Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-27

TO that elect were no doubt 10 be found
among the II conventions. As one reward
for our exertions in the late contest (as
spoken 0fin the address,) and as an imme-
date consequence of what the hon. gentle
man who had so eloquently seconded it,
termed the breaking OF the rod OF enchant-
ment, and dissoIving the spell by which the
nations were bound in slavery, he mr.. b.
had unfortunately heard with more regret,
than perhaps establishment, that the more
oppressive efany of the taxes that had been
imposed upon the nation--the heaviest and
most obnoxious of those burthens under
which the country mad groaned-that the
most oppressive and tormenting income tax
was to be continued. 1t was for this we
were lighting, not only our own battles, but
those OF other nations. Our fortitude and
perseverance had led to this happy conse-
quence, that we were not merely to bear
the other burthens which had been so heavi-
ly laden upon us, but we were to be borne
down by this most tormenting of all taxes
tax which was still more oppressive in the
details than in the bulk and this, it was
SAID, was necessary. I" merely on account
OF the tiuurishiDg state OF the country'-
(hear, hear!) If this odious tax could be
dispensed with--if there were any other
means of going on without it, no man in
his senses-still less would the right hon.
gentleman, on the very first opening of
Parliament, intimate an intention of renew
ing it. Such an intimatiOn surely could
arise only from the consciousness of there
being no other possibility of carrying on
the financial affairs of the country. He
lMr. b. however, did trust, that this early
hint, which had been so plainly and unequi-
vocally given of this intention of govern
ment, would not be lost upon those gentle
men who were members of Parliament-at
least those who had constituents loud
laugh, and cries of hear, hear from both
sides of the house and he confidently
hoped to hear of those steps being adopted
which were taken last year, with such final
and complete success, [hear, hear and
which, if followed this year, would perhaps
have restrained the chancellor of the ex
ehequer from giving this notice.
MIR. HOrner felt himself called upon by
one observation of the noble Lord Castle
Teagh) to state distinctly, that in the vote
which he proposed to give in support of the
address, he should not think himself pledg-
ed to any opinion upon the merits of the
treaty, to which it referred. Upon that trea
~. indeed. neither he nor the house could
form any judgment until the terms of it
were officially communicated. Therefore
he could not concur in the noble Lords as.
sertiOn, that it was a glorious peace, be-
cause he rejoiced in the termination of the
War--but he protested in the Interpretation
OF the noble Lord, that in voting for an adj
dress of congratulati1n upon the conclusion
Ofpeace, he was precluded from criticising
the conditions of that peace. That some
distress must follow from the change in our
conditions, in consequence nf the cessation
OF war, was NATURAL to be apr ehended
but he was afraid that all the distress which.
now existed in this country was not at ali
attributable to that change. There wa
IN fact only one efectual remedy for the
public distress, namely, the reduction of
taxation, (hear, hear, hear y 1t was in
vain tOthink of such expedients as had been
last year resorted to with respect to the
corn trade. Parliament must strike at the
root of the evil which afflicted the country,
and especially agriculture, by reducing the
taxes. He agreed with what the noble
Lord had said with regard to the propriety
of holding the sinking fund sacred. The
public faith imperiously demanded the re-
solution which the noble Lord had express
sed. For whatever calamity might befalI
the country, the interest of the public cred-
tors should be untouched and unbroken. as
through those creditors the country had
been enabled to make such unexampled ex-
ertiOn throughout the war, and therefore
whatever might be the principal object or
result of that war, the claim of those credi.
tors to remuneration was quite indisputable
-(hear, hearD The learned gentleman
enforced the necessity of a right economy
in every branch of our expenditure, militia
ry, civil, and financial and strongly re-
commended vigilant superintendent IL
the distribution of our resources. He
therefore hoped that the house would hea,
no more of propositions to pay the debts nl
one branch of the royal family, or to make
any grant to another but that every practl-
cable retrenchment would be made with n
view to tighten the public burthens. He
apprehended, indeed, that unless such rigid
economy were observed, and such substan-
tial reductions made, Parliament would at
last be obliged Obreak faith with the public
creditor.
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