Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-11-13
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Substance Of a Journal said to be 7yritfe,s 5v
2sdveL'er, z,ao had p5;ted almost oil tie
countries ora ncha5ita5ic G!o6e.
(coHTiEUKD.)
bU L, said !, did not tax on exports s
imports Under your former government,
render any direct tax unnecessary or al
least very light! Underline absolute mo-
narcliy replied he, our country was sell
dom subject TIC direct tax an heavy du-
ty on imports and exports, added to high
tonnage duty, and an excise on spirits dis
Tiled amongst US, and on wine, cyder and
beer, rendered any other tax unnecessa-
ry; but these duties, took from the peo.
pie, twice as much as thsir voracious syo-
vernment had a call for; and yet they did
mol perceive how much they were in fael
paying TO It, and therefore, never once en-.
CURED how the public money was applied
nor did they ever calculate how much
their merchants extortcd from them ON
account, as they said of the hieh dnl;es
which they had 20 pay for the people.
FOR instance, salt, necessary of life, paid
duty or two hundred per cent. on its
hrst cost on the whole Of which, that ia
cost and duty, the merchants laid one hun
Cred per cent. at least, in all their sales
OF that article. In proportion as our
government became frecr, taxes ON inn
ports, exports and tonnage, and excuses
we're disused, and direct taxes were sub.
s,ituted in the place of them. The PEG.
pie soon found, that they not only saved
large sums OF money, but discovered that
they were become independent, of The
merchants, ard always had some money
IN their own hands after paying their tax.
es' instead Of borrowing ofthe merchants,
who alone had any money, under The for
mer system OF fnance. The peonle.
moreover, becoming more inouisitiye. re.
| speeding the collection CT the taxes. and
the application OF them, more F;de,i,v II
the former, and economy in the lai,ar
were the immediate consequences. Corn.
merce too, Hourishsd more; the fair deal.
er had no competitors who smugpied in
.he merchandise, and could therefore nm
derseli them. The morals of our n.onle
100, were no longer exposed To The hor.
llu examples of fraud aad perjury daily.
eShin'ed TO their view. But when the
spirit ot dissipation, extrayagance, and
'heir parent, pride, had given place to tenn
perance' frngality, charity and humility.
merchants, like birds of passage, Quilted
cur country, and by the industry of onr
people, we have been furnished with all
lhe real comforts and necessaries of JIG.
wilnin our ovn country our honest and
la'r eScha5e OF one commodity for apo-
'hes, supplies US IMPLY with what we
wants We aim not at an exchange with
foreigners, lest we receive their follies
and vices with their merchandise. Not.
understanding we have no vent for the s,,r-
plua o. our labor onour farms, and in our
,nahutactofies, we find no incovenience
from It: but on the contrary, we have the
heartfelt satisfaction, to find that every.
chizen or inhabtant of The country, is a.
onndantly supplied with food, rai,nent and
lodging; and every useful animal well
ied and we'll provided for. We are now
IN no danger of a famine, from an evces.
sive expectation of corn and other grain.
as We frequently were, in the times ofeor'
rishing commerce, under our tyran,s.
VINO, indeed, with their idle attendants
deVoured enough to produce q famine eve,
year. And as there is less occasion
ior filling our lands for HE production of
gram, we are more at leisure to improve
our pastures and meadows, our gardens
ana houses; to build bridges, repair The
roads, and to visit and comfort the sick
10 attend the public lectures, and 70 min
sie often with the people in social con.
verse, improving them in wisdom and v;r.
tue' lhe poorest amongst us has sur.
hciency, and must have leisure 10 scon;rt
great skill in any art or trade, to WHICH bic
genus may be adapted; & knowing that ro
one OF them can degrade him, he cheerful.
" undertakes that, in which he thinks he
can make the greatest proficiency. When.
ever 1t shall please God TO open the eyes
oil other nations, and bring them 10 rjebI
knowiedge OF his Holy Gospel, we sbaIl
DC happy to have lraternai intercourse
WIZ them and then may venture 10 ev.
cange our opportunities for theirs. w;fbon,
endangering acorruption of our moraIs
And trust, that some revoiu,ions ,ybich
nave happened in the world, and parlieu.
larry The happy effects of those WHICH we
have experienced here, will soon pave The
way 70 That great and desirable eyeof.
"hen all nations shall acknowledge he
truth and excellence of that beayenlv dor.
trine' which has brought peace and GOOD.
VIII AMONGST men. aud s.,,,.f.. a.