Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-08-06
COMMUNICATED.
Letter from LEG.
LEE COUNTY, VA.
July %, 1878.
Editor of the Bristol Nc,cS /.

| ENttDT Ot me OFt6tOt NtttS
Thinking you would like to hear
| something from the extreme South
west, | haue concluded TO try in part
TO give you some of the general news
! of our section.
Our crops are not very promising
meadows are tolerably good. Wheat
| is not yielding what was eapected 81
! harvest, lacking something uear one
| third in quantity, and as matter OF
course the shriveled condition of the
grain will materially injure the quail
! ~. We are suffering severely from
| drOuth at this time, cutting corn crops
short. II ere are occasional light
| showers confined To certain localities.
but 40 general rains.
There is another drouth that seems
| to be more general and widespread
| more disastrous III its effects than the
| Que above mentioned, to Wit: that
/ OF sreenbacks and currency. There
| is no. drop of that kind Of rain fall
! ing, n3t as inGch as Il dew to refresh
! the heart Of Iiirn for few moments ;;
not a cloud in The political hon izun as
token or promise ~ the future. 10
gladden. tile hearts Of the thiraty.-
! mere htttfS ~ Nv EJs'ti hCdl Oi lHuL-
der ai,d lightning in TIE direction of
Washington, bat our jackets are still
peTi>hiiig for the want OF that ciTcJla-
ton that gives life end energy TO ev-
cry enterprise and peace and hgpDi-
ness to the citizens of every uItj::i.-
There are hundreds Of our citizens
property being sold for taxes ana pTi-
vatc debts for less than one third its
value, if sold at all, cripling every III
terest and enterprise Of our country,
and yet we have the greatest govern
mcnt on Gods green earth, granting
10 priviledged classes additional boGn
ties. making the rich richer and the
poor more and more so. When the
wicked rule the righteous mourn,
placing burdens upon their shoulders
too grievous 10 be borne. And yet,
we are asked and sometimes sworn to
love the COVE rnment and support its
constitution. We do love America
and its constitutions as they were,
not altogether as they are. We do
love this American continent. Why
should we not, when all that Is near
and dear TO Us as n people is mingled
with the past, present and present,
our parents, our kindred, statesmen,
historians and ministers of the past
are lying beneath the sod of this great
country Their tom hstones are stand
ing in every pant of this continent as
so many monuments of the gOld and
great that have been benefactOrs in
their day and as so many beaken
lights to govern our footsteps in the
way that will guarantee to
our pOsterity the same blessings we
have enjoyed. But for a government
to be loved and caressed in the hearts
Of the people, that government must
so shape and frame lis laws that equal
justice may be done to ali classes of
her citizens ; that the burdens ana
blessings may he borne and reaped
alike with all. And whenever she
fails to do that the seeds of detTuctiOn
begin TO germinate, and if remedy is
not applied ruin is irresistible. No
better seed can be sown and quicker
of growth than 10 hedge in the inter
ests of millions of our citizens and
give unlimited range 10 a few privil-
eyed classes, with the treasury and
government to back them. They are
obstacles in our progress and thorns in
the flesh that harrsss the peace and
happiness, as well as the prosperity,
of our country, and until oar people
are educated as to the real source of
troubles we may expect to be imposed
upon by demagogaes, mOneyed- rings
and mRRipUlatOrs that are entTapping
the people as the spider does the fly.
The constitution was Trained for
wise and noble purpose, and am0ug
clau, es was that of the free school sys-
tenn, aud Notwithstanding its impo!-
tance and necessity, (nut q luxuryl,
the Governor has seen fit to destroy
its existence by one stroke of the pen.
and the Court of Appeals has follow
ed the action of the Governor by a
second blow to eiinch the ietters upon
our limits, if possible, so strong that
future legislatures cannot release us
from the yoke of bondage. Who gave
them that power, aud from what docs |
come? Directly from the people, |
whose liberties aud rights they are
with the strong ara. of !
their power, giving force TO a law thai /
everybody believes the passage of |
which was secured by thirty pieces of |
silver, and in direct opposition in it's |
effects TO the constitution they have 1
sworn 10 support. This action of |
these officials has brought down the !
indignation of the people all over the |
State, and If ever the debt of the State |
is repudiated they and those WHO act !
In concert with them are the real re-
pudiators. The people were willing I,
to pay every cent that was possible TO