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 Regarding formation of a new county; effectiveness of internal improvements taxation.

  • » Date: 1838-02-04
  • » Subject: Regarding formation of a new county; effectiveness of internal improvements taxation.
  • » Written By: Andrew Fulton
  • » Addressed To: Major James Turk Gleaves Sr
  • » Transcriber: Davy Davis
  • » File # 877

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Wythe CH VA
Feb 4

18 1/4

Maj. James T. Gleaves
House of Delegates
Richmond
Va


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Wythe Courthouse 4th February 1838

Dear Sir
I have seen in the report of the proceedings of the Legislature that a petition has lately been presented for the formation of a new county out of parts of Montgomery & Wythe. I was aware that a petition had been circulated last year with a view to obtain subscribors for that purpose, but had been informed that the idea was abandoned, and did not expect any petition would be offered upon that subject. I have had some conversation with some of the citizens of this place this morning and we intend getting up a counter petition and forward it to you, tomorrow week is our court day and the petition will be forwarded immediately after court. If you can have the action of the house upon the subject deferred until the counter petition can arrive, you will confer a favor on a portion of your constituents.

I hope the Legislature will carry out the scheme of internal improvement which has been recommended by the committee in their


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report upon that subject. I think it is the true policy for Virginia to adopt. The old system has in my opinion been tried long enough, to convince every one who has reflected upon that subject, of its inefficiency, other States upon a similar plan to that recommended by the committee have far surpassed Virginia in internal improvement, and are now receiving a handsome revenue, the effect of which will be ere long to relieve the people from taxation, with the evidence then of this fact, and of the further fact that the policy heretofore adopted and acted upon had tended rather to retard than to advance the general interests of the state, would it not be better, should it ever become necessary to increase the taxes for a while, to adopt a plan which, if carried out in the proper spirit, will certainly attain the desired object & after a while relieve the people from taxation almost entirely, than to pursue a plan from which no general good is likely to result either in lessening taxes, or in improving the roads of our country. The local interests of the state are so various and conflicting, that we are, I think, never likely to effect any measure which has for its object


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the general improvement of the country by means of Joint Stock companies.  The repeated failures heretofore witnessed by us sufficiently proves this fact – but if the state will undertake the main line of improvement, it must succeed, and when this is effected, the minor interests will force other improvements to intersect with it.  The people will then make outlets from the main line

Samuel Crockett of the Cove has been very severely afflicted with rheumatism this winter.  He is [   ]thing better at this time.  I believe the [rest of] your friends are well.  We have had the last three days extremely cold weather with a good deal of snow.  No other news of importance.  I should be glad to hear from you.

Very respectfully
Your obt. svt. (obedient servant)
And  S. Fulton

Transcriber Notes

From Wikipedia:
Andrew Steele Fulton (September 29, 1800 – November 22, 1884) was a nineteenth century congressman, lawyer and judge from Virginia. He was the brother of John H. Fulton.  Born in Waynesboro, Virginia, Fulton attended common schools as a child and went on to attend Hampden-Sydney College. He studied law in Staunton, Virginia and was admitted to the bar in 1825, commencing practice in Abingdon, Virginia in 1826. He moved to Wytheville, Virginia in 1828 and became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1840 and 1845. Fulton became prosecuting attorney of Wythe County, Virginia and was elected a Whig to the United States House of Representatives in 1846, serving from 1847 to 1849. Their, he was chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions from 1847 to 1849. He was not a candidate for reelection and instead continued to practice law. He served as judge of the fifteenth judicial circuit of Virginia from 1852 to 1869. Fulton died on November 22, 1884 near Austinville, Virginia and was interned in the family cemetery by New River near Austinville.

Samuel Crockett of the Cove mentioned in the letter is the father of Malvina Crockett Gleaves and James’ father-in-law.  The Cove is Crockett’s Cove in northeast Wythe County.

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