The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-28

AmchiAOc only tncnl, EcAShe0 81
leis power than any executive in the world he
would fuPpoic that the governor and council Of the
tate, were not only Independent of the Legislature.
but had attributes nearly equal thofs Of king of
Great Britain. He would aln,oa expea to Zee the
aiadem fparkbng the brow of the chief naginrasc
and the imperial purple flowing in his train. There
Is no fn,larity between the government Of the Unit
ed States aud that Of Virginia, in the fpeess of their
taxes, the mode Of paying them into the sreafnry
the arrangement and management of them after they
are received. The Legislature of Virginia like Lord
North, always defeated in their moh fan
gums expectations: The coDgreis of the federal
government make urae Gale ulstions and their with
es are therefore realized. In fine, the government of
the United States have the albeit fnancer in the
world at the head Of their eal department; and no
patton exhibits fuch complete fyilem Of finance:
On the other hand, by no government on the earth
Is more ignorance diiplayed this n,olt important
fubeet, than by chat Of Virginia.
The other afpeet which the argument concerning
the period at which the taxes of this commonwealth
are pad) aumes is: that if the revenue were receiv.
ed atan earlier period of the year. the evil complain
ed OIL would NOT exit Certainly, by bringing back
the time of payment into the treafury by the fhers
great convenience would realt; but this would be in
eject the fame railing the taxes, TO which the L.
giilature feemsd decidedly oppofed. Throughout
the Rate Except in the ntauce of the merchants tax
in large towns) the tim. of collecting the taxes will
be always fixed by the time Of paying them into the
public Golfers, by the fherfs. While Qor exampe)
the taxes are payable into the treaury on the fra Of
October, the great hulk of them will be collected in
July, Augut and September of each year Il paya-
Die into the treafary the In of July, they will be
collected from the people in April, May and June.
hat isS the people would pay them three months
iooner than they now do, or would pay two taxes in
nine months Extend the principle, and let the taxes
De made payable into the treafury, during four years.
three months fooner each fuecesdng than they were
the preceding year, and certainly the people would
pay their taxes once in nine months or would pay.
hive taxes in four years. This, however, the learned
naaneiers OF Virginia fay, would be no ncreaie of
taxes though it is fair addition of 25 per cent Per-
haps this would be the moa eligible mode, that could
be adopted to augment the refources of the Gate as it
would be regaining, what has been LOTT. From time
to time setween the years so, and SO, indulgence
was granted TO the collectors of revenue in this Rate.
ana thereby years revenue completely loft
But why do iuggeff any idea about the methsd of
railing the taxes, when the Legislature announces to
their conttuents and the world that we have fur
plus OF reiouroes 70 the amount of 80 thouiand dol
arsi
The lat argument employed by thof. perfons who
contend that the revenue of the fate mould no, be
augmented, is drawn from the expence ATTENDING ,be
penitentiary fyRem, and the mandatory of arps II
laid that until the dfburfemen,s on accoun, of tbo.
nititutions are eiieHed done away by aboliihiny
one and telling the other perhaps the United States
VIII be improper to increale the taxes on the peop.
Some iniinuations have alto been made that too much
Partiaty hasbeen evinced,o Richmond by co,centrat-
ing mot OF our improvements that place to the ex-
eiuhon OF other parts of the hate
hallnotunder defence the pen;ten,arv rvr
tenn but handfome elucidati
MOI ITS principles from the aff communication TO the
Gen. Aiembly by that virtuous & enlightened fat.C
nia' aines Monroe, while governor of the common
wealth. He fays the peni,entiary fyifem is found
ed IN policy which, though not unknown, was
eertany never reduced practice in the fame FIJI
rit and with the Ike advantage in the ancen, he
niiPhere. ls was referved for the mild and free
"goyerninents of the world for thole of tbe II
nited States, OF whole principles it is peculiarly cha
asteristic, to make fair experiment of this bene
. Voient iyitem "a fyfen which prohibits under anv
e'rcsmttances an uieles degradation of fellow eiti
zen, which inculeates the doctrine thar in puni0h;oo
crimes, ue iocisty, or rather the government ought
not to indage the patton of revenge: thar maxi. ~,
ample ufeful without being fangunary; that f.el,
the retosnation in the conviction of the offender
VIII only add that in Penniylvania and New-York
the Penitentiary fytem has equalled the mot fam
guine expectations oft founders. Why will no, the
ate OF Virginia adopt the fame regulations thar have
gwen iuccefs TO imilar nilitutons in other aates
Let her profit by their wifdom and experience. LIE,
attendant on the criminals from the county
limited to Reasonable number. Let the infpeaor.
nave complete control all the internal arrange
ments oil the inititution, and then men of rhe fire
will engage with zeal in this philan
thropie employment Until thefe and MANY more i'm
Provements are made, all within the power of RI.
leghatore afyem 10 oongenal to tie principles &
ip'rlt OF our government ought not TO be abandon
ed. 'o
fhoie perfons who are oppofed to the mandatory
o. arms and therefore willing to ellit, or unwilling
10 appropriate fuhcient FUN carry on its various
operations, certainly cannot vaue their liberty when
shey are thus deiirous get rid Of the means of de-
lehding 1t. Does not the hilfory of the world pro-
claim TO every nation the neceity of always being pre-
pared Tor fate OF war! Can we, however pacific
may he our own dfpoitons calculate on an overlap.
ing tranquility We cannot believe, as long as man
Is ambitious, and anxious for ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ,ba,
no attempt will be made to invade our rights. and
"TRIP US OF our property. Such would be vain fool
in iuPpoiitons, when, even now we are threatened
WIN tne caian'ties of var Beiides, defencelefs
condition will always invite infut and agprefons. e
no Mutation is 70 truly deenceeis as that Of marion
SHhout arms. Every citizen In the commonwealth
becaute ne fees the necey declares that the militia
ihouid be armeda as fpeedhy as poiIible. Shall we
rely on obtaining fuppIy from foreign nations
ne experience of our revolution demonnrates m.
infiitY OF iueh a reliance. Every independ.r,
nation iioud posfs the means OF her own protea;on