Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-01-20

.lufS leSsSidtuFo - -
sole purpose Of relieving the general
government from the odium OF col
locting the taxes, which their own
policy has brought upon the country.
1t is we'll knewa that a great part
of the people are opposed to the war
itself upon principle.
The committee would ask, what
sood reason can there be why the
General Assembly of Maryland
should step forward and waste the
fauJs of the state merely to relieve
the Administrator Of the National
Government from the displsasure OF
public feeling and opiaion.
In a state Ia which landielders a.
lone have any power OF influence IN
regulating public affairs, in the Com.
monwealth Of Virginia for example,
it is very natural the constituted au.
thsrities, when they have the means
Should be willingto pay their share
of the direct tax, out ofthe general
resources Of the state. because il
might have the effect of fayoring the
wealthy holders Of property, and
leaving the peorsr classes os saeiety
to bear An unequal burthen.
Upon the same principle, il the a
mount of the carriage taz which
| each state hes to pay could be ascer-
| tained, it would become the interest
| Of tlle richer classes, that such
| tax should he paid out Of the COM
mon treasury Of the state. leaving
the state afterwards TO provide means
for itself, by laying such taxes as
would operate upon the poor as well
as the rich, the humble as we'll as
the fortunate ranks OF life.
Tn no point Of view in which the
committee consider this subject, do
they think that this Legislature ought
| to take upon themselves such an ac
countability. They believe that fair
policy, honest principle, and the
permanent interest Of the state, all
combine in rendering it the duty of
the House Of delegates, as truly re-
presenting the people Of Maryland,
rot to interfere in the way proposed.
but that the general Government
ought themselves to be answerable
for the operation of those burdens,
which their own course of measures,
and the present unnecessary and
ruincus war, have inflicted npsn the
suffering people Of this country.
| In the Language of the resolution
submitted to your committee. it is
proposed that the payment should be
made out of any unappropriated
money in the treasury.-Eat there
will in fact be no money snappro-
priated to meet such payment. as will
appear by the treasurer's account.
and the report of the committee OF
| claims.
1t will appear by the said report
aad statement, that the state, by the
provi1ent caro- and economy Of our
ancestors, is in the possession of
funds consisting OF stccls yielding an
annual revenue which. for years
past. has relieved the coed people Of
this state fsom the burdens Of taxes.
Upen the credit Of these funds,
! loan TO the amount Of three hnndred
| ard seven thousand dollars has been
already negotiated, during the last
year, to provide for those eXpendi-
| lures OF defence for which it was the
duly OF the General Government to
praVide.
Your committee believe, that 1t
will again become necessary for the
state to resort TO another lean to de-
fray similar expenses. as We have no
reason to expect that any suitable
provisions will be made for cur pro-
lection by the Government of the
nation.
Your committee conceive, that in
stead of diminishing, 1t is our duty
TO increase, our resources, as far as
is practicable, without increasing the
burthens of the people.-They there
fore beg leave to submit the follow
ing resolution:
Resolred, That it would be inexpe-
dient to adopt the said resolution.
Resolved, That instead of making
advances of money to the General
Government, il is our duty 10 see that
the amount Of expences already in
| cured by this state on account of the
|! war be reimbursed.
By Order.
LOUIS 6AsSAwAY, elk.
british OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS