The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-17

i Way possibly AT "Hother time resume the
subject. ALEXlS.
No. II.
SIR,
I attempted on a former occasion to
prove. that a law imposing a tax on dogs,
would be q most useful, WISE and necessary
] attempted 20 prove, that the bestin-
tercsts OF the state, required at a period
like this, when almost 4 world in arms, are
cndeavoring by their unjust restrictions Oh
our commerce, aud their uuprincipled inva-
sions of Our rights, to entanglc us in their
wars; that we should prepare to live Nth
IN ourselves. l was of opinion, that to effect
this, it was necessary that all due cncou-
rayement should be given to the production
OF such articles as are essential to domestic
manufactures. Wool was considered as an
article most essential to the comfort OF q peo-
pie exposed to the vicissitudes of cold and
wet, and to the effects which must ever at
tend a climate always varying and unstea-
dy. 1t was believed that a sufficient guam
tity of wool could not be raised without ex-
tending to the improvement and propagation
OF sheep, encouragement heretofore withheld.
The greatest & most etfectual encourage
meDt which can be given to the improvement
Of that most useful animal, aided by the
necessity Of the times, is to make it the in
terest Of men to lay out their money in the
most approved breeds OF sheep, as we'll as to
on them such labor and pains as are
necessary to improve the condition of all
kinds OF stock, or at least TO render them
stationary. But it never can be the inter
est OF men to lay out much money, or to be-
stow great pains on chat, which is subject TO
almost certain loss, without at any rate an
unusual concurrence Of fortunate c%ircunistan-
M Da,- -Ea -p,. .l ---t
that stimulus to activity and perseverance,
which are necessary to obtain success in any
undertaking. / have endcavored to establish
this fact, that the present number of useless
dogs is the cause to which we are principal
ly'to attribute the present destruction of our
sheep. Let us impose a tax on dogs, and we
remove the cause which prevents the in
crease of our flocks.
But we have among us set of dwelling
politicians. who by turns consider dog: as
of alteration, and then as too Insight
hcant to merit attention.. They are willing
to tax horses, or asses, but the dog, however
injurious he may become to the interests of
society, is to be held sacred. These illumin-
ed and refined genius's affect to ridicule and
at such a proposition. and become in
dignant at the bare idea Of such a law. A
man of plain common sense, would Consider
NhS III vi q CdSuI Z . dS lle Sldil1lO Nv
which we ought to judge of it's wisdom and
its policy. If stranger casually passing
through our country, should lear the opini-
ohs Of some among us, he would think the
dog the God of the Virginians, worshipped
as he would ind on examination, riore for
the evil Of which he is the cause, than for
the good which he does to man.
III said, however, that such a law as the
one proposed, would bear particularly hard
on the people of some of the Western Coun
ties, where from the number of wolves, &c.
dogs are of the utmost importance. There
ought to exist in every society such good will
and harmony among the different members,
that each should be disposed to yield some
thing to the convenience and wishes of o.
theirs. All in their turn may find something
In which they may wish to be accommodate
ted, and each may contribute something to
the general happiness and prosperity OF his
Country. But fsuch a tax would be oppres-
sive to the frontier Counties, it would be
better to Exempt them from its operation,
as free negroes in those Counties are exempt
ed from the general restrictions of a law ex-
Guiding that description of people from the
privilege OF carrying arms. There is law
granting TO the people of some Of those coun-
ties, premiums for killing wolves. This
law operates as a tax on the people of the
middle and lower counties. The advanta
ges OF such premiums, il might be thought,
would Counter-baiance the inconvenienties
of the law ia question. if indeed any incon-
veniencies worth a calculation, are to be app
pretended.
But it is hlmbly conceived that this is not a
to be cayilling about trivial and local in
terests. When our country is surrounded
with great and alarming dangers, every citi-
zen ought to advance with a firm and steady
step to oppose them. The present is not a
contest of c%ontending armies where the cou-
rage OF man da res and hazards every thing
in defence Of his country, or for the proud
triumph of victory. 1t is a contest where one
nation by commercial restrictions and arbi-
trary regulations, endeavors to force the
wealth OF another into her own Golfers and
that other with manly fir nness has determin-
ed to withhold for time, that wealth from
the ocean, to disappoiut the avaricious, and
ambitious views of her adversary. The ma
ton which can best dispense with the neces-
saries, manufactures, or Injuries of the o.
Their. will obtain the victory.
Let us then make a firm stand, determin-
ed never to abandon Our rights bnt with our
existence. Our general government may
think it sound policy to continue the embargo
a twelve month longer, and to aid it by a law
prohibiting all intercourse with those nations
who have invaded our rights. Perhaps this
IS 6 course which for some time longer NAV
be preferable To war. 1t is true, we NAV &C
quire by the loss o. some thousands of ives
the possession of Canada. But is il NOT at