VOTERS ! I'VE ask
your attention We call you 10 cool and I'M
imprisoned consultation. You have it in your
power to redeem the State from disoredit and dis
l 1 ~
this uocIahle burden of unavailing taxation.
We wish now oplace before you q Joutfh fact.
\ FACr-thc extent and magnitude whereof has
not been daily considered by the people ut large.
THE Pumlc LANDS i!-lIow many of you
know to whom they brongl How many know
what is their annual yield in actual money! How
/ mnny know their eventual value Us great ma
! tiona rccourcei
VOTERS and tar payers These lands your
/ Inheritance, and belong to the States ofthis L
! Mon. as States They were conquered from the
! crown Of Great Britain in the Revelation of l716.
| They have been acquired by conquest and
! trentv from France, Spain and Mexico, Men Of
all parties. from jackson to the present day, have
/ concurred IN one Judgment, that all the public
/ lands, no matter how when acquired, are held
! by the United States for one aud the same pur-
! pose, mud toy one and the same tenure.
! It's difficult TO enumerate in dollars the value
| ofthi- inheritance. The whole Of it has been
/ placed by the express terms ct the Constitution
IN the Congress Of the United States TO be diSpo
sed of. Men of nil parties agree that the power
Of Coogres 10 dispose ofthis Domains absolute
and unrestricted. The practice Of the govern
ment has been To dispose of it at its own caprice
1t has been donated to the new States in large
masses for purposes of education and improve
ment. II has been granted to Incorporated com
panips-it has been given to individuals; of re-
cont years it has been the corruption fund for the
purchase of members of Congress
BY official documents it appear, that dawn 10
ls53 Congress had given in this manner for
educational purposes. lI,l99,973 Acres. For
internal improvements, l6,GW,0l3
Making an aggregate of. q, SO6,9S6 Acres.
h" munhcent grants at government prices.
n dnlar aud "A quarter per acre, amount 10 tho
urge SUN "f thirty four millions seven hundred
and fifty ii sht thousand dollars
We shall not enter on the argument to show
al. Ito, 81,