Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-09-01

;, &as> must beg leave to notice through the
Gazette u communications signed y He apol-
ogses for writing, which is Unnecessary, rs it is
his right to question candidates and it is our
daty to answer. M y friend DR.. Pugh touches
on national politics. | could fancy be was
candidate for President, or AT least member of
Congress-" wonder if my friend y cultivate.
his fancy more than his reason or understanding
1t would seem so wEca he m 4kes that assertion
10 the face OF the positive declaration that offer
myself candidate for the House of Delegates.
But he seems to dislike my saying anything
about the Constitution of tho United States If
my friend would cultivate his understanding \
little more he would find that legislator should
understand the Constitution of the United States
IS tn roughly as that of his own State The
commerce OF the State should be stcu ed to our
cities. There again my r,end's fancy seems to
lead his reason. If he would cultivate his un-
derstanding by looking ct facts he would find
that our cities are being cut of by foreign rail
roads, to the obstruction OF our trade an to the
ruin of town and country; and if he will look
a Int o further he will learn that our cities by
this policy ale rapidly becoming mere railroad
stations for adjoining and rival States And il
my TREND Will open the pages of history nc will
learn That wherever commerce goes thee fo
lows prosperity aad wealth. He wishes 10 know
what change in the interest is proposed? | an
swer, plain enactment which allows one far
rate OF Interest on special contract, high enough
10 retain the zoos, money OF the It to Tor bust
ness purposes-say eight or nine par cent on
Special contract-ani not Il law saying money
shSll not be loaned over six per cont, and then
allow it 10 be O med, by shaving pa or to An
unlimited rate or nt7rest-sometimes rs high rs
forty per cent.-to the destruction aid ruin of
ali business The next idea which strikes his
fancy is economy in legislation, and hero, rs
before, his imagination seems to lead his reason
He talks of dog laws, road laws, biennial ses-
sons, four dollars day to members Sc |
wonder if my friend mas ever thought Of the
thousands of dollars wasted in Richmond dis
cussing dog laws, and if the subjec. is continued
where the expense will stop when twenty five
cents worth OF stry Gimme will kill all the dogs
in Il county, or Eve dollars worth would kill all
in the state have heard of men who are
penny wise md pound foolish. | wonder ii my
friend belongs to thai C SIS. Than comes four
dollars day for members. \ friend OF mine
once said to me he would So "a the Legislature
for seventy. five cents dsy I replied y hard
bargain thst would be for he State | here rs.
scrt than any man whose time is not worth more
than four dollars day a. home is not compe-
tent TO: a legislator. But my frend has some
idea of economy in State affairs, which is all
right, if wisely directed. We sh ,u!d saveall the
money possible, and | would say instead Of four
dollars day five dollars day, or $500 u session,
and instead OF four months sessions sixty days
is time enough to do al the business | am for
economy in every branch of state at hrs, and
fer road law worked partly BY taxat on and
partly Oy laDor. But can tell my friend there
are graver subjects that should engage the al-
tention Of the Virgina Legislators than dog laws
or road laws If he will look into the Internal
policy he will find that the people have always
bcen chained down BY q judicial tyranny t!l.t
has driven Oft our population to other counties,
to the extent that we have very little more pop
ulation now than we had Immediately after the
revolutionary war. Let him travel from Mich
lgan to Florida, and at every village and eros
road throughout the entire route he will meet
Virginisna, who will hail him and talk Of the
loved old commonwealth, the mother of states
men, the cradle Of the pure Washington, where
the skies are brighter, the air purer, the water
clearer, the fruit sweeter, and the girls pretter
than in any part of the world Blu l could not
live there; had 10 seek country where could |
There is no money there no business there. If
my friend will send me to the Legislature l will
promise to try and rsmove all this trouble, by
aiding to unchain industry, unburden labor and
bring back cur scattered population.
j. R. PUGH.
August 81, 1875 1t