Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-01-03
Staumtu1r Spettator.
Tuesday, january 3, 1871.
Vote on the Railroad Question.


Vote on the Railroad Question.
We are gratifed to know that Mr.. Garrett
has had the good sense to apply to the Legis-
lature for change in the law authorizing a
vote to be taken on the question of subscribing
100000 to the Valley R. r. By the. law as
it stood when the question was voteds.op be-
fore, the town of Staunton was consolidated
with the county in taking the vote. BY this
arrangement the people of the town were, au--
thorized to vote to lay tax on the people OF
the county. This was wrong m principle and
Justly objectionableto to the people Of the county.
We we're opposed to this feature of the law
from the beginning. We regarded it as one of
those little pieces of strategy which was of
questionable propriety and mischievous in prac-
tice. Mr.. Garrett very properly discards it
from his programme, and prefers to bring the
question squarely before the people of the coun-
tn, voting by themselves, apart from the town,
to decide for themselves, whether they will
vote subscription of 5000, 900 on behalf of the
county This action indicates fair and manly
spirit on the part Of Mr.. Garrett, which will,
we doubt not, be properly appreciated by the
people of the county. -.
We have been no less panied than surprised
to learn that the feature in the old law author
ising the people of the town to vote in con-
junction With the people of the county, has
been made the source of some prejudice and
unkind feeling on the part Of some Of the peo-
pie of the county towards the town. We as
sumo the responsibility Of saying, that all such
prejudices and unkind feelings are unjust and
founded in error. The people of the town had
nothing to do with getting up the law or fra
ming its provisions, and indeed knew nothing
of it until it had been passed OF the 1000
voters Of the corporation of Staunton, we
doubt if there were ten who knew anything
about it, until IL had become the law of the
land. 1t is manifestly unjust, therefore, to-
hold the people of the town responsible for
measure, of which they knew nothing in its
earlier stages, and which they disapproved, as
soon as they heard of it,
While we are on this subject, we take occa-
sion to express in the most emphatic terms, our
disapproval of the efforts which are sometimes
made by mischievous people to excite lll-feel-
ing between the town and the county, or. IN
any wise, to array one portion of the comInu-
nity against another. We are essentially one
people, having common lineage, common In
erests aud common destiny. Ii the county
thriyes, the town will share its prosperity, and
vice rersa. The town is dependent on the
county for it's supplies, and the county is de-
pendent on the town for its market. 1t the
town were destroyed it would be serious evil
to the county, and if the county were laid
waste the town would dwindle into insigniti-
cance. They mutually minister to and sustain
each other Each supplies to the other what
it needs. They are bound to each other by
strong ties Of mutual interest, and they should
cultivate the kindest relations toward each 9th
er.
No true lover of his country would try to ar
ray one part Of it against the other. 1t may
sometimes suit the unhallowed purposes OF
don.asosuos to nander to local preiudices and
jeaIousies. Good men will never do it. When
ever We hear a town man railing against The
county, or county man against the town, We
set it down at once, that he has some private
interest to advance or some sinister object to
accomplish. Men who have neither talent nol
merit sometimes seek to avail themselves Of 6
temporary local prejudice, to ride into some
little Office and unfortunately they occasionally
succeed But when passion subsidies and rea
son resumes sway, such men sink into insignii
canoe and reap merited harvest Of contempt
We respectfully urge cur iellow-citizens botE
of town and county, to set their faces firmly
against this mischievous kind of demagogue
ism. Whenever you hear any one-especiallJ
any candidate for little Office, appealing to 10
cal prejudices, set your mark upon him. Hs
certainly means to cheat you. He is looking
to his own selfish ends 1t is not your interests
or your welfare that he has in view, but hi
own advancement. He will cheat you by play
ing on your passions and prejudices to get into
Gffice, and after he has gotten into office, he
will cheat you again if it becomes his Interest
to betaay the trust you have unfortunately re-
posed in him.