Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-11-20
The WomeB's Association

emanated handsomely printed appeal
to the ladies of State, sent abroad in
neat white envelopes, accompanied by
petition for signers, memorializing the
general assembly to increase taxation
10 cents. The address Ito the daugh-
tiers of Virginia" is signed by eight
ladies, and purpOrts to represent the
true situation and condition Of Virginia's
fiscal affairs.
The ingenuity of domestic spectators
upon Virgina's misiOrtuneS has con-
c,lved nothing the equal Of this for
disseminating incorrect reports Of our
debt, resources and taxation. The
high character of the ladies whose
signatures are appended will secure for
it some cretuous consideration by
persons who do not reflect that some
men are the responsible authors of the
mere statements OF the address.
Nevertheless il appears as 'women's'
circular. and as such it must be accepted
and treated. Therefore we would not
make. denial of its statistics and facts
except On the highest authority.
Without running this notice into
columns by traverslng the first half of
the circular, we call attention 10 the
S2OO,O 100 or 100000 increase ito meet
IL full our State obligations" which
Gu be raised by an increase Of "Only
10 cents on the hundred del ars".
From a private letter from the
Auditor, which has been kindly shown
us, we extract the following in respect
to the above:
The statement that two or three hundred
thousand olars will be ftcient TO meet N FULL
al our state obligations, it would be very pleas
ant to believe. But the facts do not warrant the
hope. The Ia iafeTo report made TO the General
Assembly last winter, after a most careful and
searching inquiry, shOwedt c annual dehcit, I'M
der the present tate OF tax to be 1863 320.36. By
recent statement made in this Office for the
Governor, the annual oefcit will be about $IIO,-
CO335. This reduction arises in great measure
from the rttrenchment legislation Of last winter.
The value o. all real and personal property in
the State is put down at $500 w, 346 &c. tax on
this sum, 81 cents, would tie, 1886 ,l64.O9; or
an increase Of 26V27.35 over and above what the
present rate Yields. The difference in this amount
aud $40 GO3.35. is S444, 57G.O0-a large sum, for
which the increase proposed by the ladies fails 10
provide. How can this be met answer In my
opinion it will take an increase Of twenty -fye
cents il lieu Of TEN 10 enable us to meet our obi
cations ~ FULL
1t is due to the Auditor to remark
that he is lavish in praise OF the zeal Of
the ladies, in this same letter adding
expressions of his regret that tie
disease is TOO deeply seated for Il Q
remedies they suggest" The patriotic
devotion which resolves those ladies 10
make sacrifices for State so war;
worn as Virginia, is worthy the. CHEST
admiration and we cheerlully accord
them all honor for it. This patriotism
is theirs. The statements of sO-called
facts are assuredly Of masculine making.
Accompanying the circular and
petition is also another latter asking
and urging personal aid. This letter,
VImong other things, says the religious
papers "have distributed 5000 of these
p.thions for us. They have also been
sent to all the Episcopal clergy, pro-
prietors Of watering places, banks and
p0St-Oilices."
Now, in view Of what the Auditor
slys, we wonder if these same religious
papers and clergy will continue to dis
tribute. These women have been duped
to dupe the religious press and pulpit
into doing what INSCRIPTIONS men have
been engaged in for some years past,
70 VII: persistenty misrepresenting the
debt OF the State, the manner of its
funding, and the resources for its
payment.
Says the Auditor in his letter on the
subject; You will observe that my
statement refers only to current annual
expenses and interest, aud takes no
note OF arrearages of any kind" And
further on that the statement does net
Include either tie literary or siukir q
fund debit which, if taken into Il c
count, would make the annual dfcit
o-cr one million dollars.
Is this not quite enough to call the
religious press and clergy to halt in
Their distribution Of political circulars
If not, we would call aitention to one
more statement: that putting our in
c'easng annual productions at so, 000,-
600; when the fact IS that these have
gradually declined till they are now less
than $4,000. 00O,as shown by statistical
plpers and conceded by that intelligent
Vrdnian. Maj. John w. Daniel, in his
justly celebrated Lynehburg speech.
Before the religious press and clergy
undertake to disseminate political
documents and to lecture on State
honor, they should be certain that only
the exact Truth is promulgated. Other
wise more dishOnOr might be reflected
upon the State than could be her portion
from a failure to pay cur debts. Vir
gnia now has some "Chureh and State"
history which her sons and daughters
would be more than glad 10 blot out.
But, at least, we can hope TO see the
tables reversed. Then it was that
Christian men were imprisoned for
preaching the Gospel contrary to law"
In distributing incorrect political state
ments, it may be for preaching the law
contrary to the Gospel.
The Winchester Times says we mis-
construed ife ort;clp aod pnfcrc into