Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-15

district. propose that each class should
be allowed to eXonerate itself from the tax
bv furnishing man (wthin a given number
of da 81 to engage for the war. without the
bounty In money from the government but
TO be entitled to the land bounty, and that
class on furnishing recruit should be en-
titled tn a certificate from the officer autho.
! rised to receive the recruits, which being
presented 20 the collector should be good
payment for the tax of the class. And in
the absence of such certificate, for given
number Of days, the collector should proceed
in the collection. 1t is not improbable that
in arranging the classes it might be expedi-
ent in some cases and perhaps in all, 20 in
: clude in class those whose tax together
should amount to four, or six, or perhaps
eight hundred dollars, and provide that it
should exonerate itself from the tax by fur
nishing a corresponding number of men. /
feel no difficulty, sir. in hazardi1g an opini.
on. that most of the classes would furnish
the men, and I believe they would do so,
because thereby they would make saving
to themselves in money, aad not only would
they make saving in amount, but in most
cases they would pay recruit in the ne,
cessary supplies for family, and i'm vari.
GUS other ways, in which they would COM
pensate him, with more convenience than
to raise the same amount in money at Civ.
enperiod. Aud in aid of this plan, we shonId
enlist. not only all the feelings which result
from wish TO see the country properly de.
Tended, but those of pecuniary interest,"
| livery taxable citizen would in degree
voluntarily become recruiting officer, and
among the whole, there can be little doubt
but sufficient number of recruits would be
| found. If, however, it should be believed.
\ that to allow two hnndred dollars IF the Ia x
| for recruit would be a sum insufficient to
ensure the obtaining of them, let the sum
be augmented, and if necessary, increase
the tax accordingly, to which can see no
objection, as, whatever the nominal amount
of the tax may be, no other burden would
be imposed on the people, than the smallest
1 sum necessary to procure the men; and
| sure ] am, that at time when the people
I IN every direction are crying aloud to the
| government to provide an army tor the de,
| fence of every thing dear to them. thew will
| not complain of the imposition of the bur
| dens necessary to that object, particularly il
] no more money is required OF them. than
what they shall find necessary, they having
| the sole direction OF the application of it,
am not insensible, that 70 raise any given
1 number OF men 10 the manner propose.
| may Donindliy cost the government some
thing more than to raise them in the ordi,
nary mode but believe i. would cost the
| people much less. Indeed very much
doubt whether our soldiers do not now cost
| us 5000 each, taxing into consideration the
| Bounty, premiums, pay and rations TO re-
/ crui'ing officers, loss of money in the hands
Of some of them, and other incidental, ex,
penses n not able to anticipate any
Constitutional objections which can be urged
| against the plan have proposed, even by
the most scrupulous. Nor can presume
that it will be subject to the term of a. CON
scription," word which to some is so a
larming. The present direct tax of six mil
lions of dollars, if applied in the manner
proposed allowing two hundred dollars for
| each recruit, would raise SEQ men but
| it cannot be calculated that the whole tax
J will be thus applied, even If the citizens
| should in no part of the country find any
] difficulty in procuring sufficient number of
| men, because there will in all of the states
be more or less property owned by non resi-.
| beats, to which the classification would not
be applicable. 1t might therefore be fair to
calculate that from the cause have lust
mentioned, and other incidental causes, not
| more than 30 or 25. 900 would be obtained,
| while the balance of the tax would be paid
| in moaey.
will not at present hazard an opinion as
tn the number which we ought to calcul ate
on raising, provided the plan is adopted
that being subject which more properly
belongs to others. But presuming that il
might be expedient to increase the tax for
the present year, with a view of enlargine
| the number of men beyond what the six
millions would raise, have proposed by
the second resolution an enquiry OH that sub
ject.
| may perhaps be told, that in consequence
! of the pledges contained in the direct tax
bill, and the engagements of the government
founded on them, there is an insurmounta,
bic difficulty in the way Of adopting the plar
/ have suggested, and ssch may be the fact
though am myself inclined to different
opinion.
hhowever there be no other way of get
ting over the supposed difficulties, should
be IN favor Of substituting othor new taxes, OF
of so increasing the present direct tax, as L
make it sufficient to procure a proper Hum.
Der of men, leaving the present six millions
to find their way into the treasury. Gentle
men perhaps will say, that, TO substitut,
other indirect taxes for the present direc
tax, or to increase the direct tax in tn,
manner have proposed, will be to imposs
burdens upon the people heavier than car
be borne. admit they will be heavy, bat
sir, the people of this country had rattle
4 suDDorf their riphfa ar anv evnensa %.