Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-29

Al.
and in the beginning for the commencement. OF ' deh,
systen are to burthen the State with an aool'oha' ue
Of nearly six millions Of dollars
But although this report directly recommends an ao
mentaon of The rates Of taxation TO provide against con
tinoences and create fund for the extension oil lhe
system of improvement future day, gentlemen con-
tend that there will be occasion tor this-lat you
adop the report and carry out the resolutions OF ne com
millee, and The Internal Improvement uho wiz y s'o
income sufficient to keep down the interest upon the
debts of the monwealth, and 10 establish SINKING
fund for The reimbursement OF tie principal lhef az
oumen,s and calculations founded on the Assumption,
that there TO be additional appropriations u
from the Treasurythat the surplus revenue now on oe
oosi,e with The State, is 10 be regarded as gut, hol
oan-end thnt it be made part OF the permanent
fund for Internal improvement The statement o 'e
grounds upon which these arguments and calcuiaAo"s
are founded is sufficient refutaon. But independ'
sn,ly If This. if may use the expression Of dsln-
ussd citizen Of our State, made in reference 10 an
spnropriaton by Congress, would tell gentlemen that
their calculations are worth nothing that the cstnalea
cos, Of public work very often proves not more lhu
sufficient, 10 pay the first instal ment
In the view which have tuken OF this subject, nave
moi thought it necessary TO institute any inquiry az 70
the importance to examine the merits or relative
merits of the specific works recommended 10 DC con-
strucled. have looked only 10 the principles upon
which they are 10 be made 10 the system here proposed
and. Sir. if YOU will examine the Typographical tea
lures of the State and then observe the results OF our
present system Of taxation, you WI" al once perceive
what is to be the operation Of this system Look nj Inc
man of the Stale survey The surface oil The country
famine the history of past legislation this SUBJECT
and YOU will discover that more numerous, more exten
sive and more expensive works OF Improvement are
wanted have been projected and Will be projected IN
one of the great divisions OF The State than are
O, are likely 10 be projected in the other Look, again.
TO ourlsys,en of sxalion and you will lind that OF lle
whole revenue of the State derived from taxation much
the LARGEST portion collected of The People inhubng
tina, part of the State which is situated South and East
of the Blue Ridge of Mountains. The slave population
alone paws about 20 per cent Of the whole amount OF
this revcnue-and while in the East, this is great
prominent and important interest," it is an interest al
most peculiar it, and comparatively OF but little con-
sequence in other parts of the Slate-lt Is, moreover,
an interest very oppressiyely dealt WITH and
will always he ready md convenient subject OF taxa
ton, and one upon which the tax can be always most
easily collected
am aware that this is merely proposition for loan
to crente debt. But what Sir is debt but taxation at
last. The debt must be guidalcd-the day Of payment
will arrive, and with it must the tax Hence my
objection 10 this scheme 1t only be carried out BY
oppressive and unequal axation that must and will opc-
rale with greul severity upon particular sections OF the
Commonwealth. And how far are we 10 go? To what
is this system 10 be carried? 10 the extent Of The
ability Of the tax payers TO pay' How is that ability to
be estimated? speak especially with reference 10
the peculiar interest TO which have already adverted.
To avoid the disproporlion Of tax resulting from the
locality of The sayehodng interest will you establish
ratio oil taxation between land and slaves: And 10 effect
this will you substitute ad valorem in lieu OF the ca
pilaon tax which the policy Of the law has heretofore
imposed? This would be unjust, and still more oppres.
sye-!o although you might thus estimate the value OF
save aG0r the value of the property ITSELF which The
subject of laxaon bears fixed ratio to the value OF
the labor but depends upon other and exrnslc causes
The gentleman from Northampton, (Mr. Segar0 who
addressed the House ably and eIoqueny few days
ngo laid down the position that the annual produce OF
land and labor constituted the wealth OF county, and
he went on 10 argue that liberal and extended system
Of improvement would impose check upon emigration
would increase The products-and add intellectually
TO the wealth Of the State Sir, the strong current OF
emigration from Virginia has proceeded from the Sec
lions of the State that the least interested In the con-
sructon Of the specific works recommended IN the re-
port of the committee, in any system oil improvement
that you can udopt-aud had supposed that il was The
uncertainty of land titles 10 the West that had retarded
the settlement and operated The great upon
the prosperity and improvement OF that section OF coun
try Be this as il may-l have already adverted TO the
pecuar character Of The greater portion of the labor
which we employ, and maintain that IT you Increase
the burthens upon this labor 10 the same extent VIII yu
impair its value and hazard the assertion, that ii you
augment the rates of taxation 10 any considerable
extent upon this labor, you will do more TO destroy
the institution Ut slavery in Virginia, than has ever
yet been, or be accomplished by colonization
or fanalicsm, More than this, Sir-you will open
fountain That will pour out the tribute OF It's waters 10
swell the strong tide of emigration flowing through
the land You will drive many OF your best citizens
from YOUR borders .-.k more genial CLINE, more
rtlIe soil, and was about 10 add, more parental Co
vernment. You will compel them 10 sever Tho attach
men,s which now bind them 10 the homes oil their IA
theirs, to the land Of their birth and Of their "hears
love- pursue their fortunes in another land and den
tify their interests with another people.
Mr.. Speaker, while am not one OF those who believe
this 10 be the only or most important object of Go.
vernmenl, not insensble TO the benefits that must
result from the construction Of important lines OF inter-
between different sections of the Com
monweaI, in developing the resources OF the State,
and contributing the wealth and prosperity Of the fu
vored regions. But, Sir, although feel deep and
lively interest," and would rejoice most heartily in every
thing that would tend 10 the advancement OF the true IN
tpress and prosperity of the whole and
of every portion OF the Commonwealth, um free TO
confess, unpopular the avowa may be upon this
6oor that in this matter, in the course which shall
pursue upon this subject, shall have regard and an
especial regard for the interests of those whom here
represent While | admit that the sanction Of this
scheme would advance the interests, and confer import
ant advantages and most " munifcent bounties upon
some sections Of the Commonwealth, contend that its
effects upon other and less favored regions would be dis
and oppressive in The extreme For hold that
if you discard the joint stock twofth principle upon
which you have hitherto acted in the construction Of
works Of this kind, this will and must ultimately become
question Of taxation. 10 advance the cause Of inI
at the present time, upon other or different
prnc pies, you must buthen section of the State
with enormous dsproporon Of tax while you confer
upon II 10 advantage or bounty, advance no important
interest. And here allow to remark that although
the rich valleys and fertile districts OF The State may be
able 10 bear much heavier burhen, it is not so with
that portion, (and it is by inconslderabe
porlionD Of The Eastern country which consists OF ex
lauslrd fields, and comparatively sterile and unproduc.
tive ridges.
But the idea has been held OUT and ably maintained,
tina, experience and The results in other States where
improvements have been made almost entirely State
account Justify the Inference that upon this principle,
public works would be prosecuted with energy and
economy, and yield profit sufficient to keep down the
ipfpr oG and
reimburse the principal Sir, it is to attain this very
end 10 this very result that desire the retention
of the joint stock two-h principle If you require an
individual subscription before you pledge the funds of the
State 10 any work of improvement, you have the strong
est assurance and The best guarantee that the conem
plated work will be udicously located and economically
constructed; that will be ada pied TO the wants. and con-
ducive to the interests of The community, while at the