Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-02-13

who operate against us. This we con-
ceive to be one of the great aims and
objects of On order that ii to say where
we fall short in practice and experience
the brethren are TO reason together and
thereby find out the remedy; also
shonad any other class of men come in
| contact with our prosperity to also find
the remedy.
In taking stand point upon this
very important subject it is our purpose
to deal charitably with all classes of
men, to speak in kind terms ofall classes
of society as we are so linked with each
other that every branch of business and
trade has its usefulness in this world.
The farmer, mechanic, tradesman, schol-
ar each are all occupy their respective
places of usefulness, but mean here to
endeavor briefly to show up in a fair,
candid and truthful manner some ofthe
evils that beset the pathway ofthe hus-
bandman, so far as it relates to men en-
gagged IN some of the other pursuits of
life, to show, according to our ideas of
the circumstances connected with it
that the husbandman does not have
fair play; to show, where he is imposed
upon. We consid,r it cur duty then
to accord to all .othels their fair and eq-
uitable plan adopted by them to accu-
mulate of this worlds goods compe-
tency, sutfciency to supply the wants
of sickness and old age and if needs be,
wealth, but the husband man does not
feel wiling longer to be the prop ofso-
ciety without sufficient credit and re-
Enumeration.
The fact must be admitted that the
class of people engaged in agricultural
pursuits are by far the largest, compar-
ing them with other classes of men, -
Hence taxes levied ard disbursed to the
support of our representatives in the
halls of legislation are largely to be
drawn by those persons who make a
means of livelihood by the use of the
plough and spade, and n many, very
many instances the pay of our govern
m ent officials is far beyond what it
should be. To enumerate some of the
leading evils connected with this social
relation of ours. the President of the
United States at the present day real
ICES the round sum of one hundred thou
sand dollars per annum for his services,
when in former days such men as Wash
ington were paid the one-fourth of that
sum; our representatives in Congress
are now paid the rodnd sum of
five thousand dollars per annum, when
in ante ellum days Congressman were
satisfied with the snug sum feight dol
i lars per day which amounts to about
| fifteen hundred dollars per anrum; say
nothing of subordinate officials of our
system of government, all of which
when reckoned would amountto an i'm
mense sum of money, and which all just
and fair minded men must admit to be
onerous, unjust and extravagant, and
calls loudly for refor alton and re-
trenchment of expenses incurred. The
U. S. bond holder, too, is another large
class of people who seem to have much
undue favor shown them at the present
day. The day was when doubtless that
course towards these individual citizens
of the Unitrd States was justitiable, but
reason, common sense and justice now
demands a change. We do not agree
that forbearance on the part of the peo-
| pie is virtue, and we urge that ref
ormation should take place, we agree
that they, too, should share with us In
the payment of taxes in the support of
those that govern us. These are some
of the evils the Patrons of Husbandry
propose to remedy. There are, too,
many others which, when remedied,
would rebound not only to the benefit
of the husbandman, but to all classes
making their living as God has inhis di
vine Providence required them to do.
| We have in this county ofours power
full corporate bodies, which by ingeni-
GUS Vaccinations other making, have
worked themselves into world of pow.
err, which is not only felt in their own
particular localities, but from the vast
amount power gained, inch by inch
their influence is felt all over the coun-
try. We do not presume to envy the
prosperity of these corporations, nor
! speak msliciously towards them, but we
do desire to pla, ourselves in position
to diyest them of all opportunities to
Cypress us, or to establish over us an
undue and improper rates of charges.
To make free stand point for discus
sion upon this subject, we will for exam
pie allude to the course pursued by your
neighboring railroad, we mean the b q
! o. II. r., which we all know has spread
itself like bay tree. We cannot pass
| this opportunity without bestowing u
proper degree ofpraise upon the power
full enterprise displayed in the erection
| of that wonderful structure of human
| genius, nor can we pass this opportunity
by without an acknowledgment, as we
conceive due from us for the prosperity
OF Qua particular section ofcountry, nor
can we help but admire the wonderful
sagacity.and energy displayed by them
In opening up the mountain recesses Of
our State, in hurting the rocks of the
Alleghanies from their strongholds,
which when done made way for the
/ thistle of the engineer, when he rides
his iron horse through the wild and un-
cultivated regions of our beloved Noun
tain State. This stupendous handiwork
of mankind no man can look on but to
admire, no man can look upon without
acknowledging its usefulness.
But while we bestow praise upon
this great and wonderful monument OF
human enterprise, We must turn the
subject over and view the other side.
This railroad had its charter by law
of the Virginia Legislature prior 70 the
year 1910, when, by its terms. this law