The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-13
IFor the Dispatch.]
| rhe Right Thing Struck On AT hss

The Right ThfmE stEueN ,,u,,t
The tramp is unquestionably "tn me-, w sa,,;c
cuss of the nineteenth century, II. p,sac s
of .73, which closed so many larSe I:,"' h,,r.
tories, did undoubtedly turn auin' ,rhn
sreds ~ honest, well-meaning men, who'
unohle TO get work, started on foot IN all al,
rnct;ons TO seek any employment that Wou'a
food them and those dependent on them.
No one could blame them for this. WIN
them il was work or starvation, added TO the
sufierines Ola northern winter. All OF
these men have found work somewhere ana
OF some kind. Thousands OF lazy, dirty,
,hipying yagabonds, however, taxing the
cue from this movement, began to tramp
over the country, begging, stealing, rob-
bling, and Outlines numbering as they went.
The country has long since sickened OF
tramps. Grave legislative bodies have dis
cussed the question in all its bearings; miles
of editorials have been spun out on the SUBJ
iect; chaiu-gangs and other punishments
have been suggested. but never enforced,
Judging from the sleek appearance and In
creasing numbers Of the tramps. No expe-
dent, IN fact, has yet been devised LOT
abatine this nuisance. But this old county
is Justly renowned for producing men VINO,
in critical times, have lnaugurated great
measures OF national policy. Here, IN ''tne
slashes" OF old Hanover, forever historic
MS the birthplace OF the great champion OF
the :" Missourfeompromise bill" there mas
been found remedy. The Gordian knot
has been cut with barrel-stave. To 1.-the
recently enfranchised" belongs this honor.
One of their color-a big, strong fellow
lately tramped into town, with the usual
pitiful tale. Instead OF giving him crusts
and kind counsel, rs 4 white man would
have done, they grabbed him, laid him over
barrel. and beIabored HIM with stout Stave
until the air WAS thick with sobs and the
soils Of several States. He was then told to
git up and 90 long back whar he come
from "a piece of advice he proceeded to
follow to the best of his ability. The pro-
cess was simple; the effect fine
Now, let the next Legislature establish
whipping-posts in every county, and let the
tramps be logged. And then. like DIR.
Fosters scholars, who were whipped cum
til they danced out Of England into
France" let the tramps be made to dance
out OF Virginia into Maryland, North Caro-
liza, and West Virginia. Then the authorl-
ties Of these States if they see tit can take
a whack at them. And thus by systematic
series OF switchings they could be finally
driven either across the Rio Grande or over
into Canada as a peace-offering to Sitting
Bull.
Here in old Virginia there would be
something cheerful in this whipping bust
ness. 1t would look little like cold
times" The negroes would instinctiyely
work better. Business would begin to re-
yive. Everybody, in fact, would feel hap
pier. When ga. Niger " was tied up,
scores Of old farmers, I'll venture to affirm,
would ride twenty miles to beg the pleasure
of giving ga good nine-and-thirty." To
reyel in the rare luxury of whaling lank,
lean New England Yankee. redolent OF cod
fish and can't, they would fight. Many OF
these old coons have but few pleasures
left; they sacrificed all for Virginia. To
cheer their last hours and do herself great
good is in her power. Let her send down
at least one little ray to pierce the dark
clouds that overhang so many OF her de-
voted sons.
What solace to an old man, his life we'll
nigh spent in the service Of his State, to be
enabled to once more stroll forth on quiet
Sabbath evenings to cut hickories in some
& bottom" sacred to him by the footsteps
Of his ancestors in quest OF the same keen
of correction. And, as testing the
Dliancy of the hickory, how the sweet, old
musical "swish,' on the calm evening air,
would speak as the voice OF one loved and
lost, and his eyes fill with tears as the soft
of other days come crowding
thick and fast. kEINLASD.
ashland, Va.