Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-10-06
TO THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON
COUNTY.

The time Is now rapidly approaching when
you will be called upon to cast your suffrages
for a Congressman, State Senator, and two
members to the House of Delegates of West
Virginia. You, the people, armed you are
with sovereign authority in your collective
body, are the only true sovereigns ia repub
lican form of government 1t is not only
your right, but it is your solemn duty, while
1t remains with you, TO take care that this
right is exercised with judgment, wisdom,
and discretion. Recolect, that in the present
unhappy condition of our country, threatened
as it is by financial ruin, corruption and fraud
unWhipped of justice in every department of
the administration, the rights of the States
suhverted by federal authority. as in the case
of Louisiana. your social liberties threatened
to be destroyed. and the sacred rights reserved
to you by our fathers in the Constitution of
1887, endangered by federal legislation, now
pending in the form Of Summers Civil Rights
bill, and Hoar's National School bill Re.
member then, that in the coming election by
the exercise of your suffrages you are to sane
ton or condemn the measures that may ruin
or redeem the liberties of your country -
Recollect, too, that this is no idle appeal TO
your good understanding and sense. Read
those Infamous bills carefully, aud then 1e>
feet for yourselves. am no alsrmist, I am
no politician. | am an humble individual of
your number. feel an equal share with Won
of the burden you have been carrying for the
last seven years, in the form Of oppressive tax.
alton and exorbitant interest. demanded and
received by the capitalist, and the monied
interpretations.
The most humble member of society has an
equal right with the most considerate person
age. to raise his voice in the control of the
ggernment Of his country, IS he is equally
called upon to contribute to its support. and if
the weight of an lily administered govern
ment falls heavily upon the wealthy, it falls
with more deadly weight upon the farmer,
the mechanic and the lsborer These in
dustries are sisters and handmaids of pros
perity that must keep pace with each other
If the farmer languishes the two latter must
perish Cripple the farmer by imposing upon
him with your sutrages every species of OPP
pressive and burthensume taxation deprive
him by bad Legislation of the advantages of
his industry. and with him you involve the
merchant, the mechanic. and the laborer in
one common ruin.
View this matter IN its proper light reflect
we'll upon every part Of this subject, and an
impartial decision will lead you to the conclu-
sion that this has been the studied purpose Of
the majority of those by whom We have been
governed, since the war. IF the federal gov
eminent has passed law, granting a license
to incorporated bodies or to individual cap
italists, to loan their money at ten per cent to
borrowers and spectators, every article of
your necessity or consumption, handled by
them, is taxed with that interest. and you,
unconsciously, pay it for them, on the in
creased cost of the article you use OF consume,
while they are only the fduciaries of the
Banks or capitalists who collect the interest
of you, and hand it over to those money
lenders.
IF your State government, in the framing
of its organic law, has failed TO engraft
provision in it's constitution as is the case
With West Vireinia) prohibiting the loaniDg
of money az usurlOus rates of interest. and
left that question open to the Temporary dis
erection aud the fuctuating integrity OF the
legislative body, while the State is borrower
at ten per cent, you unconsciously pay that
interest in the tax the State evies upon your
industry. and you pay TO the Banks through
| your merchants like interest of ten per cent
upon the primary cost of every article con-
sumed by your family. These are topics for
| your reflection.
You will snon be called upon to indicate by
the exercise of your ballot, whether this state
of affairs shall be longer continued with your
consent or not Whether you are willing to
continue longer in Office those who have here
tofore grossly betrayed your interests ;
those who have made your hard earnings trib
utary to the wealth of the monied cormnrant F;
those whose treschery and corruption has so
far escaped that condign punishment so justly
due them and who now propose. by the sane
ton of such laws as those to which / have
just referred, and the suggestion of third
term of Office for the President of the United