Year: 1867

For the Spectator


MEssRs. EDIToRs-Whilst we are watching
the movements Of the Radical Congress- would
it not be well to look a little at home in these
days of trial and af1lctlon? What is the condl-
ton of things?


Are we exercising towards one another a..splr-
it of kindness, forbearance, charity, sympathy
and benevolence? Is not the very reverse the
truth? We seem to have entered into sort Of
race of devil take the hindmost; so that swim,
don't care who Sinks 1t is all right enough
that people should honestly and fairly work to
repair their injured fortunes and improve their
condition, but at the same time they should take
care of the rights and feelings Of their neigh
bors Perhaps all this is somewhat brought
about by what we call hard times. This leads
us to inquire, what has brought about hard
times?


The first that I will mention u.s. our taxes are
heavy. 1t requires great deal to pay them.
This is necessary evil. Secondly, our pride.
We are too fond of dress and show. We have
not, as we should have done, withstood the
temptation put before US after our DOWNFALL
Our women, mighty good if kept within proper
bounds, have been fruitful in bringing about pc
cuniary troubles We have exhausted our mo-
ney, what we had, and run on credit upon the
merchant, Notwithstanding his pasteboard writ
ten thereon, positively no credit" in large
letters


The next that I will mention is, after the
break down, there came into existence, as if by
magic, two institutions in our town with all the
paraphernalia of banks. Whether these insti-
tutions rest upon credit, money or the represen-
tative of money, we shall not stop to enquire
Perhaps the remains of the defunct Confederacy
was made to help up in some way They spread
themselves out and have had many poor fel-
low dancing attendance upon them, holding
themselves out as great blessings to the commu-
nifty. Vegetables passed round freely Some
were so fortunate fortunate, did | say?-un-
fortunate as to get their notes through renew
ais and curtails came, no notices being given Of
the time of maturity. Neglect and overlooking
them comes protests, then comes a meeting of
the Directors; they gravely and formally refer
all protesed paper toa committee to select such
as must be sued upon, then comes from the
Valley National, or National Valley, [ dom t
now recollect, some IA or Is suits in one day in
one of the courts-pretty we'll for one day
Why all this?


Some are shrewdly guessing that we have in
service, in Richmond, body of men called the
Legislature Of Virginia, who are hammering
away at the repeal of the usury laws-the wires
being pulled in certain quarters to have it done,
and our banking gentry are getting ready for
that great event in Virginia, call in the money,
get rld OF all SIX per cent. paper, then come In
with your Vegetables, then we can select from
the highest premiums and best endorsed paper.
Who doubts our religion or responsibility,
since the taking of all we can get has been le-
galized?


What is the Legislature doing, Messrs. Edi-
tors? In my judgment they are expressing
themselves to the imputation of holding on for
the sake of the per diem, gobbling up the hard
earnings of the people, and playing into the
hands of the favored few, booted and spurred,
ready to ride legitimately by their action


In conclusion, Messrs Editors, let me here,
as one over whose head good many years have
passed, who has had his fingers burnt once at
six per cent, caution all against debt, especially
against putting their hands to negotiable paper.
The devil is under it. OBSERVER.