Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-04-14
WHAT TCosTs.

IF there was any way of arriving at the
figures. we would like to know what it costs
the people of Jefferson county to be an appen-
dage of the State Of West Virginia, so-called.
Last fall it became our duty to expose the
enormous assessment upon one township for
the support of the free schools, in which lazy
and worthless negroes shared, and at various
times we have been called uponto make sim
liar expositions of the gouging done in other
townships.
In Harper's Ferry township, the tax-pay-
ers have been feeced exorbitantly, and in
Averill, under the relationship of grasshop-
per Smith, the people have blcd freely. From
other townships we have had no reports, but
have reason to infer chat more liberal draft
upon the pockets and patience of the people
was made.
But in addition to these heavy township
assessments, the State of West'Virginia drew
from this county, last year, nearly ttcel0e
thousand dollars, for school purposes. This
snug little sum went to Wheeling, was drop
ped in the general fund, was fingered by
Foreman, and his. State Treasurer, and as a
necessary result, tho greater portion of it re-
manned at the State Capital. Out of the
whole amount, little over four thousand was
returned as the apportionment ef'this county,
or just about enough to keep the schools here
in operation three months out of the twelve.
And yet we are told that we ought to love
West Virginia; that we ought to praise her
benefcence; that we ought to shout halleu-
jahs to her liberality; and the garlic-eating
Hoke, of the Berkeley Union says that we
ought to be glad we are alive.
Well we are glad, but the greatest satis>
faction that we have, and the highest enjoy
ment of life, is in exposing the rascalities of
the radical rulers of this tax.ridden State,
which stole our beautiful county from the en-
brace of her mother, that her children might
be made to bear the expenses of the Offspring
of political rapine," and fatten her corrupt
and p!undering officials with the rich trea-
sure that is annually extorted from her.
Brethren, in view of the many blessings
which we enjoy under this benign govern
ment, we "il.sluS tIe loIlo"lHS appropriate
hymn. Brother Grashopper Smith, ofSmith-
field, will please pitch " de toon, and Broth
ers Anthony Turner, Stephen Balch and
Samuel Lindsey will assist in making melody ::
Thcyar taxed on their clothing, their meat and
their bread,
On their carpets their Dishes their tables and bed
On their tea, and their coffee their fuel nd lights ;
They taxed SO severely, they can't sleep O.
nights.
They taxed on their offices, stores and their
shops,
On their stoves. their waehubs. their brooms
and their mops,
On their shrouds, their tombstones, and after
they die
They arc taxed on the collins in which they must
lie.
They taxed on their mortgages, notes, checks
and bills,
On their Deeds their contracts ard on their last
wills;
And the "star spangled Banner in mourning doth
wave,
Oerthe wealth ofthe nation stamped into the grave.
They are taxed on all goods by kind Providence
given,
They arc taxed on !hc Bible that points them to
Heaven,
And when they ascend their heavenly goal,
They would, # they could, stick stamps on their
souls.