The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-05-07
A Dangerous Invasion.

legislation than that served up to them by the
Legislature just adjourned, We cannot conceive
Of it. The tax bill is q mass Of monstrosities,
aa1tt ii faithfully carried out will bankrupt the
STATE, drive out its enterprise and turn the peo-
PIE over to the tender mercies Of set of car
pet-baggers more ravenous i'll their demands
than those which have afflicted Louisiana and |
South Carolina, according to the refrain of the
speakers and press in the last GU
bernatorial canvas. While enacting a system
OF taxation which will in many instances a
mount to- prohibition to the merchants and dis |
tllers Of the State, it opens the door foi the in
gress OF that interesting class of itinerants
known as drlmmers. The Dill imposes a tax I
of 800 on sample mlerchants-tllat is, person
can come into Virginia from Maryland, Penn
sylvania, New York, Ohio, or any other, State,
and by paying. 500 travel over the entire
State selling by sample any description of mer-
chandise, and ilD any quantity that may suit
the demands and purses. OF purchasers
With the heavy State tax on our merchants, of
course it will be an easy matter to under-sell
them, and the result will be that country stores
as we'll as those in the cities and towns, will
find it to be impossible to compete with thenl
The same is the case with our dstillers. The
tax imposed upon this class OF manufacturers,
will enable the agents OF establishments in ad-
Joining States, where the tax does not exist, to
furnish liquors Of equal grade of any made in
this State, at two cents per gallon cheaper, ad-
hitting that the quality is the same. The eff
feet Of this suicidal feature will not be long in
developing. 1t will not only virtually abate
the distlleries but in doing this will seriously
affect the interest Of the farmer, especially OF
Augusta, where liberal market is afforded to
the producers for his grain. It will not only
impair the interest of trade directly, in destroy
ling this market, but it will drive to other local
tiles a large amount OF money brought here
and distributed among our people, by the dis
tillers. Instead Of furnishing a market to 9th
| er localities, we will be flooded with the cheap
Whistles Of other States, and besides the harm
full effects of money being drawn from us, the
quality of the liquor imported will have ten
dency to fill our prisons and pauper houses.
| We suggest in view OF this discrimination a.
gainst the enterprise and people OF Virginia
this wholesale invasion and capture, at our in
vitation and connvance, of the industries of
Virginia, it was very inconsistent in the Legs-
lature to smother in the chrysalis state the ex-
tension charter of the Valley Railroad, because,
as it was charged, the construction Of the road
beyond its present designated limit, would bea
virtual surrender to Baltimore. BY this tax
bill, so oppressive and ruinous to the merchants
and business men Of Virginia, we have placed
ourselves at the mercy not only OF Baltimore,
but of the entire country, courted the destruc-
ton of all enterprise, and inaugurated the total
bankruptcy OF. the State.
1 The men who have devised and consllmn1a-
ted this systematic disaster to the Common
wealth, are those whose tears flowed i'll copious
streams and whose hearts beat with gushing,
overlooking sympathy for the people OF Louis
lana and South Carolina, during the last can
yass. They could not take the time to tell the
people their own condition-that there was a
huge debt, larger than that of any other State
in the Union, hanging over us-that there was
no people in the broad limits of the Union
whose affairs had been more shamefully mis-
managed Whose revenues had been more
recklessly s1uandered, aud over whose future
hang darker and more poftentous clouds. No,
the plain statement of the truth did not an
swer their purpose. .'Carpet-bar and negro
rule'' was the bugaboo.that frightened the peo
pie from calm investigator of their own af
p flirs, drew their minds from contemplation
Of their own helpless condition-and by milan
ing their preiudces and passions, again placed
the State in the hands OF parcel OF old fossil
lied politicians whose contracted minds have
proven Incapable OF compromising the de
mands of the times.
The Legislature thus elected. has not only en-
acted tax bill that will paralyze present enter
: prise and business but have tendency to drive
from OUR borders immigration and capital, and
thus confront with insuperable obstacles any
efforts that might have been in contemplation
to Introduce new clements OF wealth and pros
perity. In harmony with this suicidal policy,
and as an important instrument in effecting it.
che interest law was changed from s to PEI
cent, thus effectually securing the deportation
OF all capital loaned from neighboring States
= to our people.
If the Legislature just adjourned had been Sc
: Elected with direct reference to the prostratior
of all the hopes of the State, it could not more
completely have instituted the agencies thai
will most assrredly accomplish that object.
, The harmful influence Of the Granger organ
ization is prominently observable III the taa
G bill recently adopted by the Legislature, which
is the severest blow the credit and character Of
the State has ever received. The class oppres-
~. IL.
OF the combination of a large and inhuentia
: number OF one pursuit, whose declared objec
is to give preference to the interest OF that oc
capation above and at the expense Of all Others
The effect is being further shown III counter or