Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-05

the past season, By the visitation of diseases in
various forms, never has Virginia had greater
reason To rejoice, at the general good health en-
loved by her citizens, every where throughout
her domain Nor did we realize The apprehen
sions once felt, as TO the effects upon our crop:
OF a cold and wet and unusualIylate spring anC
of severe summers drought. If our harvest:
have been somewhat less abundant in quantity
than they commonly are, the excellence OF theII
quality compensate the difference. Our agr
cultural products too being destined generally
for foreign markets. uninfuencrd by snch de-
rangement as that to which our own currency
has been subject, and whose increasing de
mands have not been satisfied by the diminish
ed supplies Of two or three years last past have
so been made 10 yield very satisfactory prices
Owing to these causes, our farmers generally
have comparatively little at which TO replne
whether they look to the past, TO The present, OF
to the future.
Philanthropy also, if not blinded by Fanati
cism, must have discerned during the late sea
son Of distress that pervaded the whole country
at least one blessing attending the peculiar ma
ture of our population. Our laboring class have
not felt the pressure of want. The privations o
this have here fallen upon those only who could
best sustain fhem. While the INDECENT, though
industrious, laborng class in many other States
have necessarily borne much more than juS
proportion of this artificial calamity, labor here
has continued to enjoy all its accustomed com
forts. The dminution Of the profits of capita
has in no degree diminished the enjoyments Of
labor. Hence the comparative quiet and hap.
ply tranquility throughout Virginia, amidst the
scenes of tumult and disorder which have agl-
tated some portions of the neighboring States.
In examining the domestic concerns of the
Commonwealth, the sub Jet whose importance
will first claim your consideration, is the conG!
l. IL.
sury during the fiscal year ending with the 30tl
Of September last, have been somewhat less
than the amount at which they were estimated
by the Comm tee Of Finance of the last Assem-
bly,. The difference between the two sums has
not been caused however. by an overrating the
amount Of Revenue expected. The reverse OF
this is the fact In almost every case. the amount
Of the Revenue has actually exceeded the esti-
mate made Of it by this Committee; and in the
few instances where this amount is less, the 40
gregate of deficiencies is much more than equal
led by the aggregate of excuses. Hence. the
reduced amount of receipts into the Treasury
cannot be ascribed to any deficiency of the Re.
venue, but the cause Of tie difference must be
sought for in something else.
The mode in which the estimate Of fiscal
receipts has usually been made is. to consider
the supposed amount Of the revenue Of any
year, as sum which will be paid into the Trca-
yer, a portion of this revenue has been actually
received into the Treasury, and constitutes a
part of the balance found there at the end of
the past fiscal yeIr. Thus, a sum no longer due
is computed as one still payable. This although
an obvious error Of calculation. will not pro-
duce any material difference of result, general
ly; because. while The same system Of taxation
continues, it may be estimated. very properly,
that, whatever portion of the revenue Of a cur
snry during the fiscal year preceding. like
amount Of the revenue of the succeeding year
will come into the Treasury during the current
fiscal year. So that, whether these equal sums
be both included or excluded, the result will re-
main the same.
This result will vary materially only when a
change takes place in the system OftaXation, or
in the circumstances that influence the coIlec-
ton Of the same taxes. The latter was the
case during the past fiscal year. The distress
of the country, caused by the arrangement Of
its circulation consequent upon the measures Of
the Federal Government, necessarily occasion
ed the payment Of the taxes to be made less
promptly, and the collection Of them more diff
cult than has usually happened. Hence, a
much less amount of the revenue of the present
year has been received into the Treasury dur.
ing the last fiscal year, than that Of the last
year. which was received during the year pre-
ceding it. Thus it has happened, that although
the sources of supply are actually multiplied
and augmented beyond what was expected,
they have not produced, as yet, an amount
equal to what was anticipated.
This effect however alarming in its first APP
pearance, is Of little consequence at present.
when the cause of it is ascertaned. The funds
in the Treasury, although diminished, have
been found ample to satisfy promptly every
charge to which they were subject; and the I'M
paid expected balance will swell tie receipts Of
the current fiscal year. Although this is the
case now. however no calculation, to be relied
upon, can he made as 10 the future. should the
existing state of things continue. The dimnu-
ton like the accumulation of capital acts with
IA force by no means ?roIortioned to the mere
difference The reduction in the amount of re-
venue paid into tie Treasury annually here
after must greatly exceed The reduction OF the
ability OF taxpayers to satisfy the demands mp
on them, II the same cause which has occasion
I'd their diminished ability continues to act in
the same way And. as over this cause the Go.
vcrnmeht Of this Commonwealth has no con
troll, lis effects can neither be forcsccn or coun-
tervaed 10y it.
AT present. it mrSt be Il source Of great gra-
tlhcarion to know. that, although the amount OF