Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-28

moved 10 MI the first blank in the bill with Ciht
cents, as the tax 10 be imposed on tie SiOO
worm OF land. MIR. PGtteson moved to iii the
blank with cents, which he said would he n
reduction OF 125 per centum from the tax of last
year. Wishing 10 make this question the fest If
the sense of the House, on the reduction of The
taxes. he called for the ayes and noes, and said
that n the proposition was decided against him
lie should not attempt reduction in any other
article.
bIr. GARLAND sustained the motion made nv
nun. III there was TO be reduction in the
taxes, he thought the tax on law process, which
was a war tax, might be with more propricty re-
dnced. But he insisted, that TO meet the public
| expenses, aud the engagements for which tie
PUBIC faith stood plighted, If was necessary that
the present taxes should remain. And TO prove
TINS proposition, Mr.. G.. went into financial de-
'ais and calculations. lie said there was no
man IN the House who would bc more willing
man himself to reduce the taxes If he could see
now II could be done, and how the government
could get along. TO reduce the taxes nov. and
DC urlven To the necessity of increasing them
! again at the next session, would be unwise in
| ''le extreme. lie enumerated all the new
sources oil expenditure To which the present ses-
sion had, and would, probably give rise. 10 show
mat The balance in the treasury at the end of the
year, VIII he very small. Besides these claims
| upon the treasury, 1t was known that ~ was
before the House for call of CDn lion
suppose, he asked, thata majority of the people
were IN favor of 4 Con, ,ntion, will it not be
Pofer Tor the government to be prepared to
| pay Tue necessary expenses. independent of
'hcse considerations, uught not every govern
thent 10 be prepared to pay the contingent cx-
penses, which will occur; but which cannot
be iOrcscen.
| MIR. WINSTON was i'm favor of reducing the
af thp 81, c,,rh,
10 justify, session before the last, an appropria-
lion oil $4,000 Ia the Sinking Fund: and If &C
cording 10 The Report of the Finance Commit.
tee, there will be in the Treasury at the end of
the year, S. 10000, whey, he asked, not reduce
the take: The Committee recommend the ap-
pllcatIon OF $4,000, ofthis sum, TO the cxtin-
gui'hnent oi the per cent debt. The re-
ihaihdcr OF tins balance when added to several
items which he mentioned, would amount TO
So0,OOO. But on this balance there would be
chargeable, ior tie payment of responsibilities
Incurred tins session, beyond the ordinary ex-
pchscs oil the government, the sum of about
S'3,OoO, according TO the best estimates that
had been made. The proposed reduction will
only operate upon the operations of the next
! fiscal year and not this. The ba'ance in the
Treasury according TO his estimate at the ter
Inlnation OF the next fiscal year upon the propos-
! ell plan OF reduction will be nearly S3l, OO0.-|
|
te'np!atcd IN tho expenditures of the govern
ment which would increase the balance in
the Treasury TO more than 5 900. Where,
therefore, lac asked, wac the necessity of re-
tanning The present rate of taxation.
y! MI. IATTESoN sad petition was referred
: To the C0innittee oi Finance at the last session
praying reduction If the taxes on law process.
MIR Garland then cuntended that those who
gave rss TO courts shonid pay The expense of
| them. Now Mr. +. hoped that the House
would not lake a measure on Mr.. G's sug-
! gcsi:on, which he himself rejected Mr. i.
though! II the calculations and views OF the
chairman of the committee were correct, the
taxes ought TO be increased instead of remain-
ing they are
Mr.. p. could not believe it wise policy TO
pay Oh tile Z per cent debt due TO the Litera
~ Fund, TO tic rcinS csted by that fund, in
some other stock. The reinyestment of the
amount contemplated To be paid he said, could
not be made without loss to the Fund OF
about $3.50 OF principal. The annual IN
tere,t on this is about G2S5i. To tins add
Inc ANIMAL loss OF one per cent on the whole
debt SjI9,G00, (S3,190), and YOU have the
amount OF SOL, as the loss of annual inter
! est 10 the fund by rcdeerning the debt. lftl,s
/ operation be performed, the present deficen
cy OF the Literary Fund, added TO this new
! loss. wilt make the revenue of that fund fall
| Si2,029,00 short ANNUALLY of tic claims now
upon H. Well might the Committee say il
could not be rs advantageously invested again.
| Mr.. II. said that the three million bill which
was before til, House at former session, con-
tanned pledge of the surplus revenue of the
state, Of $4,000, as a fund for the payment of
interest. Now, lie asked, how was il possible
with the same taxes, that this surplus should not
still exist, aud justify the reduction which he
prOpOSedo He was under tie imnrnSsIOn flat
MIR. G. had supported this bill. He was sure,
however, that lie had supported bill for loan
OF S2,O00,0OO for internal inprov emept, and,
for the payment OF interest; that bill pledged the
surplus revenue of the state and certain tolls.
How much revenue was thus pledged, could
not be asCertained by the bill itself. What
would have been the genteman'S argument OH
those occasions, if the existence OF the surplus
revenue had been denied? Would he not have
cODtended for its cXistcuce' And how can he
now, consistently, take opposite ground Mr..
T.. had no idea OF bringing money into the
treasury by taxation, 20 be source of scheming
and speculation. He drew distinction between
revenue, and an Appropriation bill. The mo-
ney was in the one instance in the treasury, and
=, arguments as TO responsibilities were applicable.
Not SO, however, with revenue bill, except in
relation TO the permanent expenses OF the gov
, ! erniDeDt. lfthere was smaller surplus IN the
treasury, many bills would be rejected that are
now passed, and the House would not sit here 50
long debating and discussing schemes. Econo-
my would be more studied.
MIR. GARLAND disclaimed any intention to
go into any subject not properly before the
House. Loan bills and all such matters stood
= upon their OVID merits. As 10 his consistency :
= that was a question between him and bis con-
stituents. No man was more willing to grant
ROLF fo fi,, ho hat G