The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-20

bear the whole or perhaps no part Whatever
OF it so that each Legislature may have it's
Savorites in.the community, 8. the citizens may
6e alternately favored or oppressed. Yourpe.
sitioners cannot discover why those profess
sions and occupations are taxed in prefer
ence to others. We can discover no reason
Why Merchants, Clerks, Physicians and
Lawyers, should bear tax extraordinary,
more than Artisans and Mech anicks or Far
mers and Planters OF the best skill If D o.
LESSONS aud skills & conseqnen ly enCiow-
ments OF the mind, are Gt subjects of taxa
ton, we conceive the same policy and prin-
cipie pursued little farther. would point
out another species OF our citizens who with
the same policy could bear u heavier tax
than their fellow citizens on account of their
robust bodies or other natural enGowments.
i mark out few of our citizens, and
impose heavier Tax on them than the
rest OF the community, though not possess
my more wealth. is fixing stigma toop-
preston. So far from being enabled by the
Revolution to discharge more than their e
quail proportion of the debts incurred by it,
the reverse is the fact The suspension of
law during the war reduced To penury the
Clerks and Lawyers, who depended on
their occupation for 4 subsiste nee. The
Physician was left without the means Of his
profession, aad merchandizes We had none
The situation OF those taxed, little differs
from that of the Subjects OF an Ash
attic Monarch---the Deapor plumbers and
Expresses all his subjects for the ben
eht OF himself. -The Legislature bv
tins law, takes from few for the benefit
OF the whole, and little matters it IN the end
10 the oppressed, whether the proceeds OF
their oppression go to Despot or TO make
good the deficiencies aud contribute 10 the
use OF their wealthy. INDECENT aud luxurious
| T.,ff. M
teiiow citizens. The right of making n sub
sistance in a lawful manner is the priv
iese OF treemen, and to be compelled by
the Legislature to pay a remiuua for the
exercise of that privilege, is an infringe
ment on our bill of rights, which declares
that the night oil acquiring and possessing
property is an Inherent right of which we
cannot be Invested" Your petitioners are of
opinion that the annals uf mankind cannot
ahord another instance where men of H.
t1rature and industry were discouraged and
oppressed. Rulers who have ENCOURAGED
and promoted literature have through all
times becn honored and immortaliZed
| To US it wouid appear the height of ,olicv
in this Infant Country to court and nourish
/ the arts aud sciences, and to encourage Inv
every means men of talents and industry
| To tax men of learning aud indus ~ is ac-
ting the direct counter part OF all former no
icy. 1t is IN fact declaring that mankind
IN this enlightened age have arrived 10 such
IPcHeCtiGh mat nothing more perfect is per
mitted.
Your petitioners apprehend the idea Of the
present partial and oppressive taxation must
nave suggested ITSELF on a presumption in
| the poverty al the citizens at large and
that pubic necessity justified the proceed
ing. But they beg leave to represent thar
| they dread much less the payment of their
Just diets tnah they do the uangerols prin-
! clpie and precedent iet into government by
that law; and that they hope the restorati
OF or preservation OF their public creGst. will
never cepend oG the oppression OF a few.
hey Confess they are ashamed TO see their
=, Country poiir,Saiy plead poverty, ana have
| recourse 70 such measures to relieve it's
I wants. They ne,er wish to see man. who
! by his diligence and industry, earns his sub
! sistence, pay as much for his own personal
| labour, as the man VINO has twenty t,n,es
! ms wealth. cur petitioners Conceive. that
! a greater check TO Industry could rot be de
vised, II the deficiencies of the indoleot and
vo'uPtuous are to be made up by the active
| and industrious. If talents, science and
SUCCESS 10 business. draw down on indiyidp
ais fine for TIE comm Oh W eaith. VIM
amongst will attempt 70 ACQUIRE know.
ledge or follow prOfessions' Who amongs,
us would not chu>e rather life OF lad olepce,
especially when thereby he could ease his
Si'u'HS VI enS JuSN proportion Of the pub
tic burden' TO US the policy seems ex-
tire nelly contracted and ili,Jt:dged, having
tor is obTect the oppression Of men. who ir;.
stead OF meeting with the apprehension, have
m every age and country, met with the coun-
,enance and protection of government. Nc
less polite do we consider that part of the
'a~ which imp scs a tax of FIVE per cent or
the amount OF the rent OF houses and lots in
towns. Your petitioners pray that the afore
mentioned !aw may be entirely repeated
and your petitioners as in duty bound, shall
eyer pray. &c.