Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-23
YORK 'l'owS.

West branch OF the OnlO river
For the EnYwsrer.
ELECTION OF observation-disclosures OF TAXES
UNCoLLEcTED OR IN THE HANDS OF SHE
RIFFS.
In February, 1856, Mr.. Garnett, Of the House Of
Delegates submitted the Report Of the Finance
Committee. After mentioning the receipts and er
penditures OF the Commonwealth. the committee
called the attention of the Legislature 10 the arrears
of taxes. These arrears, including two years,
jssid the Committee Of Finance "were, on Octobpr
ist 1888 S48 l40. In one year they nearly doubled
and we're. on October l- 1854: sos sOE and, again,
SJ7 lj0 on the Let October 1855. thus increasing AT
the rate of little lees than $50OOO per annun. This
remarkable fact ran scarcely BE- due 10 d,cnlty OF
corction for these Mrcc years h0"c been perTod Of
uausual prosperity 1t may be that the constitution.
al change in the mode Of appointing shers has made
th-n more dependent on The tar payers, and less APT
10 press collections and this con-cturs is strengthen.
ed by the progressive increase in the list of delln'
ou.nr, from gu 700 in ls523 10 s3l ,43O in 1854,
aud S3i 300 in 1875, though the rates Of taxation
have been the same for all these years This in
crease is merely on the capifa!i"n tax, but still
NOR. OIL the revenue tax. Another reason may be,
that the sheris ess anxious {" receive their com
missions by puuctual payment. because they can
trade Oh the money in their bands more probably
than formerly
These observations Of the committee are not very
Hs,.er;ng To the sherfs Of Virginia but we appre-
bend they are strictly true. Have the balances Of
revenue unsolicited, or it collected not paid into the
State IrrtllEry, been diminished recently! On the
contrary, they have increased. From the Report Of
IN. Finance Committee. made 10 the House OF Dele
ys,e, in February 1858, it appears that The uncol
pc.-d balances of revenue the lst day oi October
1857 were three hundred and nineteen thousand dol
lara (Ses Report Of Finance Committee page II j
We do net presume that all of the sheriffs have
failed discharge their duty in collecting and paying
the revenue promptly, Sone OF them Innst, how
ever have been inattentiye, anless We discard the
evidence furnished against then. by two different
committees of the House of Delegates.
The circumstances referred to sgniii cani, aud
should admonsh the voters of every county in Fir
ginia to be- more circumspect than they have been ~
eecting any man 10 the responsible office OF sheriff
The people owe it to tbeu selves and to The Common
wealth to elect no man who bss been found unwor
tby of the trust Nome should be elected rness their
characters and past lvea afford full guarantee ct IN
energetic firm and honest discharge Of the serersi
duties required by law.
Men who have DEMONSTRATED their capacity to man.
age their own private aas with discretion and pru.
dence who are independent in ibeir character and
circumstances will b. more apt TO collect and pay mp
the rtyer..e and be anxious to discharge oil OF
their duties l." the public, than those whose crciiIn
stances make them dependent upon the tax payers or
those who striving TO win popularity for the sake
Of future advancement. Ii meI Enve shown them.
thelyes incompetent 10 manage their own affairs why
should va conclude that they are better qusbeG to
manage the affairs of the public If candidates will
stoop so low to practice all the low acts OF dema-
gognp; if they will impoger;sh Themselves by their
generosity and liberality TO thoca depraved souls
whose suffrage are for sale, such oandlSatts can
have no right to expect the confidence ard slp
port of honest and respectable people In the oP'n'
ion of discerning persnns the office oi sheriff had JUST
"a we'll be filled by frugal man ne by q" fast man
by man of business, az By a " good isllow." We
have seen that some Of the good fe!loTe' have
tailed to collect and pay up the revenue, and that
there ia large balance due There ia no good reas0n
why the people should prefer candidates, VINO, Wntn
elected aatter th-m,elv-s like Mr.. Mcawber. that
something favorable will turn up These hopeful
men are often fashionable and " fast y" men-fsst in
every thing except the faithful performance OF their
duties. 10. il there any good reason why The peo'
ple should elect as eherilf, my members Of the Shy
lock family, men vino loan money at three four and
five per cent. month, sha5e paper at from twenty.
FIVE 10 forty per cent. discount, accrmulate wealth
rapidly, .nrn patriots and politicians, offer for the
Legislature, and iorhwi III filed with charity and
generosity 10 tag, rag and bobta whose votes ara
desired ma slight token of gratitude for said charity
and generosity! Rejecting all such, The people ought
to select az sheriff. men of good sense and high mo.
raj character men nf energy and industry, men VINO
are punctual and reliable.
The Democrats of Virginia cannot have forgotten
with what unring industry and zeal the i'h,g She
rife have electioneer-d against the Democratic can
diiates in times past. Remembering there things,
why rhould the Democratic party ald IN e!ectng
Wings to the office of sherif-an office which the
Wings pruns 10 for ther political aRgran-
disement The opponents of the Democracy say,
that the election Of county officers ought not to de-
mend upon party politics. Ii may BE- aske whether
the practice OF the Whgs and their associs'fs OF the
culve is in harmony with their precepta In thoae
counties in which they have decided majority, We
believe that according to Them they never can, even
with a search warrant, find any Democrat who has
sense and honesty enough 10 fill the office OF Sheriff.
Do no, the Wings and th-ir Know Nothing allies
practice prescription whenever and wherever they
can do il with any prospect of succeis When
they are in minority do they not profess
adherence Of prescription and protest mantully
against it ? At this very time and under these
cirrum. tauces, do You not see them appeaiinR
to the Democrats aud asking their cooperation in
the support of Wings for county offices, mot because
they are Whigs but profeesediy upon the single
ground tina, tho Wing candidates vastly super.
or to the Democratic candidates. M'ty years ago
the Wings claimed the possession "" all the talents
aud decency" and. having theae, they naturally i'm.
agne Themselves entitled to all the oces of the State
Though de eaed they do not look upon their party ne
extinct, but cherish the hope of political resurrection at
future day. Are the Democrats bound to give them
aid and como or furnish them any weapons for use
in future contests II not, let the Democrats bestr
themselves and manifest proper vigilance.
We have written the foregoing from no unkind feel
ings towards any sheriff. any candidate, but from
desrs to see the State Treasury rapsaisS ed hy the
collection and payment of the large srreSrs Of
taxes and to invoke the public attention to the
Importance of Pecting no man ma sheriff unless
h. is really vel qualified for the office. II is
To the interest Of the people. that they should
have sheriifs who more intent upon the per
torrance Of their duties, than the pursuit Of popuaT
ty who will collect the revenue Faithfully and pay il
into the treasury promptly and puuctually, who will
collect money due upon executions and hand it over
creditors without waiting for creditors threat
en- to move against them at court. There are come
persons too ignorant to appreciate properly the impor
lance Of voting correctly. and hence, they are often
disposed 10 vote for an improper person. through per
sona Partially. This error should be explained and
corrected by their more intelligent neghbors There
ars oihers so depraved as to cell their votes. The
ignorant and the corrupt often hold the balance Of
power and hence the necessity Of cooperation Of
tiri,y and vigilance on the part Of the honest inte
gent aud respectable voters throughout the Common
wealth. I. the latter fail to elect good officers. the
people will responsible for The act and should bear
cheerfuy all the evils whirh they ini'"t upon them