Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-01-09
Spettator.
Tuesday, January 2, 1872.
A few Words of Encouragement.

Il lew w 0ruS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
For the last six months the croakers have
been busily at work in Virginia. They have
represented the old State as down trodden-
tax ridden-debt burthened-and oppressed by
every Ill that flesh is heir to- By their dismal
representations they have spread gloom over
the land, and greatly depressed the spirits of
our people. They represent that labour is
high-the products of agriculture low; that
trade is languishing manufactures stagnant,
and that there is no money in the country
These morose Jeremdas have not been with
out their effect on the people. Hence we see
many long faces and our Legislature has been
frightened out of all propriety. With nearly
two millions Of dollars in the treasury own wise
law-givers have decided that they are unable to
pay the interest on the public debt, which was
contracted in building the Railroads and Canals,
which are the main sources of the little pro-
perty that is left to u.s.
We think it time that our people should be-
gin to set their faces against these croakers.-
The press owes it to the public to show the
falsity of all these dark statements, and to
convince all fair-minded men that the condition
of Virginia is not such as these political dys-
peptics would represent it to be.
Let us then take fair view of the facts as
they really exist. We affirm that there is no
substantial ground for dependency. On the
contrary, we hesitate not to say that the out
look of Virginia is in high degree hopeful and
encouraging.
How is it in regard to labour? We venture
the assertion that to the great mass of our farm
ers, labour is cheaper now than it ever was be-
fore. Formerly the farmer who hired first
class farm hand paid for him 1920, and more
over, clothed and shod him, paid his taxes, and
at the end Of the year, furnished him hat
and blanket. IF he was sick during the year,
or from any other cause lost time, it was the
loss of the employer.
Now you can hire the same sort of negro
man for $3.50, and get clear of all the draw back,
we have enumerated.
In regard to taxes, the charge that Virginia
is excessively burthened is equally false. Her
tax is only so cents on 800. IF we look over
the Union, we will find that Virginia pays less
tax than three-fourths of her sisters Before
we had railroad to Richmond, it cost our
farmers dollar or a dollar and half to get e.
barrel Of flour to market Now we can send it
Tor less than 60 cents. The Rail Road there
fore took off from the farmer tax on each
barrel of -four equal to the difference between
60 cents and the former cost Of transportation.
And yet our Legislature is unwilling to pay the
interest on the cost of this r. r. and proclaim
that it will ruin the dear people Away with
such clap trap and demagoguery The Rail-
roads have taken of, in the form of reduced
transportation-ten dollars from the burthens
of the people where they have added one in
the form of taxes.
Are the products Of agriculture ruinously
low? By no means-compare them with what
they were before the war, and you will find
that in every instance they are higher. Flour
is 1925 insteadfo of S. per barrel Beef, pork,
corn, potatoes, cabbage, hay, oats, butter,
poultry, and all other products, bring better
prices than formerly. Why then this outcry
about hard times?
Is it true that there is no money in the coun-
try? We aver that the opposite statement is
correct. There is more money now in Augusta
county than there was before the war, and we
will prove it by official data
We have been informed by one Of our most
intelligent Bank officers, that before the war,
when the old Valley and Central Banks we're
in operation with large capital the greatest a.
mount ever on deposit In the two Banks never
exceeded $225, 700.
Nou IF o,-r ore mill t,,~o IN Tho
of the two National Banks published in the last
number of our paper, they will find that the
amount on deposit in the National Valley Bank
was 1888, 900 and in the First National Bank
$l6l, 000-making an aggregate Of $444, 900 or
nearly double the amount On deposit before the
war. If to this We add the money on deposit
with the Virginia Trust Co., we will have an
aggregate of over half million of dollars, at
this moment, lying in our Banks awaiting the
call of the depositors.
1t is certainly true, therefore, that there is
no deficiency Of money here.
But it may be asked, how is it that there is
so little in circulation?
This Is the point that demands attention.
Here is the source of the difficulty. And it is
to this point, especially that we wish to call at
tentlon. We unhesitatingly affirm that the
great evil that now afflicts our community is
aoont Of confidence. Money is timid. It shrinks
from danger. Distrust is abr oad Before the
war there was confidence between man and
man. LIZ farmer or mechanic had money that
ne had no Immediate use for, he was willing to
lend it to responsible neighbor-Why? Be-
cause he knew that if be wanted it, he could
get 1t. There were then no stay-laws-no
homestead exemptions, no cheating of creditors
by selling lands under DEGREES In six or ten
yearly instaiments-no requisition of three
months notice on delivery bonds-no refusal to
pay interest on the debts of the State for which
her faith and honor were solemnly pledged
in word no squirting towards, or apprehen-
sion of Reputation. In those days representa-
tive Of Augusta who would have talked of re-
pudiation could not have held up his head in
the county.
Now all those things are changed. Our sta
tute books are encountered with uuWise legisla-
ton. Distrust has been created. No man will
lend his money except at ruinous rates, for fear
his debtor will dodge behind some stay-law or
homestead exemption.
All the difficulty arises out of the FEELING of