Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-16
THE GAZ EFT .E.
SATURDAY, FEB. l6, 1922.
FOR THE GAZETTE.
To the People Of Alerandria County.
LETTER II.

enQeaV0reQ 10 SneW you win now muCn
| success it is not for me to say that the ex-
sting and probable evils of our political
| condition, loudly demanded our uninter-
mitted search for remedy. asserted that
| a retrocesslon of the county of Alexandra
| to the state of Virginia was that remedy.
| That right to partic pate in the manage
ment of national. as we'll as in the drec
! ton of our domestic affairs, was suffi-
cient motive alone, TO induce you ardent
! ly to desire change. And what is more
particularly to my present purpose, have
undertaken to prove that retrocession
would necessarily bring with il the means
OF paying the additional taxation to which
l. would subject US. In discussing this
question, | mean to make no appeal TO
the feelings of freemen; our actual condi.
ton willingly acquiesced in, makes it i'm
possible: Nor do expect to derive much
benefit from an application to that indi-
gent and rebellious inclination, which !
believe, rises up, in the bosom OF every
man ,fagainst a state of bondage, in
dignity or oppression. | mean to treat
this question, if it is possible, so long to
eonlroul the irresistible impulse OF nature,
as one from which all considerations OF
honor, freedom or dignity OF character,
should be eXcluded-as one in which eve
ry feeling shall be expressly silenced, ex-
cept that1 which, the miser experiences.
when he has RETAINED from one of the
highest human enjoyments, for the pur-
pose Of adding another dollar 10 his sol-
tary repository. 1t is conceded, | believe,
on all hands, that the change would be be-
nehcial, If the purchase could be made
without money-that good accommoda-
tions, and freedom TO enjoy them, are de-
srable things, If to be obtained without
cost. If then the great argument for re-
manning in our present OMt-cast condition
be the fear Of the burden which Virginia
taxation will impose. Let us carefully in
quire, whether this fear be we'll founded,
and if the burden which is laid on the
people OF Virginia, is an evil, weighty
enough 10 be Justly dreaded. In order TO
DO this, W. must necessarily know, what
are the subjects of Virginia taxation in the
town of Alexandria. Upon an examna-
ton OF the law of 1921, imposing taxes on
the people Of that state; | find that tax
is laid on the yearly value OF all town
property of ct per cent, A tax of five
dollars on all tour wheel carriages; Of fifty
cents on every two wheel carriage. On
wholesale merchants, tax of sixty dol
lars; on retail merchants, twenty dollars;
| on all slaves, above the age Of twelve
years, taxsof ifty three cents; thirteen
u halt cents on all horses, 4 on all tavern
| licences, per cent, is collected upon The
yearly value of the establishment This
I undertake to say, IS full enumeration
| of the subjects OF taxation in the town OF
Alexandra, according to eVirginia laws.
Now, fellow citizens, letus see the weight
and figure of this mighty burden
have ascertained that the whole real es
state of Alexandria, is officially valued at
De, 735, O9O: that the yearly value thereof
| improved and unimpro,ed, taken toge-
| Their, is not more then p per cent. 1t SO
much, then 81 per cent on D2,735, $50
! is D68,387 95. Let US now, for the more
convenient inspection of this monster "ot
so hideous mien" state an account.
The taxable value ofreal estate E Alez-
andria, according to the laws of Virginia,
| is D6S,387 e5-24 per cent, on thai sum
is Dl535 70
| Alexandra has s. Wholesale
merchants, at D6O $3.50
She has ia retail do al O20 2s8O
! 89l taxable slaves, at So Cts 466 SO
| "a four wheel carriages at
| D5 I20
AZ two wheel do at SO cts 60 SO
| 23S horses al l35 80 Is
| | suppose, with great reason,
that the taverns OF hlexan-
| dria cannot rent Tor more
than four thousand dollars
| IT therefore, we calculate
per cent on that sum, we
have the revenue from that
source, amounting to ESQ
| Making a grand total OF D852l %
We shall readily admit that this sum
! will be in addition to the taxes now levied
on the people of Alexandria we shall
| not contend that change of political con-
dition will diminish the necessity for cor
porate expenditure. | shall now endea-
YOUR to shew what pecnniary benefits ca
pabIe of being reduced to any degree Of
precision the town may expect to derive
from the contemplated change If we re
| feet for moment on the policy OF Virgi
mia, and the interests OF the people OF
Prince William, Fairfax and Loudon, we
may with great probability calculate on
the establishment of chsncery court,
when we shall form part Of that state.
Such an establishment is consonant both to
her poicy& Virginia has divided
her territory into nine districts ,and she has
given chancery court to Richmond, VIII
liamsburg, Fredericksburg, GreeDbrier
Court House. Stanton. Withe Court
House, Winchester, CIarksburg and