Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-01-26
Jan. 18th 1872.
EDITOR BRISTOL News; ~ .ii,

Jan. 18th 1872.
EDITOR BRISTOL NEWS; -iif' +
/ Doubt not YOU rs we'll as your rea-
de.s, are worried with the sloth of the
Legislature in dispOsng OF the debt
question, especially when il does seem
that the whole peOple-have united in
a cry for relief, which they think they
may find in the repeal of the Funding
Bill. The fault does not lie at the
door OF the Southwestern members,
who with an exception here and there,
have been anxious to give a prompt
response TO the popular will There
is a streak of light in the horizon. and
hope do not let il be too ardent
may be encouraged that some time
within the next thirty days, the mat
ter will be settled. How to protect
the honor of the State, and at the
same time to protect our people from
oppression, is the anxious enquiry. 1t
is wrong to the constituent body to
suppose that they desire Reputation
of their just debts. All they ask is
time. The argument is, 1--WE know
we owe the debt, we know too that we
ought to pay it, or at least the Interest
thereon, but the fact is we have not
the means, unless we sink our families
into deeper war of want than they
have yet,reached. We will do our best.
We will acknow ledge our indebted
ness, and pay you a little now, and
by and by little more, and so on un-
til the whole debt is paid. Z" - Not so,U
says the Bondholder, " paw me that
tou AOwest.n Thus it is with the two
sides. rather think the debtor will
win this time,- for Solomon was the
wisest man, and Sampson was the
strongest man, but neither could paw
a dollar if he did not have. it. The
BondhOlders are very saucy and carry
a very high head, but they have not
yet discovered that they cannot
squeeze blood out of a tlirnip. Capt.
tai they say is too powerful TO be long
and successfully resisted that is, the
longest pole will knock downtIIe 'sim-
mons, but suppose there are no Sim
mons, what then r.. r.... ......... ,,.r
These F'unders are perfectly def.
and swear that Virginia. can pay with
out increasing the taxes, and 'endeavor
to maintain this positiou by laying
heavy taxes olI railroads, a stamp tax,
a dog tax, &c, &c, Just as If the peo-
pie cannot see, that ct last it comes ont
of then- Sec how it, Will go. You 7
have-a road through You COZ rftry, and /
your rates of travel and trade are far
below what they used to be before the |
war, but 1t is Incorporation without a /
soul aud -nltIstbe gougctl ." See what /
privileges it has, why should it not |
pat'?'' True, it has enhanced the val |
ue of your lands, it has given impetus
to productions, opened up avenues to /
your mineral wealth, opened the mar 4
kets Of the would to you, aud crowned I
you with many blessings; but then. il I
charges for all these things, and they
must pay. Very well, lay Oh the tax
es. the road must make the money be-
fore 1t can pay, and those who shin
and travel must pay tie increased
rates 10 meet the taxes. Everybody
in tbelState Willldance, while cOmpar-
atively Few have to pay The .fid-
dler. As you increase the rate of taxes
on railroad, in the same proportion
must the road advance its freight and
travel charges. and If the folly of some
% those living in sections distant from
tire line of yoHfF0ad, and who do not Il
cent towards keeping it, (
up, be listened to, tax VIII be laid on
your road for State purposes, that will
make the road positive curse 1.-The
section through which-it passes. Your
people ouciTt to-remefI15er that every
'oad on the north side of Va, is ex-
'mDt frem tsixatiOiI IltdeF their cllar-
ers. and while tax Is levied on your
Dad for the equal benefit of all the