Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-01
DISTRIBUTION AND STATE CREDIT.

From the South Side Democrat.
We cheerfuy make room this morning for the fol-
lowing able and interesting exposure of the new
hobby of the opposition and commend it to the read
or as we'll worth an attentive consideration. Though
evidently prepared in haste it is one of the best pa
pers that has yet appeared touching the shameless
imposition sought to be praotsed on the people. The
writer is bold and striking thinker, whom we shall
be pleased to hsar from again:
For the South. Side Democrat.
MEssRs. EDlroRs:-The signs Of the times clear
~ indicate that the Know Nothngs Wings aud Fed
erasts intend again. as in the extra session of 1871,
TO strike at the credit of our State by depicting in
sad terms the indebtedness OF Virginia, and the un.
willingness of her hardy sons to save her credit un.
less they can get rSiief from the General Govern.
lnent in the shape of land distribution. This is
columny on the people of Virginia, who have never
permitted for moment the credit of the State to be
furnished Let the clamor of Distribution be- urged
on the ground which it now s, and what must fol-
ow7 Evidently still furherdeprehsion Of our State
stocks. Ia it the part Of wisdon1 does it become
statesman to be pressing the distribution question
ON the Indebtedness Of Virginia. BY so doing they,
in effect admit that che caunot aud will not sustain
her credit.
Again: 1t lie announced that taxation Ia now 30
heavy that the people will not much longer endure it,
thereby still furnishing additional reason why the
State credit should not, if what they say be true, be
much longer relied on. And yet this picture is held
up in bold relief to the eyes Ut capitalists at home
and abroad. repeat it is SANDER on the people of
Virginia, and every Democrat should arousefrom bic
peaceful farm and rally the masses to put down the
heresy of distribution, it ever has been done iu me
good Old Domnivu. What care the mongrel crew
for the credit OF thu State or that OF individually Did
they not at the extra session of Congress in lo4l-2
pass bill to distribute the proceeds Of the sales of
the public lands! And yet at the very same session,
did they not also pass that odious and damnabe
Bankrupt law, contscating by it's operation
4UO 0U0 00O of dollars justly due to honest credorsl
And now To hear them imploring the people to come
IN in lair sffo fo
butte the land fund, they would have the nation be-
lieve they alone have at heart the preservation Of
State and indiriduat credit. Let them not be de-
ceived The people know that the Distribution ques
ton and the Bankrupt Law were twin harots of the
came paternity, and may be again. should the unho-
y coalition succeed in returning majority Of Distri-
butionists to the next Congress.
Virginia, in the purity of her character, through
her Democratic refused them and still refuses to
suffer her portion of that fund to mingie with the
money in her State treasury, collected by taxation
from her honest and uDbribed citizens. Exaggera-
lions and appeals we're made to show what great re-
suits would follow if she would only consent to re-
ceive the forty thousand dollars Spurning the bride,
she preferred to sustain her credit by taxation, which
ahe has triumphantly done. Are the Democrats of
Virginia 10 be now told that these men who commit
ted this Wholesale robbery by the Bankrupt law are
again to be- trusted 1t is presuming too much on
their charity. Let them make calcuationf tet, and
show the people Of the United States how much Of the
debt OF each State would be paid if the $4UO 0OO000
of debt which was cancelled by the Bankrupt law
was paid up. How would New York sand, which
has spoken in favor Of distribution 7 How would
many of US stand in Virginia, whose hard earnings
have been spent by fast and Jdih,0nabe nabobs, ii
we had chance to make out OF those who owed rs,
what they wiped out by certificate OF Bankruptcy.
Deceucy at least, requires that the present genera
ton should pass away before these would-be custo-
dams of State and individual credit should have
the presumption to attempt to manage the finances
1t true. that the Stale is IN debt, from an l1Judl.
Tfnnr nrNa rod
without that experience which We now have. But
there is no danger of the credit Of Virginia suffering;
her citizens are able and willing to pay what she now
owes, and to carry out to completion such works as
are necessary.
Have the Democratic party forgotten the predic:
tons Of the protectionist, when the Tarf bill OF iSib
was passed Then the cry was repeal! repeal! The
manufacturing interest ruined the treasury was
be empty, and direct taxation resored to to support
the General Government. This clamor was rung in
our ears day and night in the halls OF Congress and
on the hastings, ana now these same politicians are
yelling around the treasury with open hands to grab
The surplus raised by this tariff which was so much
abused and vilfed by them. 1t was all gammon-
something like the advice they gave us-to withdraw
Buchanan, as Fillmore was the only man who could
beat Fremont.
20 where they properly belong, to the support Of the
government and for National defepces. Let the sur.
plus remain in the treasury until it is depleted IN
nroper way, which will result in further reduction
Of Duties 1t has accumulated from duties which the
farmer, the laboring man and the mechanic have
been compelled to pay; and the commercial oPer.a.
osntsl NOT necessary for the support of government
Then fhe beauty of the system will DO felt and seen
by those who desire low tarih, and none will com.
plain bu. the manufacturer, and his complaint will
not be noticed if be desires tariff tor projection and
not for revenue.
Let the timd and time..erying, and those who are
too lazy to work, and too proud to beg, continue
their efforts, if they think proper, for aid from the
Frederal Treasury. But, for the Democracy, iet
them stand TO their cherished principles go forth be-
fore the masses aud deuounce this bald heresy, re-
vived TO bring into power defunct politicians who
have lost their nationality in culverts fighting not
for measures or principles but foraen Of their own
review the history OF our legislation, show that every