The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-31

sstroypd. And now, with the knowledge
that the debt oil State Is binding only in
the forum of conscience, 1t would not De
strange ffs they consented to accept any
Efhtr1p. however little, which they could be
made TO believe they would certainly get,
inst lEas man will, having bis hand in the
|iiou,s mouth, take 1t out with as little loss
OF flesh rs possible. But will these men have
their confidence in Virginia restored? or
| will honest, disfnterested people regard re-
adjustment under such circumstances as
voluntary? Think OF it, law-giYers, who
will not allow that wife shall testify IN q
cause where her. husband Is party lest she
be tempted to fraud
Let such readi ustment be accomplished,
and domestic capital will become foreign,
and foreign will remain so. Where, then, IS
the poor man to find in Virginia employ
ment and remuneratire wages2 No douDt
after the creditors have, through the MIS-
fortunes OF their debtors, possessed them
selves OF their property, as they VIII nave
TO do to protect themselves, they VIII
wish TO hire labor to work, improve, and
develop It, but it will take time before such
state OF affairs can be reached, and mean
time The laborer must work, if at all at re-
duced wages, for men who, from want OF
capital or its NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. inevi
| tabIv going to ruin, and who may not pay
them at all. The debtors, many OF them
hope to save themselves by inflation-tha1
Is. to induce the United States Government
to Issue such an amount OF paper money as
to impair public confidence in its re-
demption. and this paper is to be made
by The Jaw of its creation receivable in
payment Of debts. So worthless will il
become, for every other purpose that
those who have it will be glad to exchange
it for anything else. Lands will nominally
advance, but only actually so far as those in
debt are concerned. Who would be likely
to profit by such u state OF affairs !? The
shrewd capitalist who would anticipate tho
depreciation OF the currency, and sell oul
at once the debtor whom, perhaps, he had
been indulging for years, and who would
buy that debtors property himself. Who
is most likely to guard against the deprecia'
ton of the currency? The rich employer
with his eyes open to his interests, OF the
poor laborer, whose whole mind, intent
upon earning his daily bread, has not the
time, il he has the inclination and ability, tc
study questions OF finance?
| Aside from the moral view OF the CUES.
ton, no class OF people are more interested
in public credit which includes sound
currency than the poor man.
Fluctuation in the value OF money is alb
surd. Those commodities. e., paper
money, which designing men substitute FOL
money-will tluctuate, but real money is
fixed standard OF value; and it is with
reference to real money rs standard OF
value that goods are bought and sold. labor
is hired. &c. Those who are best informed
upon this subject and thoroughly appre
ciate this fact will always have the adyan
tage OF the uniformed in any buslnes:
| transaction.
Public credit depends upon the willing
ness and ability to discharge public obliga
tiOns in n sound currency-i. e., IN money
or such q commodity-i. e., paper-money-a:
shalobc OF the same value. For govern
ment to declare by law that it will pay ;
in a commodity which IS not money, and i:
not worth as much as the money which thu
government promised to pay, is simply ;
form OF robbery. For Il government tt
declare by law that debtor shall have thu
right, which that government will enforce
to pay his creditor in such Il commodity
is to make the debtor, il be avails himself o.
it, robber, and the government accessory
before the fact to chat crime.
The only element wanting in the abilit!
OF the United States Government, or that o.
Virginia. to discharge their obligations is ii
the hearty cooperation OF the people. a
majority. of the voters must unite in the dc
termination that such taxes shall be leriet
as, with strict economy and honest admins
tration, will be sufficient to pay public obi
cations. The dc1Dagoguc, as needless OF hl'
own honor and that of the people whom N
would miSlead Us he is to their real inter
ests, holds up to the poor man an cNa@gc
rated picture OF the sutlerings that increased
taxation will entail upon him, and distract:
his attention from real truths by an affecta
ton OF sympathy for lii; woes.
| Let us assume that the taxation III Viz
ginia is obliged to be increased in order it
pay full interest on the debt, and thus re
store her credit. The Constitution limits
the capitation tax to one dollar. An in
crease OF that tax Is out OF the question
Then the increase must be upon real ant
personal property. II man has no real o.
personal property an Increase OF tax Thereon
cannot make him pay one cent more, ant
how large portion OF our voters are labor
ing people, without any property. or will
so little that an increase OF one hundred PEI
cent. could scarcely be noticed! Under ou1
present rate the half of one per cent, the tn,
on $1,000 is S.. Ii doubled it would b.
SO. II fifty per cent. were added it would
be $3.50; if twenty-five per cent. 1928
! This last even is a. liberal estimate OF TIT
necessary increase OF taxation.
/ II the poor man is without property, hi
only dependence is OH remuneratiye toll
Our State is blessed with fertile soil, de
lightful climate, vast deposits of minera
wealth, &C., and yet labor is poorly employ
ed and badly paid. Suppose the credit Of
Virginia restored, and the capitalists be
yond Our borders, whose confidence in oul
willingness to pay has been lost, were salts
fed that they could safely invest in Vir
sinia, how long would our lands lie idl(
and our mines be unproductye? New en-
terprises would spring up on every hand
necessitating the employment OF all OF oul
idle labor; increase OF population ant
wealth would be inevitable, and with il
would come happiness and content.
Poor men Of Virginia, your honor anC
your interest alike demand an intelligent
exercise of your privilege OF voting. Trust
no man as your representative who will tel
you that your interests demand your dis.
honor; trust those who would teach you
the performance, and not the evasion OF
duty; who are intelligent, honest, courage
Gus who will neither suppress the truth
for policy, nor tell the lie for pelf.
The Marion FizEle.
The National Independent Labor-Green.
back Convention held at Marion on the I'D
instont was q grand. gloomy, and peculiar