The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-08-09
A Card.
Mr.. MERIDIAN. Auo / 1s

MEssRs. EDITORS VALLEY v &c, MAN
In your issue OF week before last WAS Il ca u
upon several gentlemen to announce them
selves rs candidates for the next Leg Stature.
Amongst the number was myself. In re-
sponse to the call [ would say, should it he
the pleasure OF che people of che county %
| re-elect me to the next House of Delegates,
| shall not decline it, and at the proper lime
announce myself, as Desired by "Many
Voters" | understand there is doubt in the
| minds OF some as 10 my position upon the
Funding Act and State debt. have always
thought the enactment of the Funding Bill
unwise as well as premature, and have never
seen the day would not have voted for lis
repea ncr do eve expect to see that day.
be ieve it world be to the interest OF the
creditors. as it would be to the S ate, to en-
ter into some satisfactory arrangement. The
present one Ithc Funding BilD was gone into
without consultation With or discussion be
fore the people, either by the press or pr bile
speakers. Therefore the dissatisfaction that
exists.
hope and believe some satisfactory So
luton OF the question can be had, if pressed.
but l. we fold or hands, and say nothing
can be done; the effort has been made and
the courts have decided against it is use
less to make any farther effort; say if this
be or policy. then nothing will be done.
" acre there is a will there is wav How
many men in the county OF Augusta, or in
the State, would to-day vote for the Funding
Bill, i the question were presented? Very
few, presl me, save those who are interest
ed. Would it then be any more objection
able CT dishOnOrable to vote for or adyocste
The repeal of the law, tt IN to re use 10 make
1t law, it it be SO just, so honorable and so
equitable measure? I must cor 'ess my
vision is too contracted to see the justice or
equity Of it :; it is altogether in the interest of
the large taxpayer, for it is to lis interest
to buy coupons; but a man whose ..--es are
less than thirty dollars would save so little
by buying coupons, he would not be paid for
his time and trouble. How ma ~ farmers
and mechanics in the cornoy pay Their taxes
With coupons? Not one "a zen, venture
the assertion and should not be surprised
ii not one in twenty. 1t is patent TO the eye
OF every one the advantage the t7x-payer
who pays in coupons has over the one who
pays in money; the fist pays dollar with
So or 80 cents, the latter pays tile flu" dol
lar. Is that Justice Or equtty? 1t is said we
have the public improvements butt with this
money-railroads, canals, &c. That IS true;
but who else has the benefit and advaH ege
OF these identical railroads without paying
one silver towards their. construction The
Northwest. A citizen of st. Louis or Gin
cinnati can ship a bushel of corn or wheat or
barrel of flour from either of those cities
O tany other point, West. South or South
west, to Richmond or Norfolk for about the
same you and can from Staunton to either
Wcbild the railroads, and are taxed most
s-ievously for the building, and citizens OF
other States have the advantage and benefit
OF them. We pay the piper, and they waltz
to the music. That is what some people call
justice and equity. There are but three
ways to dispose Of this much mooted and
disturbing question; one is forward, another
backward, and the third, stand-still; for
ward means increased taxation; backward
means Encouragement of the debt, placing
all our creditors upon the same footing; and
stand-still means two classes of creditors,
one receiving full interest and the other
nothing. If the people desire an increased
rate OF taxation, am not the man to send
to the Legislature for as at present adv ,sed,
and with the lights now before me | feel
warranted in saying that neither the ,agt-
cultural nor mechanical class of the com nu-
nifty can bear any greater rate OF taxation
than they arc now paying.
l desire to pay my respects to the Dog
law, so called. When the law was cnac. "a,
the object. aud sole object of the law was to
ra sc a sufficient amount of revenue by tax
upon Gogs as would pay for sheep l. lied and
injured by the same. The first year the law
was in effect, the amount remaining in the
County Treasury, after reimburs;ng the OWL
crs for sheep Killed and injured, and such
incidental expenses as attended the cxecu-
ton OF the law, was $500, and the second
year $4,000. l get these figi'-es from the
pandscasor. Now what becomes of tie sur
plus? 1t remains as credit to the land and
personal property, and reduces the county
levy that amount but what is gained to the
tal-payerQ mean an overwhelming majo 'ity
OF them by paying one dollar on his dog
and saving five to twenty-five cents on his
land and personally? 1t seems to me 10 be
taking dollar out of one pocket and put
ting five to twenty-five cents in the other
and losing the difference. 1 would he the
gamer by its being dollar instead OF fifty
cents, but it would be mere pit.ance, and
so " .th every large taxpayer, but not so
with those whose taxes are small. am and
was opposed to taxing dogs 10 lessen Che
tax upon land; the doc being the common
enemy Of sheep, shoult - taxed TO pay for
deprcdati0ns committed, the execution OF
the law, and no more but if majority of
the people desire restoration of the law,
have no scruples in regard to the matter,
and as far as individually concerned, would
as soon the tag was one dollar as fl " cents.
Messrs. Editors, have mucn I would Ike
to say, bat have already occupied more of
your space than had any Fight to expect.
and thank you for yor- courtesy and kind
ness in extending me the use of your col
umns. j. d. CRAIG.