Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-16

pendent oil the business ct the county oil
Alexand, ia. the SUM of four thousand dol,
lars-1'his result is ascertained by com
raring the business which would be done
here. with the income of the clerk al FREE
dericksburg. The establishment OF chan
Gerry court would draw after It as neces
sary consequence, the expenditure OF at
least D80OU--a sum greatly moderated II
we reflection the number of lctigants, law
yers and their families who would be obi
ged TO remain here, from two to 5 months,
during each year. The profit arising from
the expenditure of tina. sum, without LOOK :;
ing TO the activity which it would ilnpart
to business, could not be less than twenty
five per cent. which would be clear ga
of D.2COO. That West End--together
with that suburb Of Alexandria, called the
Village, would be incorporated with US,
il I'VE again formed part OF Virginia !
think no one al all acquainted with those
places will doubt; nor do think it can be
doubted that they will be formed into Sc
pa.ate town. Ii we unfortunately tor US,
shall not see our true interest," but CONT
nue. in our present non -dsscript state. Ma.
ny individuals owning property there, VIII
find it their interest TO promote such
measure and The necessity for a police, al
ready demands it, The corporation taxes
if levied on the persons and property OF
those places could not produce less then
Dl200 and as the Incorporation OF these
places with us, would not increase coFpo-
ration expenses. the gain to the town would
be the whole sum. The rights and priv
leges thus obtained would amply compen-
safe the payers Of the tax. put down
the number of suits annually instituted IN
the circuit court ofAlexandria at 500, tho
that number is known to be much too
small. The defendants are taxed accord
ing to the District laws, with an attorney
lee OF D5sin each case, which amounts to
D2500-they are generally in class OF
society i'll able to bear this heavy burden
In Virginia tue defendants would pay but
half that sum, the legal or taxable Tee be-
ing two dollars and half in each case
thus a gain in this way would be produced
to Door defendants of the sum of 1850 dis.
which would put into their pockets or ra-
Their keep there that whole SUN to de!ray
the charges of liberty and tnration. The
burdens Of the town would be lessened at
least five hundred dollars, by the abolition
of magistrates fees, for in Virginia they
are allowed none. That this tax on the
of justice falls on portion
of society the least able to sustain 1t, no
one will deny, and that it is often attended
with consequences the most rulnous, Is e.
qual'y indisputabe.
Ia short it appears that retrccession
would give Us the benefits both OF the state
and national geve.nments-let US into the
enjoyment of a system OF government un
parallel in the world: while it would i'm
pose upon us annually charge OF D852i,
rs cts. TO pay which according to the
estimate we have purlously gone through
A clsrk.h;n worth D.4OOO
Profit on expenses Of litigants, &c 2OOU
Dimnution OF corporate taxes by
addition of West end T. Village, 1900
Gain by diminishing law expenses, l25U
Gain by abolishing of magistrates oo
fees, ooo
Making a grand total of D895O
By this statement it will be seen that
there is balance in favor OF retrocessIon
and liberty, of four hundred and thirty
nine dollars, aud seventy four cents.
have thus, fellow citizens called your
attention to some of the pecuniary benefits
of Observation-Disclosures susce pt'ble OF
reduction into dollars and cents, with some
degree OF certainty without speaking OF
those political considerations which are
not the subjects OF precise arIthnetlcal
tions-considerations operating up
on my mind with persuasion and pow
er completely irresistible. am not so
unreasonable as to wish you to receive
probabilities for certaintIes. shall not
deny that we shall certainly be obliged to
pay to the stale of Virginia the full sum
of 1921 dollars; but that is all while we
have to rely on probability to gain some OF
the benefits spoken OF in the above state
ment. But assert that il is probability
as strong as any which can be imagined,
to prove the existence OF future event
dependent upon the constaDcy of human
opinion and inclinations. 1t may be asked
is it possible? can it be true, that in results
50 obvi us ana beneficial there is no decep-
which have so long remain
ed unperceiyed by those who never slum-
Ter Wnen tuelT peCuniaIy iuleieS'o ~iC a.
stake. answer with assurance, yes--tor
what is obvious is not always seen by the
most studious That political changes are
seldom wrought without the propulsion OF
some crying evil, or unless the actors are
impelled by the hope of some great and
manifest good. While evils are siderable
it is known that mankind seldom resist
them, and most men think any thing too
dear which it requires exertion out of their
usual track to obtain.
But fellow citizens, suppose the calcu-
lal.an.I hnua e.,hnnIifad 10 [ hose