Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-07-07
Taxes under the proposed Constitution.

Z
The Dispatch states that st is fairly assum-
ed by those who have examined the subject
that the aggregate tax paid by the oppressed
and impoverished people Of Virginia will not
be under nine millions Of dollars or nearly
three per cent on the total value of the real
and personal property Of the State.
With a tax such as this, how car this State
recover from its prostration? How can we ex-
pect strangers to come amongst us, invest their
money, and cast their lot in Virginia? The
danger will be that our own people, unable to
bear the burthens heaped upon them, will be
compelled to fly the country.
IF this abomination of a Constitution contain
ed any fair principle by which, after its adoption,
the reliable and capable population, which pay
the taxes, could recover control Of the levylng
of them there might be some hope even should
it be forced upon US. But there is no such
principle in it. It is rascally and brutal in
strument, which, under the assumption that the
great body of the whites are ''rebels," secures
to the hands of negroes and debased white men
all the offices and honors Of the government,
and therefore the entire administration of pub
lie affairs Moreover, by gerrymandering the
State, and basing the apportionment Of repres-
entatives on the first registration, a majority Of
twenty-one in the Legislature on joint ballot is
given to the negroes 'a'
Here, then, the people Of Virginia see the
prospect should this infamous Constitution be
fastened upon them. Property will be placed
at the mercy of paupers; Responsibility, Ex
perience, Capacity, Fidelity, and Wisdom vii
councils and the affairs Of State will be brought
under the rule of Incompetency, Corruption
and Depravity Cursed with the most loath
some misrule, and burthened beyond their
power of endurance, the people must sink down
in the scale until they reach an unimaglnable
depth of poverty and misery. Against this fate
the man who will not struggle with all his NIGH
deserves fate no better.
Is this an affair of property holders only ?
Deluded indeed are those who think So The
poor freedmen who are led by the nose by seal
awags, carpet-baggers, and the Freedmen's Blu
reau, are fatally involved in the consequences
that must flow from the adoption of the mon
strous Constitution which they have helped tt
frame. If there is no prosperity, there is nj
work-if there is no work, there is no money
if there is no money, there is no means to bu.
food and clothing. Then, how are they to sub
sist? They cannot thrive by warning upon pro
perry Destroy the value of property
up confidence curtail business and occupation
and they will suffer more than property holders
They will be without the means of living, ant
will have dried up the sources Of Charity ii
having taken from her the wherewithal to b.
charitable Robbery will be the last resource
in resorting to which they will afflict the coun
try indeed, but will make for themselves hel
upon earth. Of all men, the negro viii be mos
| accursed by that abominable Constitution which
fanatics and scoundrels have induced him t.
frame
Let the people of Virginia look at this ter
rible instrument in all its enormity, and if the
allow to themselves rest until they have defeat
ed it, then Virginia must, indeed, have lost til
| breed of noble blood.