Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-09-25
Hon. Mr.. Pogger for the Legislature.

The Richmond Dispatch contains Mr..
Pogger's personal announcement as a
candidate for the Legislature to repre-
sent, we suppose, the State at large.
Mr.. Pogger, among other political axi-
oms, lays down the following as his in
dividual platform
l. am opposed to the State debt.
Debt municipal, State, national or in
dividual, is burden; and all burdens
are grievous to be borne. I am opposed
to bearing them. By the aid of the stay
law. the bankrupt act and the homes
tead exemption, am comfortably rid
of my private debts, and am now pre-
pared by sovereign act of free peo-
pie in convention or Legislature assem-
bled, to declare this old Commonwealth
free from all obligations to bondholders,
whether bloated or ofany other descrip-
ton whatsoever.
| 2. | am opposed to all appropria-
tons to the University of Virginia, the
Military Institute, the Blackburg Agri-
cultural College, and all other schools
OF high grade. All such appropria-
tons are for the benefit OF the rich and
aristocratic; and I am the poor mans
friend. l would take the appropria-
tions given to colleges and give them to
the public schools. am a poor man
myself, and I want the poor mans
children educated. Then, as my col
ored fellow-citizens are numerous, and
hold, as it were, the balance of power,
[ want them to take notice that their
children, too, are entitled to free educa-
ton. The colored man is a man and
brother, and his vote counts.
/ 3. I am in favor of the poor man
dog. The poor mans dog is far dearer
to me than the rich mans sheep.
''Tis sweeter to hear the watchdogs honest
Bay deep -mouthed welcomes as we draw near
| home.'
| l want every poor man to enjoy the
highest domestic felicity, and therefore
want him to have a dog. I am not
very particular as to what kind of dog
it may be. Let it be hound. terrier,
pointer, setter, cur, or OF what kind
soever-only let it be a yellow dog.
Down with the dog law!
4. l am opposed to the Moffet liquor
punch. 1t is an outrage on liberty, an
intolerable prying into aman's private
affairs to require that all his drinks shall
be registered. What are we coming to
when in order to raise funds to pay the
hated coupons of the funded bonds, our
very juleps, and smashes, and cocktails,
and even straight drinks are to be tax
ed? Where is Lexington, Bunker Hill
and Yorktown? Are we the degene-
rate sons of noble sires? No, fellow
citizens, no. am consequently in favor
of free drinks all round.
5. [ am opposed to all prating about
the "honor of the Old Dominion, 'the
faith of the State" and all that. Fellow
citizens, beware of the men that talk
thus. Watch them! When they say
"honor and faith" and honesty" and
VIRTUE" they mean the payment Of
means taxes. Yes, fellow-c citizens,
taxes. A poor people like we are can
not afford to think of honor, much less
!, talk of it. Let us be content to have
buried it at Appomattox Courthouse.
I 6. In word, fully believing that the
poor men of the country are largely in
the majority, am in favor Of every,
thing that the poor men are in favor of,
! and opposed to everything they are OPP
posed to. If any new question should
} arise between this time and the day OF
election, and any one should wish to
} know how stand on it, let him ask the
poor men what they think of it. What
ever they think think.
With this candid statement OF my
views, submit my claims to my fell
} low citizens, whether in convention OF
at the polls, as shall seem best to them
l consult their wishes in everything. :
}, Respectfully, your fellow citizen,
i G.. w. PoGGER. ]
i P.S. AS my name is often mispro;
tnounced, my fellow-eitizens if they can
} do SO without any sacrifice to principle
will please pronounce both gees soft.
J, e. w. P.