The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-05

supply equals the demand, or exceeds 1t, the
rate OF interest will be reduccd, and then capt.
tai Will seek new avenues. We are constantly
boasting Of the resources Of the state; but
/ without money these resources will lie undc-
yelopcd until dooinsday. Mines, manu'ac-
tories, and agriculture All anguish Tor want
Of money We must not look for men from
/ abroad TO come and develop the resources OF
our State. The people must use the means
placed at their disposal to bring out these re-
i sources, and capital must be encouraged 10
! come in. If it shall come in at high interest,
one enterprise will start another, and new life
and energy will be infused. As soon ~ the
farmer gets a surplus of money lie, with the
merchant who has been equally successful,
will look to mining and manufacturing for in
! yes,menis In "A short time that surplus VIII
increase manufacturing establishments, and
build up cities and towns, ailording diversity
! of employment and encouragement TO every
body TO work. Then the farmer will get the
highest prices for the products of his farm,
and pay the lowest price for manufactured
articles. Then the number of middle men will
| he reduced, and rs capital accumnlates the
price of interest will fall. The price of money
| Is always cheapest where all the neccssaries OF
| life and OF manufacture and agriculture are III
| the greatest proximity. 1t is believed that
ten or twelve per cent. will be sufficient rate
| of interest TO retain the capital are-Iiy in the
| State, and encourage capitalists abroad TO send
! il in for investment. | would recommend that
where no contract is made, six per cent should
| be the legal interest, but that higher rate De
allowed by contract IN Writlng.
COUNTY ROADS AND COUNTY LEvtEs.
Our road law, and the laws regulating levies
| for county expenses, need revision BY law all
the county levy may BE- raised by what Is
termed "poll tax" and in many instances IS
thus raised. All male persons over sixteen
| years OF age, without reference TO color, are
| subject to the county levy and poor tax. lhis
| tax is particularly oppressive and unjust 10
| the labOring classes. / have heard complaints
| from counties this year where the county and
! ,,nD f.,xu utnn tpI in
| in others TO six dollars for each poll. The tax.
| ing OF minorSbet wcen the ages of sixteen and
| twenty one years is q violation OF every pTin-
| cplc of law BY law the minor i not the dis
poser of his own time, nor has lie me legal
| power 10 make contracts or dispose OF his pro-
| pcrty. The same class Of persons upon whom
| The county and poor leyies are assessed, except
such rs are over sixty years of age are re-
| quircd TO make and keep in repair the county
roads, and may be ordered out Tor that pir-
pose ten or twenty days of the year. l have
| seen instances, under this law. where man
| owning no real estate and dependent upon his
daily labor, with three or four sons and APP
prcntic between the ages OF sixteen ana
| twrntv-ono wears, has been required 10 work
| on the public highways from live TO iltech
| dIyS of the year. besides paying county leNy
| on himself, apprentices, and children. In the
| same nrighbOrhood, men owning ten ana
| twenty thousand dollars worth Of real estate,
| whose teams were constantly using these
| roads, but who were over sixty years OF age,
ways their land and other property not as
scssed for the count" levy, aud themselves only
paving for county objects single poll TAX
These instances are common All over tHt
State. 1t is 10 be said, however, TO the cr"dt ol
some counties, that they have raised portion
| Of their levy from Il tax ON property suhl"ct 10
! State taxation. \ law that is 50 often and so
nagrantly abused rs this =, ought 10 be re-
pealcd at once. | would recommend that all
laws pertaining 10 this subject be repealed
and an act passed 10 place III" burden OF thc
county and poor lcvirs on property maze ma
bic To taxation by the STATE, ana further pro-
| yidng that all nal" persons over the ag" OF
| tweuIy-onc years shall pay poll tax ior
| county objects not exceeding the tax assessed
upon two or three hundred dollars worth OF
| property, and that the roads be worked under
| the superintcndenCe of Il commissioner. lhus
the lahorlnC CLASSES will have thc opportunity
OF paving their county and poor levy by labor
on the roads. The county and poor levy sys'
TEN. as ii now stands has driven many ~
boring man, who would hay" been valuable
citizen. from th" State. As labor is the foun-
dation of all wealth and progress, every on"
that can be induced 10 come into TIL" STATE 10
labor is Il valuable addition To her resources,
whilst every one OF such persons who leaves is
n serious loss. 1t is not wise 10 continue upon
your statute book laws which orpir.S tha'
class The agents of the Freedmen ; Bureau
have called my attention 10 this SUBJECT OF
county and poll levies, alleging its injustice as
constituting Il reason for their Ini"rposltlon
10 prevent the collection of thr>" taxes from
the freedmen. Although they regard the lax
as unjust vet they have advised the color"d
people III all cases 10 pay The tax, hoping that
The Legislature will alter the law
schools AND COLLEGES.
I; is drrrly 10 lr regretted hat the STATE, on
account Of It's financial condition, cannot CON
tribute 10 the general education OF her Chll'
drru. The common school Is the nursery III
which the Young mind is trained for energetic
action and for future usefulness. The state
that ncglectS the common school sanctions lg-
noraucc aud iudolencr, which, sooner or lal"r,
bring paralysis on her energies. This nrsirc'
on the part Of our State has hcen one oi lhe
causes why 50 many of her able bodied men
: have left Virginia and gone 10 oth"r States,
where their children have greater advantages
Our colleges aud university are reported 70 be
in a fouriShing condition. Inc MliltaFE IN
.iilute and the University OF irrlnlt, from
| their origin. have been the recipients OF mum
flcrnt annual donations from the Treasury OF
| the State. Olhcr colleges are holders OF con-
siderable amount OF State bonds III 'he ea,t'
: cation OF the poor children OF the Sttte l. lel'
unpruvi,lcd for, what justice Is there III taxing
the laboring class, together with the wealthy,
! for the benefit only OF the classes whose sons
are sent 10 III" colleges ana The ,hlNeFsits
The State should bc just before IT J. generous
Widows and the guardians oi orphans are
, , holders of state bonds, OF which depend lhelI
! hopes for bread, yet they are hOI pald one
cent; but the bonds they hold are taxed tc
support the highcr institutions oi learning
Many OF them are forced 10 sell Il portion OF
their bonds for forty cents i'll the dollar 10 buy
: ! the ucccsSarics of life. II is true that strong
arguments are urged in favor oi contributions
on behalf of the State to the University, I'M
Institute and the colleges but these appeals
are not nearly so strong aS the appeal Oh th'
moor mans child and the destitute orphan
, who have no school provided for them Bu
they have no eloquent and iEnueAtltl adNo
Gates n the son OF the rich man mas, III tlt
persons OF professors Of colleges, 10 press theli
) Claims before the General Assembly. 1t i:
very doubtful whether the power shouid De
l exercised bv the Legislature to tax the masses
10 support college or university; tnere Is III
: | general compensation derived Dy lhe SItt'
. ! from such appropriations, III theory OF IL
. practice The student who enters the coIeg'
| goes there for his own benefit, 10 prepare MN
; self for some one Of the profession, or 10 &c
quire a classical education with It's accom-
. plishmentS that he may better ENJOY ms iCE
tune The argument that puhlic cn'np'nsa
ton is derived from the arrdng"tr"nt ina
, | some OF these students are 10 lie grdtuitcnsD
4 ednca ted az teachers is founded more III ide;
than in fact. / suppose some OF ih"s" person
; do teach for short periods but fc" " any Q,
them ever become teachers OF lie poor
have lived in this, my native State nearly III
: INV life and have never yet seen gradual
OF the University or of the Military Institute
, teaching n common school. There are, donb
l not, a few honorable exceptions, Ill whlcl
, these professed charities are bestowed upoi
! meritorious young men who could not otheT
wise attend the seats of learning but II WI
be found that in most instances the sons OF IN
1lueniial men, who are not IN needy ciFcun
stances, obtain these places. The honors, re
| wards, and comforts attendant upon the sue
| cesSful practice of the learned professions have
. ALWAYS held out sufficient incentives 10 youni
{ men of every grade to enter and Ill their rank
to repletion. Men skilled in the mechanic arts
} and in agricultural, mining, and manufactnr
ing pursuits are greatly needed III ,ne 80. 49,
El-ff "a