American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-01-18

rule of 8. z, 6, as had long been the custom. ,bs
grea, and dsproportona;e sum of 80 200 AZ wa.
exacted OF Newcastle, while Kent was REQUIRED IN
contribute more than 32,S97 rs, and SUSSEX
|S2,885 80, the amount oil both which sums !,
SS,532 ga less than the sum determined to h.
drawn from the pockets OF The taxabes in New.
castle. The law providing FOR the imposition of 81
unequal a portion OF the tax on that County and
50 variant from all former alotments, excited a,
might have been expected an indignation, and pro
duced ferment among the citizens, which resulted
in their refusing to pay the tax. This led, in 1876
10 the passage of the law for state assessment.
To tax Newcastle County proporliona,eiy to he,
supposed lcealth, had been avorlte idea long en-
lei tanned and talked Of by the politicians of Kent and
Sussex, but was never seriously attempted to be
carried into execution till in the years 1915 & 1876
Three years were consumed, and $4,000 or I'd.
wards were expended, in making the State assess.
ment, and from The time OF its completion to the
present moment it has not been acted on Its priD
ciple is yet to be tested, and 1t will be SEEM in case
OF an attempt to enforce it, whether the citizens Of
Newcastle County respect their rights, will SUB
nit to injustice. They have an equal Representa-.
ton in both Branches of the Legislature with each
OF the other Counties, and no more. And toward,
the expense OF compensang the members OF the
Legislature, their officers, and other public function
aries of the State, who paid OF the State rea.
x
pense incurred by the State, they are in Justice
bound TO contribute equally with Kent and Sussex,
but not in higher proportion. except their number
OF Representatives in the Legislature be first increas-
led Without such additional representation their
numerical excess over the population OF each Of
those Counties entities them 10, an equal contrbu.
ton could not on fair republican principles, be de.
manded OF them. This would accord with the bro.
vision in the constitution OF The U. States relating to
4
direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several
States which may be included within this Union,
according to their lespeci,e numbers - popala.
t,on, not ceatth having, alter mature delibealion,
been agreed on by the Federal Convention as the
true basis OF the taxes to be directly imposed on The
people of the several States, as well as of the num-
Der Of Representatives to be allowed them. Accor.
dinghy, whenever direct tax has been laid by the
national Legislature, it has been apportoned among
the States like their Representatives, in the ratio Of
their respective numbers. This would appear to
be perfectly consonan to reason as an equal popu
ation in one division OF Stale Empire claiming
equal rights and privileges and having similar inter-
ess with another, ought 10 be presumed 10 possess
The same ability and is certainly under the OBJ
legation, to provide for the exercise Of those rights
aud privileges, and for attending those Interests
Had wealth instead of population been adopted by
the Convention as the rule OF apportionment Tor Re
representatives. and direct taxes, II would have intro
duced into the Constitution an aistocrac principle
IN regard to the former, a State would have been
entitled 10 more or less numerous representation
according 10 its greater or less degree Of wealth :;
and as 1t respects tine latter, 1t would have wanted
the certainty and precision which belongs to popu.
ation. Besides, the enumeration OF the people can
with facility be Effected and frequently repeated q!
small expense whereas the difficulties that stand
IN the way OF making accurate estimates of proper
Iy in the respective States are many and serious il /
not insurmountabe. And these would be the source
| OF perpetual embarrassment and contention. WiSelA
therefore, most uiseiy, did the Convention deter.
NINE that Representatives and direct taxes should
be appotioned among the States according to their
respective numbers.
| The greater wealth of Newcastle is not reason,
considered apart from her population, and its rep |
resentaion in the Legislature, why she should be [
obliged TO pay more than Ken, Sussex of the ex
penses OF government, the benefits OF which ave
extended alike TO all. 1t would not be right, for in
stance, that after compromising her own Represen
tatives she should be compelled to pay also part
OF the compensation due TO The members from those
Counties. Considering, however, that her number
lot inhabitants is larger than that OF either of those
lCounlies, and admitting (what is not q tact) that
she Is pfoportionay represented, it would be no IN
Justice to assign her quota O State In the same
ralio-her greater population, from possessing an
adequate representation, being placed in situation
to have its rights and its interests better protected
and promoted, than if imperfecy represented
| 1t requires little iore,hought to see that the PEG.
pie OF Newcastle County are destined ar future
perhaps no distant day, to be vastly more numerous
than at present. That part Of the County situated
to the north oil the Delaware and Chesapeake Ca
nal will be the most remarkable for the increase OIL
its inhabitants. lis advantages of climate soil, /
water power, navigation, and favorable location for
an extensive domestic trade, if improved as they
may, and doubtless will be, cannot TAIL of giving
degree OF population, which, with what is contain
ed in the southern section of the Couaty, will be- /