Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-29
SO to embarrass the general government as tol
compel it to do what would have been disgrace

and this was to say tiieieast of il, carrying \
party spirit to an understandable length. There
is no doubt inmy mind, nor ii, that ofany man
Conformation that have ever -conversed with on
the subject that it was the encouragement held
out by the conduct of men in the Eastern States,
which prolonged the war after the peace Of Pa |
ris and indeed that il was that encouragement
which more than any thing else, produced the
war. Ihope that these men will now take warn
ing. That they, like the yendeans, will now see
that the praises bestowed on them by our w'ri-
tiers are only upon the presumption, that they
ready TO cut the throats OF their countrymen
and to- aid in the subjugation Of their country. I
Fit were asked why these writers of ours
should be such irnplacable enemies to the free
dom and happiness of mankind why they should
desire to stir up internal strife, and all manner
OF evils against every nation where freedom is en-
joyed, might answer, that am not bound to
sbew the cause of their abcminable wishes, hay
ing clearly shewn that they have these wishes
But the cause appears to be this they see, they
feel that the weight OF Taxes in England, Joined
to other causes, must if the world be kept in
quiet for years produce great degree of de-
cline in this country These men have for many
years been bswlers Tor war. They now tell us
that the warhas been crowned with glorious sue
cess but they foresee the peace to us will not
be what peace actually has been. They saw that
the peace of Paris instead of crouding our ports
with ships and goods, and filing our streets with
hustle and trade, produced calm, stiffness rs
to trade, truly gloomy. They saw that our own
people fiocked to France for comfortable living.
They saw enterprising tradesmcn and manufac-
turers croudingto america. They saw the hou-
ses in and about London untenanted. They eve
ny where heard the decay OF trade and ruined
farmers. They saw that Without alaw TO raise
the price otcorn, the taxes could NOT be paved
by either landlord or tenant. They saw in
in short, that the has created the cause ofim-
possibility to live in peace while France on one
side and America on the other, held forth the
temptations of liberty and abundance. And they
saw, which observe WIS not the smallest object
of their terror, that the landlords and tenants in
almost every part OF the country, complained of
the hardships OF tythes, and pointed out the ex-
ample of France, where tythes had been abolish
ed They know that we have forty FIVE millions
of pounds, or one hundred and eighty millions of
dollars YEAR, to pay III taxes, forever, being
the debt instead of the nine millions of pounds,
or SO millions Of dollars, which we had to paw
on this account before thewar. They see, tina,
the army aud other things now amount in peace
to about eighty millions of dollars year instead
of "a millions of dollars, as they did before the
war They see, that in consequence OF the in
crease of industry produced in France by the re-
volution, and four burdens produced by the war
the French are able 10 sell in our markets at
much less than half the price that we must sell
at, or must leave the taxes unpaid, They see all
these things..-They are sliced with panic.
that the tight little island will become as de-
sert az that on which captain Lake, put the poor
fellow Jeffries, who saved by the kindness off
one of your countrymen and, in the rage inspir
ed by their fcrbodngs, they would, if they could
render every other country too miserable for |
man to 1--we in. They do not recommend the re. |
ducing ofthe army TO what was before the war.
They know that this would not answer her pur
pose. They might recommend the reduction of
the nauy but then, you stare them in the face = !
The civil list is indispensable. They would re- |
commend to wipe off the debt !; but, then the
whole system crumbles to atoms. Their last |
resource is the hope, by their writings TO stir up
the means of making other nations still more
wretched.
The state OF this country as regards the means
of enjoying happiness, may be pretty correctly
estimated by this one fact, namely, that notice |
has been given, in the house of common, that a |
measure will be proposed, early 1.-THE next ses-
sion 70 lay tax upon the property of all persons
who shall go to reside out ofthe Kings dominions
from which tax those residing in them shall be !
exempt. do not believe it likely for such a law
to pass, but after what we have SEEM do not pro
nounce tito beimpossible At anyrate,t the ideahas
been seriously enough entertained to produce its
mention in parliament Reflect then, for q moment |
on themeans which must be scd in order TO assess
such tax reflect on the immediate superinten- |
the person of every man of property: reflect !
on the vassal-like degradation to which Il would |
reduce us reflect on the passions, which such |
q state of restraint would epgendcr and, then
fern to yourselves an idea of that desperation.
which must have been the parent of such a propo.
sion. The truth is, that the amount of taxe is |
now SO great, that all but the immense fortunes
are sinking under the weight and that too, with
rapdity that is quite astonishing. The necessi-
ties of the government require 50 large part of
every mans income and earnings, that Numbers
are seeking the means ofescapins from the de.
mand. Taxes, when excessive, must create
paupers because they go on pressing the whole
Of a people downwartls and, of course those
who are Just above the poor list, are forced into
it. 1t has lately been stated at Parliament, and |
that too by George Rose, that the beggars, the
common beggars in the metropolis alone, have
increased to thirty thousand Equal to nearly
half the whole population of Philadelphia.
when lived in it. This fact appears to have
been stated by George Rose as Introductory 10
measure for putting y stop to the evil. But
how Would he send the beggars 10 the coun-
Try : we are oyerstocked already Observe
trifling as is this village, scarcely day passes
without bringing one, and generally more beg
CARS to my door The DdgTm1f act warrants us
in taking them before justice and having them
punished. But, who will take the trouble, even
IL he wishes do IL Thus are they left TO
wander about They swarm over the country
like the yerInin upon their own bodies and are
produced by causes nearly similar. Ihave here
IL