The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-02-14
A Fallaclous Illustration.

| N EdldcluuS xluStIAtlUu.
There could not be more unfortunat,
| illustration than that presented in the lead
ing editorial article of the Spectator of the
| 10Th. 1t goes upon the presumption that
! the individual property of the citizens 0
/ Virginia belongs to the State, and that it il
I bound for the obligations created by thu
State. just as il is for those created by til,
individual himself. There could not be any
thing more preposterous. The State car
| only exercise control over the revenues
which the people consent to pay into thu
Treasury. They agree to set apart a GER
tain amount o. their profits for the par
poses OF government. They do this through
the Legislature they eiect-and the Statu
cannot touch another copper OF the proper
ty OF the citizen. The people speak through
the Legislature, and tell the world how
, much they are able and willing to pay for
the support OF government, and when they
fix the limit that ends it. The State is not
Joint stock company or corporation, with
the property OF the individual members Of
it bound for its obligations. 1t can only lay
claim to what the citizens agree to give up,
through the action of ttleir delegated repre-
sentatives. If the illustration was true our
cotemporary furnishes, that the property Of
the people stands in the same relation to
the creditors of the State that it does to the
Obligations of tile citizen himself, then Vir-
ginia might borrow 1926. 900. 900. and failing
TO pay, the entire property Of the inhabi-
tants of the Commonwealth be put up and
sold under execution issued to meet the
demands OF the creditors. 1t is not the
property, in fee simple, o; the people that
Is bouad for the debts Of the State, but the
tares they agree to pay-that and nothing
more. The debt was created with reference
to the revenues. and when they decrease by
reason OF the impairment or destruction OF
the basis upon which they were levied, the
security Of the creditor decreases in like
ratio. Ii is well enough to get the falia-
cious notion out OF tiae heads OF some peo-
pie, that the property Of the individual can
be seized under execution and sold to the
highest Bidder for the obligations OF the
State, Just like il can for his own debts.
This would strike at the whole fabric OF
government and society. lie surrenders
only portion OF his profits to tie gov
aud says how much he will sur
'ender, and not the property itself from
which the profits are made.
IT the private debts OF the people of Vir- |
,inia were pressed, as it is proposed to
,ress the alleged public debt, three-fourths
f the property owners would be made
bankrupt in the shortest possible time
| nd vet, with this heavy private iadebted-
ess. it is asked that The people double
he amount they now give to goyernment-
ataoyer:sh their families withhold from
lem educational advantages them
, rags. and cut them OF froM tue socia!
riyileges which are the light OF life, in
rder that the connivaRee Of money sharks
ay reap the benefits OF capitalized public
.bt that represents the most odious agen-
es that we're ever employed to grind the
,opie 10 the earth. They have a right to
re- they i@se tie rig hit to enjoy the results /
the sweat OF tiieis own brow, and when I
ey have given as much Is they can pos
he spare for the purposes Of g1yernnrent, 4
ter meeting their own obligations aud 3
l6l,ing tile first law of their being, more 2
oufd not be expected of them.