The recorder, or, Lady's and gentleman's miscellany. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1801-1802, 1802-05-05

aggravation. In" aggraVation IS inns
The law Of 1896 aforementioned, did
not operate on merchants only. Clerks
were taxed with ieverity, without ex-
-; annie even IN that country where every
ipecies of capital or revenue Is burthen.-
| ed with taxes of every poi'ible deicrip>
tioain that country, where, 60 ute the Ian
guage of A. Young, taxation of every
! kind is carried to height crtiel, ihane-
ful and tyrannical Lawyers phyG-
clan, furseons and apothecafies, we're
alto conprehcnded in the law. The
oppreaion was too great, and felt by TOD
many 20 be borne III liience The op-
petition, which Immediately arofe, pro-
duccd ErtGs partial and then an entire
repeal of the law. The merchants had
the benefit of this repeal, as well as the
other claiTcs of individuals who had
complained. The Legislature, then,
made no determination, but difcrimi-
natien is now made; and after a. lapft
Of ieven years, tax odious, becaule un-
jua, is rendered fill more odious by an
arbitrary and partial application Of it.
That it is arbitrary, that it is partial,
cannot be doubted. Why, in a free
country, fhouid any ore clais of men
be feletted as obiesas Of taxation from
other ciaiTes Of men. who ifand, and who
by rae laws Of 1886. and 1890, are &C
knowiedged to ftaad, OH the fame foot
ing During the late difcuGions, CON
Corning a convention, che government
Of Virginia has been frequently cal
led an honef government. A change
is not neceHary, it was faid, becauie
equa, lritice is done to all men. That
the government is boneft, that is to fay,
thar jufice is mani to be done to all,
is mott readily admitted; and it is pre-
ciiely or this ground thar the govern.
ment is now addreGed, and called on, to
rc6tlFy al error as TO the Contribution,
and TO remove a grievance in its iyftenl
OF taxation; an error and grievance
whichit is confidently believed, would
not have been continued, if ferrous in
Vettigatlon offhis fubIeGt had ever taken
place.
In oppoling the determination be-
tween merchants and other claiIes Of
individuals, who fand on the falne foot
ing Or in other words, who pofe fsan in
CONES which is not derived from the Vi
i1bis and xablePEoperty, it will be rea-
Oily undertook shat the object is to
procure for the former, thar eYenDtiop
which is allowed to the latter and not To
lnPoie on the latter, thar burthen, which
Is borne by the former, but from which
ali thould be free. The Gabclle or {aIt
tax under tic Old government of France
was worte than the tax Of orc tenth i'm
Pofed on lawyers by rhe SCI of 1885
becatlle its miich!efs were felt by nj Hi
ons but 1t was worfe for thar staloD
only. It was icarceiy more arbitrary
IN principle, or more oppreGive in effect.
While the law Of 1876 operated in full
force On the young and indigent candi-
date for Profeillonal reputation, who iofa
one ePtEre renrh Of the small tribute,
that had been paid, to his yet doubtful
merit, the wealthy and etabl;hed prac-
tltioner, received the ample rewards of
his integrity and talents, il q wa9 which
the law did 'nce, could nos, and never
can effect.
There IS another confederation on this
point, which viii NOT be thought uninl-
portanf by tbofe to whom it is fnggeftcd.
F" Taxes Of this kind" iays Smith,
+" when the fame upon alls favor tie
great, and location fome opteGion to
" the irnall dealer" Although the mo-
nley advanccdis finally repaid by the con-
tuner, YET the Inconvenience of parting
with the amount Of the tax, and the di-
ffirulry Of c,etstrc, a. l., ~ c Il.