American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-05-09
For the American Union.
FAlRMoNT, Va, May 4, 1857.

MIR. EDITOR ..... ......
Each day and hour the prospects of
Dunnington's election grow brighter
and brighter; and if no i'll -natured clouds
should intervene between now and tho
day of trial to obscure the horizon of
our present hopes, there is not ques-
ton Of doubt but he will como off glo'
riously victorious. Let US still press
onward and push the battle to the gate.
There is no telling what jewelled pros
poets and happy results lie treasured up
for us in the mysterious future. A
single day may bring forth events and
transactions, such as the prophet and
philosopher never dreamed of coming
to pass. We arc all, as it were, dupes
of the morrow-all sure that to morrow
will reveal something plcusurablc to our
being. 1t is idle, however, for US to
expect pleasant things of the future un-
less we make some effort to merit and
obtain them. Let us, therefore, not
remain inactive in one important duty
which we have to discharge for our
selves and country, viz: the elevation
of purer and better men to Office. We
have now a chance to accomplish this
much desired object. In the person of
William M. Huntington, we have at
least the opportunity of placing one
man of principle in office, and it is our
duty as we'll as privilege to improve the
opportunity BY every means. mean,
Of course, honest means. If we but
work, the victory is ours! Here, in
Marion, the people are coming over to
his support by the hundreds; and en-
couraging accounts Of his success are
coming in from all parts Of the district.
Mr.. Dunnington's views of the "distri-
button question" are such as meet the
appreciation of the tax-paying people
and everywhere in the district. We
want our taxes diminished and children
educated, and how is it to be done?-
That, sir, is the question. Our farm.
ers already are groaning under "taxes
high as thunder" and still we have an
insufficient school fund! Think Of it!
Think of this, another important fact.
The Old Dominion owes thirty ;fve mil
lions Of dollars! FOUR MILLIONS OF DOL.
LARS moro than the a0holc debt of the
United States!! When, / would ask,
will she ever be able to release herself
from such pondorous weight of La
bility? 1t must be paid. Every acre
of land our farmers own and all the
property they possess are bound for it!
If the public lands were divided among
the different States, Virginia's share
would be about sirty millions Of acres,
which, at the government price of 81.
rs per acre, would put into our State
treasury seuenty:fre millions Of dollars,
enough to pay our State debt and leave
us some forty millions Of dollars to be
used as an educational fund, and for
other purposes. This is question of
vast importance to the farmers from
the simple fact that they are the ones
on whom Virginia's tax-bills fall with
such crushing weight. "Taxes high as
thunder" "thirty-fve millions of dol
lars in debt" "no school fund.-" "eigh-
ty thousand persons over the age of
twenty-one years Of age who can Meth
er read nor write! Now, sir, il these
facts do not point us to duty and arouse
us to action, our noble old Common.
wealth will surely run to ruin in n few
short years. Again 1 say, if these
facts are not sufficient to warn us that
the time has come when we should
strike decisive blow for our States
prosperity, then, sir, we must be care
less set of patriots. The time is COM
ing when it may be too late to act as
we now have the opportunity of doing.
If we wish to vote for distribution Of
the proceeds Of the sales Of the public
lands among the States; if we wish to
assert our right to Virginia's share,
and thus cause her fat hills to bud and
blossom as the rose, we must be sure
to poll our votes for w. M. Dunning-
ton, as he is the only man in the field
advocating the passage Of such bill.
Although Mr.. Huntington is Dem
ocrat in principle, / hope you will not
object giving my letter place in your
"Union."
Let us have good report from your
county on the 28th inst, and Marion
will respond to it in sympathetic tones,
Hoping that Mr., Huntington will
DC our representative in Congress, and
that call will be WE'LL"
/ am, Mr., Editor, yours truly, &C.,
AQUILLA.