The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-08
TO THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
REDEMPTION l. ANDS.

waiting influence, and every day the interefs Of
the fate and of many an unprotected individual
demand the application of an effeetual remedy.
Where then is the phylician, who fllal prefcribe
for the diiorder Where is the energy and TIE
wifdom, which fhall cicratize this cancerous ex-
crefcence upon the body polite; and which ifa
impart relief to many an unprotected individual
who is unable to relieve himfelf? The hiftory
of this political evil is known TO almoft every
. politician but its consequences have not been
frequently nor minutely unfoded. The follow
ing facts on this fubject, are therefore refpcet-
fully fibmitted to the public confdeYation-
On July l4th 1893, Congrefs pa1cd the &c aa
TO lay and collect a direct tax within the United
States" Byits Cd fe6tion, this tax was aleffed
upon dwelling houfes, lands and naves. In or
der to collect the tax, the collectors were en-
powered by its 9th fiction to diftrain upon &
fell the goods, chattels or effects of delin-
quent" perons; and in cafe "any tax ai1eGed
on lands or houfes fhould remain unpaid for the
term of one year," the collector was empower
cd, by the 18th fiction, to proceed with all due
formality to fell at public fale, "ether the
dwelling houle, or 70 much of the tra6f of land,
as might be necefary to fatisfy the taxes due
thereon, together with COTS and charges'-
There was this proviio, however, that the oqvn-
or of the faid lands or tenements, his heirs &C.
might redeem them within two years from the
time or fale, on paying TO the collector, for the
uie of the purchaier, the amount Of the faid
taxes, COTS and charges, with intereit thereon,
at the rate of l9 per cent per ahnum.-On
March 10th 1902, supplementary act was paf-
fed, that allowed to the proprietors of thofe
lands, which had not yet been fold, the further
time OF 6 months for the payment of the tax
and it empowers the collectors by IFS 2d fiction,
20 fell as much OF the lands as would be flfci-
ent to fatisfy the taxes, if they ihould not be
paid at that time. There is once more provi-
Il -, H. Gel Ca,Cl, tIeaa Al
ton fhould be allowed for two years, withn
which time the osvnrrs might redeem their land
by paying the amount of the tax, COTS and char
ges, with iutereif on them at the rate of 25 per
cent. per annum.-On March 9th 1904, a new
amendatory law was paGed, which extended the
right of redemption to any perfon, whether he
was the ozcner Of the land or not : at the fame
time it is progided, that fuch payments, by
pobomjoeq'er made, flnall always be confdered to
be made for the benefit of the ORIGINAL proprie-
tori
Such is the hiffory of the iaav, as it relates to
the fae and redemption ofthefe lands and now
let us attend to the hifory of the fact. Mott of
thefe lands were foldin December ] 500; and of
courfe the Right of Redemption will expire dur
ing the preient month. The fales having been
made at different periods in the month in the
different counties, the right of redemption will
confequentiy expire at different times. In fome
gone by: and in other counties, it will expire
in very few days. Many of the mott valuable
tracts which were fold, were bought up by mer-
cenary and greedy fpeculators, who fometmes
having the privilege OF credit with the collect
ors, and having fometimes fmall FUN of ready
money, were enabled to purchafe this condition
al right to very extcnfve and valuable difri6ts
of country. Although the afefment of the
lands was generally very low, and although the
tax which was laid upon them generally confi-
tuted no more than a fmall part of the amount
of the atleiinent, fill mott of thefe tracts were
fold at price, which was icarcely commenfu-
rate to the amount of the tax. ANY one can
therefore readily perceive the infinite fcope of
accumulation, which was offered to the credita-
bic monied fpeculator. This opportunity
was not readily relnquiihed, and all the coufe-
quences which might have been apprehended,
have been completely REALIZED. Gait your eye
over the pages of the Supervisors books, and
you will fee columns OF tracts of land allotted to
Jingle individual or to a company. II eDery
county where there was much land to be brought
under the hammer, and particularly in the wet
ern counties of the Fate, you will find thoufands
and tens of thoufands, and | might fay millions
OF acres purchafed by particular individuals
Nor is 1T in one county only, that they have
CLEANED this productive harveR. You will fee
their eager avarice overlapping the artificial con-
fines OF neighbouring counties, extending its
influence even to fequeftered di1ricts, and al.
mott every where, purchahng M for mere cy-
pher, the mott extenive dftricts of country.
IT'S true, they could purchafe no more than
conditional right: if the redemption money was
paid, all their title would become vacated. But
in many cafes, their hopes have not been dfap.
pointed, and their right is now becoming as alb
folute and effective as the faith Of the law can
make it.
Many of thefe tracts fill remain on the Su-
pervifor's books, unredeemed, and pa1ing eve
ry moment beyond the retributive power of the
law. The following fpecimens that have been
carelefsly feletted, may ferve to fhow the exor-
bitant value of the speculation TO take down
the whole number, that is regiaered on the tax
book, would occupy too many of the columns
of this paper.
In Haujcn County 10000 acres on the waters Of the
Little and Big Ksnawha, fold for dolls. II cts.
Goth or 2la Dec. 1902.
10000 acres on Hughes River aud Long Run, fold
for dolls. 10 95 cts
In Raadoibb DO. 1000 acres on Cheat River fold for
dolls. 2 IS cts. on Dec. 25th, 29th, & 3Oth, ] 500
$4,000 on Valley K. for dols. Is as cts
In Kara-cba dc. 99995 acres the forks Of Big San
dy River, fold for dolls SO cts. on Dec. 18th
1902.
10000 acres w fide Of Cole River at dolls. 2 % cts
Thefe counties too are faid to be the true pat
toral fceues of VIRGINIA The rich prafs which