Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-12-17

x
ducing its expenditures in every depart
ment, 5000, 200 might be saved second,
by leasing out the penitentiary at least
$61 900 might be saved, even if we got
nothing for it, as it is now charge to
the State of $61, 900, and in Tennessee
and Kentucky the lessee pays to the
State bonus of from $50, 600 to $40, 900
per annum third, by turning over the
criminal charges of the State to the sev-
eral counties would save, according to
the Auditors report $152 ,979 OF, and the
laws would be better and more econOmi-
cally administered where each county
had to pay its own charges, and in nay
humble judgment the county levies
would not be increased one dime, for the
county supervisors and judges would
come in immediate contact with the
people, and-would be required to econo-
mize in other respects to meet this addi-
tional charge, and let me here say that
the county taxes are the great burden
we are now suffering under. Before the
war the county taxes were at farthest
twenty-five per cent. of the State tax
Now they are nearly, and in some eases
fully, as much as the State tax, so that,
while the State tax has been increased
from forty to fifty cents on the 500. the
county levies have been increased from
ten to fifty cents on the 500 worth of
property.
The above savings would amount to
the sum, in round numbers, of $i15, 900.
Then, I believe, we might, by levying
stamp-tax (which would not touch the
laboring classes increase our revenues
500, 600, and by the efaithfulexocution of
the Moffett punch liquor law increase it
$500, 900, making S415,0O0 savings and
$500, 900 increase-a total of Sis, ,G00-tO
our assets, which, 1 believe, would be
nearly enough to meet our liabilities. But
suppose small increase ofour State tax
say twenty cents on the $1J0-is re-
quired, is there man of the first class
referred to who would not willingly bear
|it-yes, the double of it-rather than
have his State further dishonored? For
one, in sympathy with them, I can't
believe it. To the second class I would
say, take dispassionate review of the
condition of the people when the war
ended. and when this tax of so cents on
the 800 was levied, in the year 1870, and
when tor five years they paid it cheer
fully; look at their condition during
those four long years of war and the
enormous sacrifices they all made then
of blood and treasure to preserve their
honor, and your condition for the six
years succeeding the war, and look at
your condition now, and say honestly
if you are not in better condition now
to pay 20 cents on the 800 than you
were then to pay so cents If there is a
farm in the Southwest, the Valley, Pied
mont, and Tide water Virginia north of
the James river-all of which am very
familiar with ct am not familiar with
the Southsjde)-that has not on it to-day
more personality of household goods,
farming implements, aud especially, in
live stock of cattle, horses, and sheep
than was there at the time this tax was
levied, and willingly paid, don't know
where it is. Take the Valley, for in
stance, from which comes the greatest
howl Of reputation. When the war
closed there was scarcely fence to dis
tinguished AS property from BIS; now,
every foot of land in that splendid coun-
try is all beautifully fenced up. There
was only now and then an old lame,
broken down horse to plough their most
fertile lands now they are overstocked
with that most expensive animal. Their
most industrious, self-saorilicing, honest
women had scarcely a COW to- milk /;
now, they are burdened with the cows
and the butter they produce. Scarcely
hog to grunt and sheep to bleat, or a
cock to crow; now, they are overrun
with them all. (No one as familiar with
the Valley of Virginia as am will deny
this picture) And yet amder the teach
ings Of denaagOgues, they honestly think
they can't bear increased taxation, or
even pay the present tax, to preserve
their honor, for which no people on this
earth ever fought more bravely or made
greater sacrifices. Their heroism and
self-sacrifice during the war, and recov-
cry since, is equalled by what we read
of in the late Franco Russian war aud
the present condition of France, save
that France has paid her enormous debt
to the cOnqueror, every farthing, and
now has the highest credit of any ma.
ton on earth ; while we are hesitating
l-yes. refusing-to pay our honest debts
TO our creditors, in many, many in
stances, to our own widows and orphans
and fear have well-nigh lost all claims
to honesty, for which Virginia was once
the proudest type on earth. And why
Because we are taught to believe by poll
ticians-I won't say demagogues-that
we are not able to bear Increased turo
ton. Is there an honest man or woman
in the section above referred to who ha!
,OOO worth of property, and who now
pays tax to the State of SIS, who will
say they can't pay 81 more to preseTv,
their credit? The condition Of South.
west Virginia and the Piedmont section
Is equally as good as the Valley, particu
iar.y the Southwest, which has had mil
lions OF this debt expended to make thei
great artery OF commerce, the Virgini.
and Tennessee railroad, and vet the,
are equally boisterous for repudiation
while their property has largely increas
ed since the war. 1t does not look as i
mansy, or property. is coarupting, 70
Underwater and Southside Virginia
which are the poorest parts of the State
bear their burden with the least cor,
plant. But I have largely digresset
from my argument to this second class
"Can they bear increased taxation ?'
2 say they can. If you can pay the pre-
} sent tax you can with increased econom
! bear twenty cents more on the one hun
dred dollars next year, and not bear one
} tenth the pEivations that you bore dur
ing the war and for Ave or six years al
ter. | am farmer and nothing else
} and firmly believe we are now scrapin
f bottom an prices. Since 1843 (I was
farmer then, too,) we have had no sucl
! low prices as now. Our products Gi
not then stay down long at thess price!
They are now below the cost OF produc
J ton, and predict rise in agriculture
{ products Of every description-meai
bread, and tobacco-from shis time fol
o ward. Yes, I believe, with an hone.
: ana economical administration of th
9 state Government, we are about entel
: Ing the ascending scals-the road
prosperity. AL We wants little mol