Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-03-10
For the vindicator.

In as much as the people Of Augusta
County are again called upon to vote for or
against the Railroad subscription, We feel it
our duty to say something to our fellow
eountymen on the subject. We beg leave to
differ from your correspondent Delta, in his
delusive and visionary ideas as to the ability
Of the people to pay the subscription, when
we are now groaning under the tremendous
weight Of taxation and the pressure of bard
times. Our taxes last year were sixty one
cents on the hundred dollars, and it is ad-
mitted and believed by all that it will be
two dollars on the hundred this year and
if We are required to pay any part of the in
terest on the State debt, our taxes for next
year, and each substquen year, cannot fall
short Of two dollars and fifty cents on the
hundred dollars. The State debt in 1860
was supposed to be thirty two million dollars,
add to that amount the interest for twelve
years and you have fifty -four millions. Take
from that amount ten millions, the supposed
solvent bonds, stocks. &C., owned by the
State, it will leave forty four million dollars
now due and unpaid; of this sum the county
Of Augusta will be required to pay fourteen
hundred thousand dollars. Now, we would
ask the voters Of the county, are you willing
to add three hundred thousand more. If 80,
what is to become Of the poor farmer ? This
State debt must be paid, sooner or later,
and when it is paid the farmer will have to
bear the burden Come it must, and, when
it does come, it will rot come in the Ian
guage of the railroad subscription, but i,
will 1;Izo oil o+hnu A., kLs ,,h IL
do not meet, your lands, your homes and
your all must pay the forfeit. We. would
say to you fellow-countymen, in view of all
these facts, now staring you in the face, be-
ware how you put your hand to the bond
Think of the precedent you are to establish,
Of encouraging the p,or deluled black man,
who never has paid cent of tax, and in all
probability never will, voting tax on you
and your property.
Some perso3s are made believe that we
will get the subscription back again. but
echo answers never for when the road is
built there will be other schemes to absorb
its earnings.
Delta said in his article, shame on the
poverty ridden spirit which piues and wastes
under the burden of taxation and debt.
which would De removed Fy the means ly
ing loose around; such a people deserve to
be in debt, to be heavily and grisvously
taxed does he mean that, in order to get
out Of debt, yoa must plunge deeper in p
Suppose man has bought property to the
utmost amount Of his ability to pay, must
he buy more in order to get out If that
corresponds with Mr. Delta's idea of ths
poverty ridden spirit, we would no. give
much for it. Again; he thinks that all
who opposed to the sub scripton to the V.
K. 4. ought to be doomed to state Of
misery DOW we would say to Mr.. Delta,
with all fairness, if you want the road and
must have it, for heavens sake, 90 and make
it. But you have no right to GO to the
polls with all your delinquent tax payers
and there say we must pay for it. We
would ask you fellow farmers and tax pay
ers. who are struggling with might and
main to keep your heads above water, to
vote against the subscription. DO it for the
sake of your homes and those you love most
dear.
TINKLING SPRING.