South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1868-01-24
Our Legislatures appear to seek new mech.

The salaries of public officers, Fixed by
law, are regularly increased uuder the most
shameful pretexts.
Appropriations for indefinite purposes,
like the Civil Contingent Fund" are de-
vised for the benefit of INDECENT villainy.
Delinquent SherilIS are released from
their Indebtedness to the State.
Specializing land-jobbers have their finn
So titles confirmed by ingenious device, aud
the hard earned property Of honest men is
thereby torn from their possession.
Registration swallows up its thousands
annually, and the very men who suffer most
from its Jutrages are often required to con
tribute most heavily to its support.
Your Public School Funds, in many To-
calites, fail TO reach their lawful destination.
In short your system of State taxation
results IN practical robbery.
Your Legislature knows but two purpo-
ses, to squanGer your money and strength
en- the dominant party.
Officers Of the Executive Department, by
their own confession, have aided the con-
coalment Of crime and contracted to trans
fer public property to private individuals,
without any equivalent to the State.
The decisions of your judiciary, upon cnn-
stitutional questions, have more frequently
reproduced political platforms than expoun-
ded legal principles.
J Your State Government in all It's depart
ments is conducted in fanatical spirit,
prostitutcd to improper uses, and thorough
! ly devoted TO an unjust and obnoxious poll
cy that must ultimately be productive Of
social disorder, fatal to material prosperity,
destructive of your dearest rights as free
men, and ruinous to the future progress and
glory OF West Virginia.
A REMEDY POSSIBLE.
Let US recur to the remedy for the man
! fold wrongs to which we have referred.
The Reconstruction question, whatever
difficulties it may present to bitter parti-
sans, is capable Of safe and easy adjust
ment through the exercise Of an honest and
liberal patriotism.
The simple application of the principles
of the Federal Constitution will remove ev-
cry obstacle and effect a peaceful, perma-
nent and satisfactory settlement.
| IF that instrument possesses the perfec-
ton with which every lover Of his country
invests it, il will not be found wanting at
! the cr,tical juucture.
people with liberty and crowned this land
with greatness, will not now prove made
quate to the designs of it's authors aud leave
tho vital interests Of the Union at the mer-
cy Of rude chances ard political passions.
| Let It's provisions be applied and repre-
sentatives Of the South, elected by the on
| ly qualified voters of that section, will take
their seats in Congress, subject only TO the
conditions imposed upon members from
other parts of the land the natural rela-
tons between the Southern States and the
! General Government will be resumed, and
! the Unoin of the States triumphantly re-
stored, will return in form, in fact, and
freedom to the original glory of her first
! and best estate.
The restoration of the South will open
the way to general financial relief.
When her people are relieved Of the dom
nation Of the boyonots and the blacks,
they will be encouraged to productive pur-
suits; general prosperity will revive their
palsicd energies, and their assistance will
be happily felt in removing the great bur
den Of dcbt which now impedcs the nation
al progress.
That costly national nuisance, the Freed
mems Bureau, will be abolished, and COM
mon sense, having mastered the situation,
will decree that negroes, Ike white men,
must either work or starye.
The expensive Southern Military estab-
| lishmcnts will be acknowledged unncccssa-
/ ry and with their disappearance, tax.poy-
er5 will thank God and take courage.
/ A fair taxation Of the Federal securities,
I will yield many millions Of revenue
| The National Banks suggest another op.
| portunity for rotrouchmcnt.
/ They own between three aud four hun
/ drod millions in Federal bonds, upon which
I they draw iaterest. These bonds orc de-
posted with the Government, aud for eve
/ ~ 500, 900 50 deposited, they receive 500
| 900 in National Bank notes. These notes
constitute their circulation, AMI with them
| they carry on the business and earn the
/ profits Of banking proper.
The interest accruiug on their deposited
bonds is 80 much premium paid them, IN
addition to the regular earnings Of their bu.
sinoss
They receive the benefit Of just ninety
per cent, more capital than they have invcs.
ted, and this gratuitous premium comes
from the pockets Of the people.
Justico requires that this sum, amount
ing to between twenty aud thirty millions
annually be saved 20 the public
The simple process Of recalling the Ma
tOnal Bank notes, and substituting for tho
bonds legal tenders as banking currency
will effect the needed result. and another
sink-hole for the earnings Of labor will BE-
eiectually stopped
In the matter % rc-.,,,r, g.. go -