Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-09-21

INFLOW CITIZENSHIP reply to the above
call will define my position on all
questions now agltating the public mind and if
YOU should elect me will make every effort in
my power to merit your confidence, and shall
never al use it, He who tells you the State
debt can be repudiated deceives you either lg-
norAntly or wilfully 1t could only be done in
def NICE of law, in violation of the Constitution
and in contempt four Supreme Court SO you
see three insurmountable obstacles in the way
There are bu, two possible modes o: Sc, Element,
either gay all or compromise with our creditors.
| am one of the many who believe, in yonr pres
ent Strengthened circumstances, you can not
pay all, I would therefore advocate the appoint
ment by the Legislature of II Commission au-
thorlzed and empowered to confer with the
Bondholders and use all honorable, just and
legal means to effect an arrangement by which
the debt could be reduced to an amount which
we could paw, thereby bene6tting both the
Debtor and Creditor l am and have alwa 8
been an advocate of Free Schools, Lam opposed
to Convict Labor being allowed in any way to
come in competition with Honest Labor l de-
sire to call your attention to the assessment we
all put upon our personal property; L have
heard of horses assessed by the owners at fifty
dollars selling for one hun red, and have known
sheep assessed by the owners OF one dollar aud
fifty cents, to be appraised (when killed by
dogs) at six dollars, the vehicles we ride IN
generally assessed at one-half and sometimes
Spne-third of their value Now is there man
in the County or State who will take for his
personal property the sum placed upon the as
SCISSORS book by himself and which he swears is
its fair cash value? I do not believe there is,
place myself in the same category witt you and
our only excuse is we have been TOO tboughtless
an careless upon this subject. Now there is
remedy for this, and if the people throughout
the State will apply it, we all know what 1t is}
and if the merchan is will be a little more par
ticular in giving in their taxes and all
persons having an income will give it in, we
will have more money in the Treasury than will
be required to meet all demands upon US. l
wish TO say one word to the Malone men see
that you az a general thing are opposed to me
because differed with you AS to our choice for
Governor. Had concealed my honest convic-
tions or had remained away from primary
meeting, or had | permitted you to dictate to
me what line of policy should pursue lin Or
der TO gain your support in the coming ell ction
or for any other selfish purpose) would yon en-
terrain any respect for me, or would you deem
me worthy to represent you in our Legislative
Halls? The answer is no and ech' repeats it
from every hill top in old August want no
man to vote for me thro' friendship, and hope
none will " te against me thro' enmity, let
your judgments and convictions and not your
passions nod preudicas sovarn you Oh the day
Of election Now fellow-ctizens, have wrts
ten very plainly 10 you and if after knowing my
views, you see proper to elect me will be high
Ii gratiied, but ii you do not will not be dis
appointed knowing as do that the position
is lot a bed Of roses and how impossible it is to
give sati ction to all.
j. N. OPIE.
sep2l-lt*