Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-01-27
Legislature of Virginia.
uorSF OF

MIR Shlp made an unsuccessful motion for
leave 10 bring in a bill concerning the Bank
of the Valley. his object being, he said on
ly 10 change the time of meeting Of the Stock.
holders.
Mr Bramham reported a bill concerning
persons who suffered by the loss OF slaves and
other property taken and carried away dur'og
the late war-which was read the 1st and III
time, and committed
Mr. Patteson offered the following preamble
and resolution, which, on his motion, was laI'
on the table, and on Mr. Drongooie's motIoh
was ordered to be printed: j.,
The Finance Committee reports the total
amount Of available funds Of the Common
wealth for the present fiscal year, 10 be
S5532i5 6, and the expenditures for the
same period they suppose TO be S436.9Ob 81
which leaves an excess Of receipts beyond the
expend. lures of SiI6,306 70; this sum IS sub
ject 20 appropriation by the present General
Assembly, and the greatest part OF 1t IS now
actually in the Treasury
OF the public debt, the Committee says u
consists OF an unqscertained amount OF old b
per cent. certificates, which they suppose to
be- about $4,000, and $4,000 OF seven per
ccnt deb, held by the President and Direc
tors of the Literary Fund; the former they
advise to be called in, and their advice has
been executed in part, by The passage OF a bill
by this House for that purpose; OF the Latter
they say 'ts redemption at this tune IS moi
considered important to the interest OF the
State, as il could not probably be as advanta-
reously invested agnn:' what was the Ian
ruage Of the Committee is now the language
of this House, for it has adopted the Report
of the Committee. 1t surely IS not the ihten-
ton of the Committee or Of this House, to
A. -. a.. tAaar ppauanf y9ta n.
raise money which the House by the adop
Ton of the Report declares it is not fmpor-
9ant to pay.
All money drawn from the people by taxa.
zion beyond a fair estimate of the certain and
contingent demands upon the Treasury, is, TO
say the best OF it, upon speculation; the more
we speculate the longer we shall stay here
The length of our sessions is a subject OF UNI
fyersal complaint, and 1t IS believed that no
scheme to shorten them IS so efficient, ana
none can be so fully relied on, as one when
ia based on a moderate inc Besides, the
bold. Intrepid attempt that was made at the
last session of tue Assembly, to seize upon
our excess Of revenue and pledge it as 8 per
petual fund for the payment of interest upon
loans. cannot soon be forgotten.
The foregoing estimate is submitted to shew
the .ate Of reduction of which The present tax
is susceptible; it embraces every item, either
of income or expense of an ordinary or perma-
nent character, which is contained IN that OF
the Committee. 1t cannot be wrong IT mat
Committee is right, for the permanent tiems'
such az are likely to occur every year, are
the came in both. the only difference that
EXISTS between them is the rate of taxation
supposed there, and tiat "h'ei . feSo''"'0""
ed here.
This estimate shows after a reduction OF
1sa ner cent. from the property tax, that there
WILDE an annual saving to the people OF S58,-
500 80. and besides that saving there will be
an excess of receipts beyond the disbursements
of Sl4 485 As =
The surnlus of the present fiscal year that pro.
badly NAV not be appropriated by the present
Assembly. and the saving that VIII result from
an adiournment by the 10th day of February;
.be two sums may fairly be supposed TO be
500 900 which added to the Sl4,483 As
VIII make the sum of S34, 483 as, subject to
tie contingent calls of the next Assembly.
Resoiped, therefore, That it is expedlent TO
reduce the taxes upon lands, lots improved or
unimproved, horses and mules and upon slaves,
about l84 per cent.
rive regret that we have not room tor Mr.
P.Ss tables of estimates. Their principal va
ration from ItlDSC Vi tN SOifih'tNIN W . q
nance consists in the application OF the princi-
ME laid down in his Report; viz, the deductng
in the first instance 49, per cent. on the re-
ceipts. estimated by he Finance Committee,
from lands. lots, slaves, and horses and mules.
The effect of this deduction runs through one
or two OF the subsequent items, such as the
amount of probable insolvencies. sheriff com
missinns. sc and it is seen IN the sum Total OF
Recsibts, which instead of being S555,2l3 %
IS bv the Committees Report, is estimated oy
Mr. i. at only S421,3l3 45-in the table OF
i; gb,, seneots. Mr. p. estimates the expenses OF
the General Assembly at 90,OOO instead OF
100 ooO doIlars-and of the Llnatic Hospital
9s0o less than the Report-it besides throws
out some few hints, as balance ofappropriation
% the penitentiary building. additional appro,
~nr;a,;on to the Governors house, election OF
President and Vice President OF the United
States-pay of agent to kentucky-and pro-
liable expenditure for Lexington arsenal and
guard. house on the Capitol square:-thus es-
mating the expenditures about S3O,oOO less
- he Renort-Nr P,'s Estimate concludes
th"s. [Eaq.
Total amount of nett Revenue
U ~ ~ character S42l313 As
From which deduc. the total a.
mousi of disbursements OF
an ordinary and permanent
character f'oooO w
And there will be an excess OF re-
ceip.s beyond the dsburse- -.
meets of l44oo 10
To which add the portion of the
present excess that may pro-
badly not be appropriated by
the present Assembly, and
the saving that may result
from an adjournment by the
10th day OF February which