Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-04-10
TowY AMP COUNTRY TAXES.

n he's been shswn that there great inequality IN th'
tas on rass 81 real In towns and IN the
county. This inequality ~ has also been shcwn, iuiringc
the Constitutions Of State and Union, and Is no
sustained upon any just principle. the letter and
spirit Of oar Consultations Indifferent towards IT, Some
of the pfcex upon which IL Is founded have been
srnned and exposed. There Others be sure, bu
those already stated TO be the strongest; and they
have been successfully eombsued, the Others will be
awaiting There Is more, however, which many ad
snccd acted upon without being aVowed' and for which
very high authority may be adduccd.
Il has been already intmhed that may think there
10 evil In towns for which they should DO heavily taxed
pcrhap. punishment for their wckedness, n dis
couragcmont their increase. II Is well known that the
opinions Of Mr.. Jefferson political subjects have been
long quoted with the authority OF undpuicd precedents
in the forum. Ga minds, the shortest passage from
his works produces strong conviction. His opinions ay
well have weight with every But there not few
who pin their whole faith To his trSe dtTH Consider
ing the mature reflection and commanding talents OF Mr..
Jefferson. this unusual, or unnatural but certainly
those who differ from him, may be allowed to maintain
their conclusions.
OF the odheren his opinions 1t Is thought, that his
grandson, Mr. Randolph, il Of the most tenacious
who scarcely requires stronger reason than that his
grandfather said In his case, the irresistible weight of
such authority natural than any other. Mr.. r.
influenced by education and love, besides that vcneruon
almost universally entertained for the memory o: his illus
magnier OF the important Agricultural interest and of the
cnoyments and privileges OF the county These, though
paramount he exalted 10 the too great dspagcmont
of other interests and advantages. The only Statesman
like consider State composed OF every inter
est existing within it, ascertain the value and mpor
lance OF EACH exat ALL without depressing
any, TO protect and encourage all, and dsParagc none
This may be difficult ATTAIN but it is indispensable TO
wise and equal legislation. Departures from it, when not
fragrant will be patiently submitted 10, from tolerance TO
the imperccton of human laws but there limit beyond
which tolerance does and ought TO cease, limit greatly
transcribed by the dsparitcs of the prescn, taxes.
One of the eas Political Economy is termed the Agr.
cultural. Then, IL commended that all value and IN.
crease production from the soil. There have al
NO been the commercial and the manufacturing when
the undue influence given TO commerce and ma
nuiaeres. In each era the prevailing interest was en-
couraged aud ostered, by appliance OF Government
To dspaagem and almost suppression OF the others
The present system Of Political Economy attaches great
ipuance 60 all these interests assigns each it, nu
ence upon the prosperity OF State, and enorces its
,,uragsn,ent and protection But there politicians
who are not political economists many of whom an
practice least tending towards the exploded agrcultu
RI, systcm and whose policy favorable the country
hut oppressive and injurious Mr.. X and his
compeers appear t be somewhat imbued with this GRO
neors system Ii will be borne in mind, that no attack Is
hereby intended upon personally or individuality
but only opposition and argument against the policy and
principles carried into practice by those referred to- Mr.
Randolph thus brought forward, because ct his position
as of the Finance Committee his paernal ela
all the views of Mr. Jefferson The foregoing remarks
pertinent introduction the opinion of Mr.. jefferson
To the immoral influence OF towns
When the yellow fever had made great ravagcs IN the
principal cities and Of the Atlantic States Mr.. j..
wrote TO Dr. Rush; "When great evils happen, | am in
the habit Of looking out for whagood arise from ho
ms constitutions u.s. and Providence has in fact cstab
ished the order of things that most evils the means
of producing good This Is most excellent habit
of mind and the proposition may be stated with truth,
broadly; for all evils sent as infections 10y Pro
whence, produce good No State be prosperous with
out a recognition of the experimenting Providence.
Mr.. j. continues: The yellow fever will discourage the
growth of grent cities Nation; and view great q.
lies pesents the morals the health and liberties OF
mankind True, they nJursh of the elegant arts;
hut the useful ones can thrive and less perfection
the others, with health virtue and Freedom would
be my choce This would be the choice Df every phian
thropist and patriot But may not Mr. JeterS0n's pre-
misses be wrong least require great modification.
he only advantage Of cities, viz; the Perec
ton Of the elegant arts
Now those who in the sentiments above
pressed may deem patriotic discourage the growth OF
towns in order prevent their pestenta influence from
busting the health virtue and freedom OF the STATE They
may, in a spirit OF mercy impose onerous burdens upon
their inhabitants ward OIL the yellow fever, some
other of Heavens awful scourges The vstaiions OF
Just awise and impartial Providence will never come I'M
meted; but erng mortas may by their unjust Infections
OF Cod 'iwho with equal eye Lord OF all" such
dscounging dsPensaiions be entrusted, and to him
alone.
Sull, IL Legislators firmly convinced that towns
injurious the State, they might persist dis
their growth ny means apparently eiicctu
al ana innocent unequal taxation. Hence, the fact
itself be examined. Mr.. J. confined his remarks
large cities aud, IN his view, OF have
reached the pesrenual point None but the useful arts
find patrons among Still 1t may be thought the best
way dwarf giant is TO stint him when he Is small
Would the giant, then be dangerous he is repre-.
scented, ne permitted 10 grow
Professor Tucker, in his "c OF Jefferson argues tho
subject OF the letter 10 Dr. Rush. pro and con, length
and concludes thus "upon the whole, them It ii
may console ourselves with the reflection that the
which the
ing density Of population, i necessarily unirienty
morality or happiness. Professor Dew - Of the
opinion, and many of toe eminent Professors
Of Moral Philosophy. Mr. Calhoun says, lie oon.emp-
laoS the progress OF the arts towards perfection
country, with feelings little short Of enthusiasm
Because towns mostly Wing IN politics, will be SUI.
fcicn with prove, that they inmca
Liberty, and should be checked and depopua:ed. With
such, and It is hoped they few very few idle
argue. But the liberal and just will grant freedom
Of opinion and equality OF State burdens. The have
right demand them and timely justice may d
deal Of angry contention and pent up bitterness Eyen
should towns be immoral, penal laws aud moral and re
gous Institutions the remedies recognised and provided
by law. Any other remedy wrong and supposed
pediency Justify it. Noone could for moment vudi
cate the encouragement OF towns, order diminish
Wing mal0nes, which they generally give. Let them take
care them that they by sanction unjust policy
which coyerily and oprressTey produces this result.
The depressing influence Of the present
upon towns great and unavOdahle aud particularly
this time. The cost of building aud improving is
much less than It was two three years ago and ts
would promote Improvement but that tins advantage Is
than cOunteacted by the taxes. In
provonons still carried by few, who fou.
naey beyond the reach OF these times; but how are
they checked and prevented Every corporation too has
taxes. and IN these days Of deprecated stocks IN.
tcrnal Improvements, Improbable yet aud consequential
dcbtcdnc.s draft is made upon tOwnsman.
aud whilst he IS pressed the demands Of his
family, IL were his generous mother, contrary her
WILL made, by her constituted executors, him
much as her other children.
How does Richmond illustrate all these facts Her Cit.
depressed involved aud crushed; herself debt and
the OF iucurng expense for lighting the city.
called for by he people az the election; her stocks
deprecated; and all her crippled The james
RIVER proud hope her great reliance pours his waters
yet his treasures into her lap. Thus her liabilities arc
great and her taxes high Ia her very heart nearly
whole squares lie and the slightest enclosure deem
cd expensive. Animals where palaces might -tlud
and sheds shantes aud workshops with Exchange or
handsome temple. Fire uaps and finder boxes
ed in midst OF valuable buildings which they ondangcr
aud lone chimney has for years marked the site of
greate.t tnroughare Thus. from The effect u the hmcs