The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-31
The State and Her Debt.

The State and Her Debt.
We know that demagogues find the eN-
acrcrated statements OF the pnbltc en-
barrasmcnts the most convenient hooh!
unon which they can ride into public
placcs. The State debt to them is God
send. They might find trouble as 10 'he
means OF rising il that were wanting.
There must be something whercw,th 10
agitatc the people, and this very 'h'hs Is
that. OF MI others. which suits Their p'ir-
nose exactly. The best way i'll the "'r'u
To enlist the sympathy and approbaio'i VI
men il first to make them believe tha' .'es
ORC wronred. and second TO assure thehi
Tho, Won arc their friend and ready 10 no OF
die for them. You know you nave n' i"."
Of doing any such thing for tilem' p"' '"'.
be,icye YOU have. and that's call the same.
The state debt is the thing, and all so1ts
q; people, save very conscientious ones are
riding it: and there can be little DOUBT that
many Of the most unworthy men that ever
deceived the people will go to the LegiSia-
t,lre upon the most fraudulent represents
lions concerning this question. Weare DIS
poscd to look upon The scene wlthVcry great
composurc. We know that these men are
but prctcndcrs, and that they are neither
statesmen nor honest men: but we know
they cannot do ilnposSibilities. We know
they will come to the Legislature
ready for ANYTHING. The thimblc-riS-
ger will be Oh hand. and Satan VIII
come also; but ii must be remembered
that what they do must be done IN
omen dav. with the whole world looking
upon them, with all the past fame OF VIZ
Sinia. with her public honor so long main-
tanned untarniShcd. and her Constitution
and laws and her customs and virtues diff
f,lSing light on all hands. And above all
what they do must be done in view OF the
solemn promises OF the Commonwealth to
the public creditor, and with the knowledge
that the improvements that were built with
the money of that creditor are now in pos
session OF the State and steadily imparting
benefits and prosperity. and increasing pub
lie revenue to the people and the State.
Now, when the GemagogueS come face
10 face with the public condition, what
,,a,,, :, ,hot win oxbih;t
Wv" a,, ,,,;n,, - rccl.,oS.noss and
indifference 10 the public fame ana
,aas ~, c..to, A. .,,rc .s fine time
'o'o .,an 18TH 1,a .,ot confusion -
to expedcnt>, that trepidity OF aim and
s,r;,,a Iorn thn honor ri tho State and
,o,, ,.;r,,;,,;. tno untold and almost
;,li,n;,oh,o woes which wonld follow Il
ruincd nubIic credit.
>tm rho nl.,SihIc toncur OF tie dcma-
,,.;,, .;,,d +h,. S,,to don't ,hc rich theme
800. ,a,,,,;,.,, s,,ooc,os n IN. honest rco-
$40 rho toxos ,rc RI he snokcu Of every
,vhsre ~ onerous. and vet Virginia is
AMONGST the least burthcned OF people with
t,yotion. man who has 4 thousand dol
lars worth of land pays five dollars. Then,
tbe assessments OF the land OF Virginia
have been reduced until the landowners
find ,boir hurthens very greatly diminished.
rho noonlc ri the country. amongst whom
.,a aa,,anoo,cs ,re op;t,t;nr most actively
n oct themselves into the Legislature, pay
,,ot ,,,oro t,,n holt ~ much 70 tbo State
revenue a. do the people OF Richmond.
rh;s CITY NOW nays one ninth OF the rcye-
me Of the whole State: q fact, when we
consider her nopulation, that is dcrogatory
70 the insticc and equality OF the State gov
eminent.
The simnle fact is that the State tax upon
nronertv is only one-ba]f OF one per cent. A
n,on worth . thousand dollars navs five dol
,ns. nd o,a who < worth fen Thousand
aa,,... ,>,,,s 6fJ, do,,ore With what grace
can man rise before the peopJe and repre-
cent this tax to be onerous and unendura-
h1o o,d col, for Ire diminution,
Th;s business 81 t,xation is the eycr.pro-
,;to thom. NJ dam,oooues. OF unworthy
,,a. ,rhoso personal merits could never elc
in.n WV. "DoS. .. go ,.,nnas - honor or trnst and
'"'e - e, " , r ond fr,nd tho only
"n .n ~. ,,hioh the;r ambition for eleya.
80, ,,,or he cr,t;t;ed In n strictly pure
.ni; ,;rtuons aoe and amongst conscien-
tiops people, these agents would imperi
=, ,.u. -.,:., 90, ,Io,,.+;ou h,. No
'NNAA ',