The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-02-02
THE OTHER SIDE.

condition and spirit OF the people VI INC amy
manifested in the columns of several newspapers
ofthe State. We do not feel authorized tospeak
for the people East of the Blue Ridge, for
with them and their affairs we are not very
well acquainted. Doubtless there is greater
cause of complaint with them, of financial
distress and the general prevalence of shard
times,'' than with other sections, inasmuch
as they were rendered much more helpless
by the results Of the war, by reason OF the
character of their personal property, their
staple productions, and habits of industrial
pursuit. property, largely predomlnated
with the people of East Virginia, consequent
" self reliance for the performance OF the or
binary work Of the farm and the house was
never incuIcated with the whites Their
system of labor having been destroyed, which
involved the greater source OF their wealth,
tbev we're not left in condition to meet the
emcrgenc1es which necessarily followed, as
successfully rs the people OF. the, Nalisy-
Their lands rapidly deprecated, for want of
svs,s matized and reliable labor to work them
Never educated or accustomed to individual
manual labor, the young and the aole-pooleo
men could not readily address themselves to
that kind of employment and they had not
the means to procure profitable substitute
A partial stagnation followed as the result,
in the"ayocations of business, which, under
different state of things had contributed to
their ease and prosperity
The people of the Valley, also, felt very
seriously the losses and dcsolation Of the var,
but the great mass of our people having
been taught from their youth up, to work.
stripped themselves for the field before them,
and manfaly commenced the task Of material
reconstruction. As to how they have &C
complshed their undertaking, let the absence
of ucarlyssall traces Of the war attest Barns,
mills. houses, and fences have sprung up
where the vandal torch had swept them away
As great an area Of land, if not greaters
than ever before. has been in cultivation,
and smiling prosperity has rewarded the
sweat of the brow of our indomitable people
Had it not been for unwise and short-slght-
ed legislation. in enacting stay laws, etc. the
people to day, would be in a more healthy
condition financially than they were in 1861.
That one law destroyed the confidence and
kindly feeling which existed between credi-
tor and debtor, for the latter class, as gen.
eral thing, did not avail themselves OF the
contemplated advantage, and address them
selves to paying off their obligations. The
courts were resorted to, judgments obtained,
expenses accumulated, until now tears are
entertained that vast deal of property will
be thrown into market, without bidders to
nurchase. We are aware Of all this, but we
are also aware, that there is, substantially, no
greater Indebtedness to-day than there was
then. It is the distrust of the creditor which
has piled up mountain high the judgment
docket. In many instances this distrust is
we'll founded; and in many other instances
the occasion is jumped at to crafty remorse-
less greed for money that would mantle the
check of old Shy lock himself with shame
Our attention has been directed to this
subject by several lugubrious articles which
have recently appeared in the editorial col
umns of the Rockingham Register, and the
correspondents column Of the Richmond
Enquirer. The Register would have the
public believe that the people Of Rocking
ham are in state of absolute despair, and
that the citizens Of that county ale fleeing
from the impending destruction as though
itwere another Sodom. All Of which is the
spawn O. diseased Imagination. 1t is true
there are considerable number Of persons
who contemplate removing to the Western
States this coming Spring, from that county,
But this is nothing extraordinary. 1t has
been SO, upon the recurrence Of each Spring,
ever since VIC can remember Their places,
however, have been supplied by equally as
good citizens coming into the county. The
population, the productive resources, and the
wealth of the county, and OF the Valley,
have gradually increased. Tho people are
in debt it is true, but it is among themselves,
and two good crops judciously applied, and
a moderate amount Of economy, will wipe
out that indebtedness entirely. Fifty thcus
aud dollars, indeed, started at the proper
place, and kept moving from debtor to credi-
tor would very soon exhibit the fact that
the substantial and intrinsic Indebtedness of
that county is very small. One creditor sues
his debtor That debtor is a creditor also,
and he sues his debtor, and thus the process
is kept up until judgment is obtainad upon
almost every debt of any size in the county.
No body is benefited by it but the lawyers,
sheriffs and clerks, while each creditor and
debtor becomes more indebted, without re-
cciving any equivalent. 1t is not only the
case in Rockingham, but in Augusta, and
every other county in the Valley. A tmid
and non-refecting person, learning the amount
of judgments docketed and executions issued,
is startled 1t the hugeness Of the bulk, and