Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-02-17
TILLERs OF THE SOIL.
SPEECH OF Coz, ROBERT BEVERLY
PRESIDENT OF THE Asso-
CITATION.


At the annual meeting of the
Farmers Assembly OF Virginia held
on January II, in the hall of the
House Of Delegates, Colonel Bever.
ly said:
"Gentlemen Of tho Farmers AS
sembly-I nm gratiticd to be able
to say to you that we meet to day
under somewhat improved auspices,
compared with the circumstances
under which our last meeting was
held.
"The great nightmare of our
State, the public debt, as u politi-
cal question, seems to be at length
dlspelled. Mainly by the patriot.
ism of the ever conservative ngri
cultural masses exhibited in their
refusal to pay taxes in coupons, the
Riddleberger settlement seems to
bc bronsht within the control of the
State. The autonomy OF the State
IS preserved, and'it is decreed that
the sovereignty OF Virginia is above
the might of a petty Federal judge;
for to this the question had con,c.
The Legislature here in session is
composed Of IL majority of farmers,
and all of its members were made
mindful. of the farmers interests
the greatest Of all-in the last cleo.
tion campaign. L think beyond
doubt this Legislature is ready to
listen respectfully to II respectful
and proper presentation of the
claims of legislation recommended
by this body. Make your demands
moderate and just and support
them with unflinching vigor, and
there is no reason to doubt they
will be respected.
THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY
II don't leave Federal questions
out Of view, nor depreciate their
Importance, but your immediate in-
tcrest in State questions is for he
time being paramount. First of
all allow me to say that agricul.
ture, so largely predominant over
all other State industries, has been
by both the great parties, in all the
past, sub0rdinated to merely politi
cal considerations, now in it's de.
pressed condition needs and de-
mands the first considerations OF
the Legislature.
THE TAX ON TOBACCO AND FRUIr
DRANDY.
sIn furtherance of these views,
the General Assembly made prompt
reply to the recommendations of
the recent Executive message by
demanding of our delegation in
Congress that they devote their
powers and influence to the repeal
of the Federal tax on tobacco and
fruit spirits. think we should cor
daily, heartily and unanimously
second that demand These taxes
are superannuated war measures,
originally justified as such by the
plea of necessity. 1t cannot now
be pretended that they are justi-
fed hy the needs of an overburtlen-
ed Treasury, nor by the demands
of the public creditors, whose obi
cations have not only been fully
met, but very largely anticipated.
Why should we, who planted these
orchards thirty years ago: be de.
MED the benefit Of their fruits Is
the taxing power of the government
OH any preteXt to be used to i'm
prove the morals of the people {?
The alcohol for medical and scien.
tific use should unqueslionably be
free, and it may all be supplied
from this source. Wo know that
upon 10 State in the Union do the
taxes on tobacco and alcohol in the
form of fruit spirits bear so heavily
as upon our own dear old Virginia,
whom, in spite of every fault, each
of us, I am sure, loves with pa.
triot's deepest devotion.
WEATHER SIGNAL SERVICE.
"Again, why; Why, 1 ask, can ag-
riculture not obtain the benefits SO
invaluable of the weather forecasts