, 1841-07-03
HI r
SATURDAY, JULY 8, IS4I.
HI LICENSE SYSTEM.

1HE LlCENSE S1SIEM.
There are but few States of the Union in
which a large portion of the State Revenue
is not derived from Licenses granted to Mer-
chants, grocers and others, to vend and
deal in the articles of their particular trade,
or profession. We have not the means at
hand of ascertaining what proportion of the
revenue Of this State, is raised in this way.
Our Law views the merchant and the gro
Ger, in a different light from any other class
OF citizens. 1t places no restraint upon the
farmer or the mechanic in the pursuit Of his
business-it lays no special tax upon him,
before he is permitted TO engage in the avo-
cation Of his choice. So far as they are
concerned, the law leaves him to pursue his
happiness as inclination may prompt or his
judgement dictate. This is as it should be.
Every individual possesses the natural right
TO adopt whatever trade, profession or occu-
patton ia life, that he may deem most con-
ducive to his happiness. The only restraint
upon this right, is that maxim of the com
mon law, utere tho ut non laea1s aGcao-so use
your own as not TO DO injury to another
And government or society should not, and
ought not to 60 further than this. II cannot
of right throw any obstacle IN the way of
the exercise of any profession or business
by any Of its citizens or place any restraint
upon tie liberty of the individual, further
than TO prevent him from doing an injury to
his fellowman. More than this is usurpation
and tyranny. But the whole license system
is a departure fron these acknowledged prin.
ciples. The Merchant is prohibited from
selling goods wares and merchandise, under
the penalty pinot less than $50 nor more than
$500, for every offence. He is required not
only 10 pay an ad-valorem tax upon the
amount of merchandise &C., that he may
offer for sale, but before he can commence
the business of selling and trading he must
obtain a license-in other words he must
pay certain price for the privilege of being
a merchant. If he sells a yard Of tape, or
an ounce of indigo, he is liable TO be indict-
ed and fined as high as $500 for each
yard, or ounce that he sells. If the Legisla-
ture had said that before any farmer should
set out a plant Of tobacco, or sow a bushel
ofwheat or plant a grain Of corn in this State
he should go to the collector of the Revenue
or the Clerk Of the County Court, and take
out license to do these things, under a severe
penalty, and at the same time pay $40 or
SIS, for this license, every one would at
once cry out against the monstrous usurpa-
ton. If it had said TO every house joiner
carpenter, cabinet maker, and brick layer,
that wends his way to the fertile prairies Of
Missouri, and seeks a home in our midst, be-
fore you shall lay a brick, put up a cabin, or
make table, you shall pay S. to the State
aud County, and so cents each to the calIec-
tor and clerk for the privilege of carrying
On your trade within our limits, how long
would it be before the trainers of such a
law, would escape a coat Of tar and feathers?
The voices Of more than a quarter Of mill
ION Of freeman would ring in the ears Of
these Legislators, and would proclaim to
them that they had transcended their pow.
srs-ihat they had exercised authority nev-
e. confided, to them, and they had attempt
edto infringe one of the natural rights of
me citizen. II it be properly considered, this
"no more an Infringement Of natural right,