The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-11
EXTRACT FROM A LITTER TO A MEM.
BER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY -
FROM FRANKLIN


From the report of the committee of finance
1t appears that the expences eff the current year
will exceed the revenue by the fun of ss,oes
dollars; although in the climate of the latter,
credit is given for $4,000 dollars expected to be
derived from the arrearages of taxes to the frff
day OF October aft In cpnfequence of this de-
hciency the committee have recommended that
the taxes fhould be raifed IL l9 per cent.
II tins augmentation be EcEssAsY, it would
be folly, difgraccful to the country, & injurious
20 individuals, to pofpone for one feffon the
adoption OF the meature recommended by the
committee but lift be not NE cEssAgY; ifthe
revenue now RATED be adequate to the difcharsc
otallthe proper expences of government, the
members of the committee as well as of the le-
gilature will be unanimous in fIying, that the
propofed augmentation ought not to take eff
feet.
But if is faet, that our revenue is not COM
neninraie to our expences. This evil can he
relnedicd in one Of two wayS only either by in
creating the revenue or by dimrifling our ex
pendture. The firm plan is the mot obvious
and the mott eahly effected ; but the latter is
that, which, if brober and pra7ica5kc, ought to
be preferred; and by the legislature of Virginia
will unquehionably be preferred.
In advocating the Reduction of our expenfe,
beg you to believe, that am not friend to
that iyitem of economy, if 1t sieferves that
ieuC, HI1Gu LaS 10 OIlen maze IT'S appearance
within the hall of the leginature fvNem
which operates on fabrics only, wilict, expends
1000 dollars in an attempt to fave 100 dollars,
and which is calculated TO keep the officers of
the government in Rate Of connant fo!icitude
and dependence. No: am the friend and adj
vocate OF that fyfrm of economy, the BATS OF
which is the following principle sc That the
items OF expenditure ihonld be as few as the
:" affairs of the government will poiiibly per-
"mit; but the quantum of expenditure under
" each item, fhould be preciiely fuch, as TO fe-
SECURE the beft talents ttat are required and
can be procured, in the condu9 of thofe af-
$ taIrs IN every department, and no more"
This IS fYftem of economy under the influ-
ence Of which the government will be refBe6ta-
BILE and people happy.
In tbeeitimate Of the expences for the year
ending the IN O9ober 1905, there are two
items which track my attention. The firn is
Sc Criminal charges, including the expences of
g guard, $500 dollars" The fccond is " Re-
+" moving priioners to the penitentiary, and their
confinement therein, 1850 dollars =" ma
King in the whole the fun of 81 $50 dollars, an
nualiy paid by the honeit and indufrious porti-
on ofthe community and for what purpoGe is
this enormous annuity paid To fecure the
per'ons, 20 profecute the Offences, and to reform
ttttite morals thirty forty teionsi The
whole Of this laf item OF expence ought to be
TEN ought to he entirely ab0lilhed. Upon
this opinion however it is unucceGary to di-
late. There are few who do not admit that
the projet Of reforming criminals is entirely
chmerical. Experience here, ard | believe e.
very where elf, has determined the ouefion
H faS shat can be more vifionary, than the
hope Of reforming convicted fclon, by exclu-
ding him trop ali intercourfe with honeR men,
and condcmning him for years TO the focietv Of
.; 4 81. rig a.:
al obje6t Of a profecution is punifhment, the
fear of which may deter the offender from
repetition Of his crime, and prevent Others from
following his example. This object ought 10
be, and may be attained, without the aid of the
Peniten,iary AZ place of imprisonment
IL il is aGed what is to become of Building
juft completcdperhaDs atthe cxpence Oft sc, 900
tols. ? II mutt De obierved that the anfwer 10
this auction, whatever il may be, does NOT aE
fe6t the petition that mas been advanced. No
man will contend that we ought 70 psrfeyere in
an erroneous and expen6ye fyftem, merely be-
cauft in the promotion of that fytem we have
laid out large fun of money in building
magnificent sdifce. But the queition may be
very Satisfactorily anfwered. TIE Penitentiary
houfe niould be converted into college as f1on
as the felons now IN confinement are difpord
OF; s. when our debts are paid, the profg1orih;D
ftoud be endowed with fun equal to one half,
al ran Or ne ltetU u1OeF.COuit6TdtIOn. nus
the Legislature OF Virginia, might refcuc the
Rate from the ftigma which has been brought
UPON il by us uniform refufal to give one cent
FOR thc promotion OF literature. Our Young
meE, without being obliged 20 feek at A great
annual e<Jerce in another fate that education
witch th-ir parent Rate deties, nigat b- brouph,
~, u.rlcr oar own eyes. without irIbibingthofe
preiudices sSaini. the politics and manners Of
their ft.ow-citjz"i T. cfteN acquired in dif-
tznt co.'s.r. Surely TIE Legislature u Virgil
MA after naeing eXpcnAed 10000 dolls. . yearin
the very benevolent, bu: aburtiye effort 70 effect
the reformation Of few fei0ns, viii not rcf,ife
to give a portion Of that fun 70 promote the e.
ducation Of all the youth Of their cOuniry.--
is il not Affecting to obiefye t'sat our annual
expenditure,o on account Of feiors is nearly equal
to one fifth part of the Whole reverac OF the
commonwealth, derived from the tax on lots,
lands and Jther Probsrf/: white our chief ma
citrate is condemned to live, N 4 raif-4a5'e e
u,ic-, open 90 wind and rain; while OUT Judges
are hardiy allowed enough 20 provide for ia
DHy tiie planet food and raiment, much lef.
enough 20 educate one ion at public ichoO.
aud while every proportion in favor Of colleges
aud literature is repeIled with Gothic dndain
Il snlit not be- to,g often however, thar this
item OF public expenditure, ufelelS as it is, eau
noi be immediately on totally fnppreilrd. The