The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-26
ARE THESE THINGS SO !?


The Democratic party of Virginia is now
on trial. 1t has record, and upon it must
stand or fall. The following are some of
its crimes
1t openly violated the constitution in
passing the enabling act, making Offices
appontive, which the constitution declared
should be elective. ia1
1t hired assassins to seize the ballot-box
in this city, to break it open and burn the
ballots therein, and thereby kept duly
elected Republicans out of office, and put
Democrats in office.
1t has arrested, tried, condemned and
punished innocent men ON false testimony
before partizan courts and juries, because
Of their political opinions, and made mems
guilt and innocence of criminal charges, de-
pend upon the political party to which they
belonged.
1t has deprived men OF the free exercise
Of the right to vote, by fraud, intimidation,
and other crimes against the rights of eiti-
zenship.
their color, and upon testimony which
would not have been deemed sufficient to
convict white man.
1t has excluded colored men from the
jury-box, on account Of their race and
color, when the constitution declares that
those who can vote and hold Office, and
none others, shall be qualified as jurors.
1t has arrested numbers of colored men,
women, and children without any warrant,
and imposed fines upon them, in the city
of Richmond, when they were neither ac-
cusednor guilty Of any crime, misdemeanor,
or odense of any kind whatever.
1t has by law authorized men, women
and children, without regard to their race,
to be tied up and whipped at the whipping
post. ra
1t has authorized the judges arbitrarily
to determine whether the accused should be
degraded by public whipping or receive
the usual and ordinary punishment for the
oflense.
1t openly and VIGOROUSLY ostracisos and
discriminates against citizens born else
where, who have come to Virginia to re-
side.
1t discourages emigration and capital
from coming into the State, unless the new
conner is willing to be its political servant,
and submit to degrading political seryi-
tude.
1t has openly and VIGOROUSLY Disregard
cd the true material interests of the State,
and placed the State treasury at the mercy
Of bondholders and money shayers.
1t has doubled the State expenses, III
creased the rate and amount of taxation,
and squandered the public funds i'll the
qualification of the extravaganza of the Ex-
ecutiye.
Ithas become the tool and agent of mer-
cenary SPECTATORS, and allowed them to
distress the people, already impoverished
to the last degree of endurance.
1t has given to this class Of bondholders,
priority over all other creditors of the
State, making their coupons receivable for
taxes, thereby offering a bride to tax gath
cicIo W SPECULATE III COupouo VIII ctutc
funds.
1t has by trick and subterfuge at
tempted by the act of one Legislature, to
bind the people, and mortgage all their es-
tate, beyond the power of repeal by any
other Legislature.
1t has not only increased the rate of tax
alton from thirty to fifty cents, but it has
appraised the property to be taxed, at
rates far above its market value.
1t has compelled the people to pay their
taxes at great sacrifice, and after severe dis
tress, in the month of September, when the
money would not be needed until the JAN
uary and July following.
1t has thus compelled the people to bon
row money at twelve per cent, or to sacri-
flee their property to get it, that the State
Treasurer might loan it to the Richmond
banks at the paltry interest Of four per
cent.
1t has practically and substantially multi
fed the homestead provision of the con-
sttution, so that the poor men Of the State
are denied the benefit of that wise and
humane law, made to secure to them