Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-12-16
Slavery IN WEST VIRGINIA.

SLAVERY IN WEST VIRGINIA.
West Virginia is splendid State. Ev-
cry day sees her mineral wealth developed,
her grand old forests cleared away rail
roads spanning her rivers and winding u
and out through her mountains. MID
lions Of dollars are being invested in her
resources, and she Is proudly forging
ahead Of her sister states. III wealth, pros
perty and development q this, we all
feel proud. Yet here ID our little mount
ain State we have miniature system Of
h imam slavery, and is naaacIes clank on
the wrists 81 the deserving poor. You
say, "That Is strange you are nistak-
en." No, nor bit Of it. We rcquiie
men to work without jast compensation.
We aiIude TO our system Of free labor on
public roads. The law goes into the poor
mans house. 1t sees his empty harder,
his barefoot children, bis sparce furniture,
his bare walls and floors. Itsniiles IN its
majesty. 1t assesses him with road tax,
head tax, a building and school tax, and
district tax. Ii makes all these a lien
on his property, and il his taxes arc not
paid, out he goes into the cold, with star
yationlookng him il the face. For taxes
are sure as death. Not satisfied, then.
with taking these taxes, the law goes still
farther. 1t says True it is, you pay a
road tax, though you own no horses or
wagons, to keep up the roads, but il is
not enough. Here, you fellow under the
age Of fifty years. get your pick a d show
Ell, and be at a certain place, on certain
day, to work for two days on certain
road. II you don't do that, pay SIPS per
day Communication tax. II you do neither,
then you shall be handed over to the con-
stable, and your goods levied on and
sold" Nice justice, that Such law
is disgrace to any state, it is relic OF
by-gone DAYS, and should be abolished
Let the roads be kept up by road tax,
every man paving his proportion thereof,
based on the assessed valuation Of his
property. Don't make paupers and slaves
of our men. There is no excuse for it,and
West Virgnians ought to blush with
shame to think Of such a system being IN
practice within their State.
But" SAYS someone, How can it be
avoided Z" Easy enough Vote for no
man for the legislature who VII not prom
ise to introduce a bill abollshing this law.
II you don't care 10 go that petition
the county court to adopt the alternate
road system, by which the county roads
shall be let out to the highest bidders.
Contractors should be requlred to execute
bond, sufficient in law to guarantee the
making of good roads by them Thus,
| free labor will be abolished, and taxes
will not be increased. Thousands Of dol
lars are expended year after year. in fill
ing up mud holes and ruts. This would
be saved by letting the roads out.by con-
tract. But, the greatest blessing would
be that, whereas, now the poor man is
forced to work for TWO days on the
roads for nothing, under the alternate
system he would be employed by the con-
tractors, and paid for his work. This
would be right and proper.
Let us have no more slaveryl'in West
Virginia. Away with free labor !. Give
every man justice, and compel no man to
labor for nothing. The present law is
disgrace to our statute books. Abolish
it!