Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-11-18
Tuesday, Norember ;.

( Char.
Mr.. LEIGH Of Chesterfield, address7d
the Committee in a speech Of three hours
/ in favor Of the compound basis. We s,b
ioin an extract from his speech
Mr.. LEIGH, of Chesterfield, then r1e
/ ts address the Chair. he said he had as
en- 70 address the Committee: and hehad
risen with much reluctance and disagrea-
ible feeling, having to follow the gentleman
from Loudon, (Mr. Monroe) who adGes-
sed the Committee yesterday, who, rom
his advanced age, great experience, tong
service, the high station he had held IN the
public confidence, and the vast space he
had filed in the eye Of mankind, had ac-
CURED that greatweight Of character, which
serves to deepen the impression of every
opinion he gives. It was that weight OF
character Of which Mr.. Leigh said he had
noae, literally none. Nevertheless, this
was one Of those occurrences which he
could toke counsel only from his sense OF
duir; and even if George Washington
hiGself we're to rise from the dead, and to
propose @ compromise so partial as be con-
s.dered this 10 be, so destructive, so ruin-
Gus, Sc damuat9ry Of the dearest interests
Of the people vino had sent him hitiirf, he
believed 10 his heart that ne should md
moral courage to resist and oppose Il. 1t
might be admitted. be stsSteTHet come, bat
It would not be yor faacibGs hGst. His
hairs might stand on end, bat the voice
would not faIter; his tongue would not
cleave to his Jaws. He would raise such
an alarm and terror as would strike the
dullest nearer, and tetrify every thing bat
the heart Of rgformer, hardened by ex-
peumenhng onthe rights Of man, to asCer-
tam how large a dose Of French principles
might be administered without causing their
destruction.
An the knowledge possess, (said Mr..
Leigh as you Mr. Chairman know, and
I'LL myhabits Of thinking IS confined to mere
law and justice, and one not fit
10 be applied to great questions of State.
In his profession, he said, it was always
necessary to give q clear statement Of the
ase and then submit his views upon it.
He then, for the information of the Com
n.uee, went into the following statements:
The twenty nine counties lying below
the Blue Ridge and above tide water, pay
land tax of 342 cents per head; the
.hirty.six counties and four towns below
tide water. pay 81 cents; the fourteen
Valley counties pay I'll cents; and the
twenty-six counties beyond the Allegheny
pay l25 cents. or the tax on the slaves
the tweuty-nine cOunlos below the Blue
Ridge pay 256 cents each; the thirty
SIX counties and four towns on tide pay II
s cents each; the fourteen Valley cotahes
pay 60 cents each; and the tweny.sx
trans Allegheny counties pay s.. 'ents
each Oftho horse and carriage tax which
the West tells Us IN an equivalent, the
twenty-lIne middle counties pay 9.3 cents
each; the .hrty-siX counties and four towns
on tide water pay 8 cents each; the four
teen Valley counties pay SO cents each;
and the twenty-six trans-A.legheny cOun-
ties pay Il cents each. The proportions
of totals ofdrect taxes which the different
sections pay, are-the twenty.nine Middle
counties pay 1872 cents each; the thlrly SIX
counties and four towns on tide pay 639
cents; the fourteen Valley counties pay
1915 cents; and the twenty.six trans-Alle-
gheny counties 22.7 cents each.
Computing the average tax per head on
the tax paying citizens whites and free
blacks, East of the Blue Ridge, the land
tax is 81 7; and West of the Blue Ridge,
1876; the slave tax is 26.8 East of the
Blue Ridge, and 5 cents West of the Blue
Ridge; the horse and carriage tax is 81
East of the Blue Ridge, and 7.6 West OF
the Blue Ridge Comparing the total pay
ments Of all taxes into the Treasury, the
proportion is, East of the BIle Ridge So
cents per head; and West of the Blue
Ridge 322 cents per head.
He would further inform the COMMITTEES
Of comparison between several districts
Of country. Take the Congressional dis
tricts composed of Sussex, Southampton
Prince George, Isle of Wight and Greens,
vile. one the least fertile of the Southern
part of the State. The average of taxes
paid in TINS district Island tax p pei
head, slaves 80; horse and carriage 10
making a total Of 81 per head
Take the district composed Of Loudoun
Fairfax and Prince William; the averag,
Of Land tax is g; Of slave tax II; o
horse and carriage tax :; making totato
81 per head.
Take the rich and fertile counties Of Ere
derrick aud Shenandoah, the best in In
commonwealth while Northampton pay
a total of G3, they only pay total Of 4: