Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-12-28

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Wednesday, December ID, 1886.
THE SURPLUS

Wednesday, December ID, 1885.
THE SURPLUS REVENUE.
On motion of Mr.. Dorman, the bill
on this subject, with Mr. Booker's a
mendment was taken up.
The amendment proposes to strike
out the following preamble
"And whereas it seems to the Gen
eral Assembly fit and ~expedient that
tae State Of Virginia should receive
its proportion of the surplus in the said
rscited section mentioned, on the terms
therein namsd''-and insert tho SUBJ
joined
"And, whereas, in the opinion of
| the General Assembly, the surplus re-
venue is greatly to be attributed to the
protective tariff, which is odious to the
people of this commonwealth, from the
agitation it produced in our Union, and
its unconstitutional AND unjust opera
ton ; a system of unjust and unneces-
sary exaction by the Government Of
the United States from the people /;
followed up by an unequal distribution
among them could not fail to degrade
and weaken the Union, impair the in
dependence Of the States, produce un.
fortunate contests, and unwise appro.
priations in the State Legislatures. In
the confident hope that the revenue of
the United States will be speedily re-.
duced to the wants of the government,
The General Assembly has agreed TO
receive the money on deposit, and pied
ges the faith of the commonwealth to
preserve the amount deposited. in order
to be refunded accoding to the terms of
the act of Congress aforesaid, and to
apply the interest that may accrue
therefrom, whilst in deposit with the
State. to the reduction Of the taxes OF
this commonwealth, or the redemption
of the debt thereof"
Mr.. Watkins moved the following
substitute for Mr.. Booker's amend
ment.
"And whereas, tho General Assem-
bly,, regarding the provisions ofthe said
recited section, as a mere temporary
expedient for relieving the treasury of
the United States ofa large surplus
fund already accrued, which could not
remain to its credit in its ordinary de-
p~ositories, the State banks, without
presenting dangerous temptations to
both ~extravagant expenditures by Con-
gress and the spirit of over-trading by
the banks, deems it fit and expedient
that the State of Virginia should, in
good faith, receive its proportion ofthe
surplus aforesaid, on the terms stipula.
ted in the said section I; but, DESTROYS
that this act shall not be drawn into a
precedent to sanction any system oftax-
alton by the Federal Government,
whose object Is wholly or in part TO
raise money from the people for the
subsequent distribution amongthe states
doth urge the propriety Of timely mea-
sures to prevent the future accumula-
ton o~frevenue beyond the legitimate
wants of the General Government, and
doth hereby solemnly protest against
the exaction Of the General Govern
ment, OF other and greater taxes than
those which may be necessary for the
Just expenses thereof, economically ad.
ministered !; and doth further protest
against any system, which shall per-
NIT the collection Of such surplus v
nue., and afterwards, directly or indi-
rectly, distribute it among the states OF
this Union, regarding such a system as
impolitic, unjust, and tending in its op.
GRAFTON, to confound the separate func.
tons of the State and Federal Govern
| ments, and to impair the independence
ofthe States"
This question was discussed at con-
siderable length, by Messrs. Harrison,
Booker, Watkins, Moore, and Dorman,
and the ayes and noes having been or
dered, on the adoption of the amend
ment TO the amendment, at the call OF
Mr.. Watkins, the question was put
and decided in the affirmative by the
following vote Ayes, 100, Noes, %.
The question then recurring upon
the amendment as amended--Mr. Hun.
ter read the following, which he said
he would offer, should the amendment
a, amended be rejected
"And whereas, the General Assem-