Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-07-10
TCoNIMUNICATED.7

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4 Proposed Meeting of the Peo-
pic of the County, at tho July
COur., to consider the Question
OF the Public Debt.
To The Editor of The NeaU8'
You and all other editors in Va who
conduct free press, should not, in my
humble opinion, cease to call upon
every man whose friends urge his
nomination as q candidate for any Of
flee, to be filled in November next,
from that of Governor down to come
out boldly and openly upon the great
and absorbing issue in this State, the
question of an increase of our taxa
ton. Not knowing the views of can
didates, how can we act intelligently
in voting for them? There is no lon
ger any party issue in Va. but there is
one absorbing and overshadowing
question that mast be settled, if we do
not wish to sink lower and lower in
the scale, until the State is measurahly
depopulated, and hopelessly involved
in ruinous Indebtedness. The con-
temptible expedients Of DOG Tax"
the BELL Punchn-and all such-(not
even excepting "Stamp TaX'D hav-
ing either failed or fell stubborn the
real men of the State must now come
forward, and rescue our good old State
from the low condition to which she
has been brought by political quack
cry. What do the people care for mere
men, and their brilliant records" if
placing them in power heaps upon us
u greater load of taxation Nothing
at all. If there is any one thing set
tied" in Va. it is i; that large MAORI
ty Of our people are decidedly opposed
to any increase of our taxation. Then
all who are hunting up new subjects
of taxation" such. as dogs, liquor,
sealed instruments, old bachelors, DC,
&c are not in accord with the major
ity. and should not receive the support
of the voters Of the State, 10 increase
the rate of taxation upon "old sub
jects" or to bring in new subjects" OF
taxation, s in effect, if not in reality,
one and the same thing, and the Leg
lslator who will come out boldly for
an increase of the rate, is more to be
respected, than the pretended oppo-
Dent of an insTease who seeks to pro-
duce that Ue,Y result by tax on new
subjects"
Nr. Editor, allow me 10 make sug-
gestion.-that is, that public meeting
be held at our July Court, for the pur-
pose of taking some action upon the
question OF our State finances, n d
the course we Of Washington county
intend to pursue, in casting our votes
for public officers Il had like to have
said public "gervaDts") in November
next. We surely can not he blamed
for asking for what we want-Ve sure
~ cannot be censured for refusing to
take candidates on trust" in these
cash up" times. Then let us speak
'Or our county. and instruct our dele
gates to the State Convention to vote
for no man as a candidate for Govern
or, Lieut.. Governor or Attorney Gen
eral, who will not openly and publicly
avOw his sentiments in advance OF q
nomination.
You are now a candidate, Mr.. Edi'
tor. We know your past course-we
have heard you express your opinions
and have heard you state how YOu
would act if elected-cannot the rest
of them do the same? If they will
not, / think we can afford Ito let them
Slide" At any rate, this county will,
through its delegates, have 81 UOteS
in convention, and If they act as unit
they may control the result. Then LET
us meet and treason together"
OBSERVER.