Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-04

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economy, aud again raised To the level of theoc
casion by wise and energetic policy. Ma
other system Of finance could be honorable
towards posterity, or entirely safe for the peo-
PIE themselves; who can never know the ex-
tent oil the power, lodged in the hands of lhe
pabhc tunclonares, when they do not annual
iy furnish from their own pockets the means
of upholding it,
The sniall reduction made last year in the
land tax along with other taxes. affords Va
l.mbie example. Nothing is more certain than
tue calculation, that ifa land tax were. To H.,
perpetual, II wouldbe better for the land hold
cr 10 give up, al once, as much of the land AS
would redeem the annuity, for be must lose so
much m sale, and by the payment ofthe an
huity lie is made, so lar, tenant instead OF !,
proprietor. Land too, Is not machine which
can he kept IN constant operation, whenever
the interest and industry Of the holder r.o,,;r,
u. n large part must he every wear unnro-
ductivc and another part as the quantity re-
CURED TO he kept in wood is never more than
auxiliary, which quality would exempt il
from taxation II ltwere an ordinary machine.
| Lana Tor the most part, now, is an unproduc-
i've capital, held under the hope OF better
times, and may be consumed by the tax he
lore they arrive. But the reiincments oft,x
alton practlsed in other countries woulJ he
still more inappropriate TO our political sys-
tenn. Enlightened republican statesmen will
always take more pains to explain the nccas-
sity ni an increase of taxes, and to shew the
origin OF that Necessity, than to render the
burthen less distinctly perceptiblc to the peo-
pie Over one part ofthe triple taxing power
| to which our citizens are subject they can ne
er have other than a very Inefficient controui.
But ltmay be worthy of reflection whether
g fi,,..,
altogether Legitimate, according TO modern
IDEAS ofirce government, since the Justices are
neither chosen by the people, nor responsible
Tor their acts IN a body, should moi be regarded
with more jealousy.
ltis melancholy truth, that in the way
most governments are managed, as much is
eNacted from the father, during the growth of
ms children, rs would be sufficient, if retained
and Indlclousiy employed, TO educate the sons.
and portion the daughters of the family. in a
manner corresponding with their condition in
lie To suppose that the necessity produced
by taxation can excite To industry and irliga-
~, more cllectually than such consideration.
IS an objectionable libel upon human nature.
me serious character OF the subject, and the
dignity or the OCCASION now Offering Itself, rem
der II allowable TO make use of il, for condol-
me- with our injured felow-citizens, ON the
~"pi'ASSSiobi iIpN Sb IOlS continued, OF our
commerce with the British Islands in the West
indies, and on the sudden exclusion of French
vessels from our ports. Our Indian cora and
lumber, the main productions OF the eastern
part OF our state, are too bulky to bear trans
portation and circuitous voyage and OF
course, they now no longer reach their best
and most steady market. Oar tobacco, now
again, rs before the independence Of America
goes To the principal CONSUMERS through En-
Slish hands, burthened with other port duties,
and with a profit to foreign merchants, which
are manilestly lost by the producers here. in
addition To the slackness OF demand ALWAYS
accustomed by distractions of any kind. The
reflections necessarily caused hy suffering, cai
not laii TO suggest To us, that the colonial
policy OF Great Britain may perhaps he deem
ed by that government no less essential to her
political system than the entire freedom of the
press IS known by our statesmen to be to ours
Upon a certainly depends the maintenance OF
our great American conlederacy in the purity
oil true republican!sm, and in its entire indie.
pendence fall the world, except for commerce
only; which, it would seem, can no more bs
completely reciprocal than their civil institu.
IONS can resemble ours. 1.-THE independence
OF Great Britain is supported by her influenced
IN Europe more than by her absolute mower
mat influence by the great prosperity OF hei
maritime interest, and that again by her colo
NAL system, we may expect permanent disap-
poIntment from the course now PURSUING
The artificial dignity of kinghood IS unaiies
tionably considered very important by them
yet they have never once thought OF putin.
an end TO our ridicnle of their pageantry b,
| restricting any species of intercourse with us
Their king and their islands of the west ar,
left to console themselves as they can tn,
man interest, navigation, must and will b,
| supported.
1t never has been thought by more than ;
| very small number of statesmen among us
that there could, in our time, be an interest il
the United States deserving 10 bear compcti
ton for moment, with that OF its agriculture
| yet that IS inundated, as far as we are con
cerned IN 1t, for the benefit of small shippin:
interest OF some ofOur sister states, which doe
not even need the sacrifice, now that Sc;
coast, long enough TO grit the globe we in
habit, Astounding with populous cities, anc
! valuable productions ofcyery variety, is lai,
| open TO their enterprise. The owners of tina
shipping never cease to taunt us in their ga
Zettes with deficiency of monied capital, an,
navigating means; yet their vessels ale sen
here to carry our produce, Detained for them
by the operation ofrevenue laws in every in
stance, entirely or almost empty, whereas, 70
reign vessels come full, to purchase for them
selves, and prepared to deal with that liberalit,
which is inseparable from direct transactions
betwixt producers and consumers, TO whom
all the circumstances of supply aud demand
with all the infinite variety of tastes, and o
qualities reproductions requisite to suit them
are necessarily better known than they can be e
foreign spectators, who have no common in
terest, and no durable connection with eithe,
When tine present rulers of ITraoc. I.,
been brought TO consent for the sake of tbci
Shipping interest, to forget the change Of DO
litical opinions which had taken place in thei
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