The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-01-28

\ lAS 1 VIRGINIA, and
i. % 1#R8. illustrates what
commodity tobacco was in the early
history of that State, as it is now of
the nation:
The people of Virginia were left
desperately poor at the end OF the
Revolutionary War. For about seven
years they paid few or no taxes into
the Treasury. The new Government
was forced to borrow money to main
tain its existence, and there were times
during the first years when there was
literally" not shilling in the Treas
ury," and in the year 1884 Mr.. JAG
quelin Amber, the Treasurer, reported
that there was not money enough in
his Office to supply him with fuel and
stationery.
The credit Of all the States but
lately freed from British rule was SO
low that even France, her recent friend
and ally, was unwilling to make
loans to individual States" When
the sherifs and their deputies, with
all the powers referred to above, went
out to collect the taxes levied upon
the property of those who, through
their representatives, had virtually
agreed to pay them, not a shilling
could be collected. After what has
been said about the high tone ofprivate
and public honor this seems paradox,
indeed. But 1t must be remembered
it was their inability to pay and not
their desire to deflaud the Government.
So universal was the want Of money
that out of about seventy-five counties
in the State we do not know Of a single
one that paid more than very small
part of Its taxes. 1t was not confined
to any one section. In Eastern Vir-
ginia, where it might be expected the
people, although exposed to the ravages
Of the enemy during the entire war,
would be better off than their brethren
of the West, there seemed to be the
greatest amount of suffering. In one
year forty-three sheriffs were reported
delinquent in the aggregate amount
of $50, 6,3S5.17. In another forty more
we're declared delinquent. Orders
had been sent out instructing the
sheriffs to make immediate levies upon
the property of the taxpayers. Still
no practical results had followed. AS
late as December, 1885; the sherlfs of
some of the best counties were praying
for reliet on account of their inability
to collect the taxes by reason of the
scarcity of money and poverty of the
people. Among these were Albermale,
Amelia, Brunswick, Campbell, Cumber
land, Chesterfield, Fauquier, Din
widdie, Gloucester, Goochland, Isle
Of Wight, James City, King George,
Lancaster. Louisa, Lunenburg, Nanse-
mond, Northampton. Northumberland,
Southampton, Westmoreland, Surry
and others. This list affords sufficient
evidence of what was the state Of the
country at this date. In every instance
| the cry came up that the trouble was
based upon the q scarcity of grain and
money" In one section of the State
the wheat crop had failed three years
in succession, and the tobacco crop
had been very small.
IN DANGER OF STARVATION.
In many parts of the south side Of
lanes River the inhabitants were in
starvation, and had no money to
buy food even if it could be found.
Even the great counties of Loudon,
and Fauquer became delinquent.
Strange 10 say the most valuable pro-
duct of that region was tobacco, the
former producing at that tlme-I785
and 17S7-more OF this staple than
the county of Halifax itself.
PETITIONS FOR RELIEF.
The petitions of the sheriffs for re-
lief were for suspension OF the execu-
| tons issued by the court against them
and their bondsmen, tor the amount
due the State according to the assess
! ments made, but not collected. When
the authorities demanded to know why
they had not levied upon the property
of the people and oblige them to pay
their taxes, the reply was that they
had performed that disagreeable duty
to the utmost Of their ability. In
verihcation Of this they produced an
endless number of affidavits made
under oath and IN the presence
| Of most c:editable witnesses. These
sworn statements were in every case
to the effect that they could not sell
proper,y-hrst, because there was no
money in the country, and secondly,
that people would not bid for the
goods and chattles OF their nelghbors
when thus offered for sale. SO great
was the public need for financial re-
sources of some sort that the State
was forced TO allow the payment Of a
certain portion OF the taxes IN COM
mutable articles In the cases where
sales had been effected the articles
sold rarely brought more than one
tenth Of their value, and on one occa
sion "young negro only eighteen