Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-04-05
TOWN AYp COUNTRY TAXES,


make citizen pay according to his ability that the
sss shOud be Tor all parts Of the State II has been
nnuaed and perhaps asserted. that the Wings oPpos
cd 10 increasing the tasesi Tis tnosen NOT 10 Dc
Tksy are opposed Inequality and usfioe IN faraOR
and NOT 10 aa Increase Of e fares! Moreover when il is
necessary funds pay the public creditors they
deem IL cupabe and unjust pay them by taking away
any part Of what due them You, well they.
think these things decidedly wrong, by whom
committed IT, then, the Tax Bill produces unjust quail.
~ takes away any portion of the debt due the public
creditor, you will condemn it, and consequently, its
thor.
You WILL Also bear in mind the importance OF the Rere
Bill, the chief Of STATE IL IL indeed
much the habit make national affairs the dividing
line between in matters pertaining exclusively to
State. Thus uhiisf often aroused by the cry
of "FsderaisE," your Estate rights" suffering
home. You should with watch and guard
national interests; but let the "asciyious pleasing OF
Democratic Hte lu you sleep domestic al
fairs Watch the General Government, by all means and
zee that in the orbit prescribed by the Cons-
ton bat guard with jealousy your interests home
Tho Federal long and dangerous but the only
instrument that reach injurc Estate rights" Had
you national representatives, the importance present
attached To Federal politics your Legislature would be
proper enough but have national representatives
the tendency OF things is much dstrust them
and put every thing into the hands of the State Legislature
Hence IL has that delegates here take much bet
ter a the affairs OF Congress and Presidential Flee
lions, than Of what they sent here for They rail
the Tariff and brand UNANIMOUSLY unequal and oppres
evc certain sections OF the country; and pass
hill oppressive and the Eastern part OF the
State, then the Tariff could have been South
Carolina This consistent-it is right, in any
possible view OF things. You have matters OF deep
cern apart from national affairs and should lay
upon them in selecting your Legislators. OF all these State
matters the most important Is the tax BILL because
universally felt and every Let one
therefore. with hand point To the dangers from the
Federal Government, and whilst you wading them off
slip the other hand In pocket and take money
Justly.
The ehi,f objection TO the Tar Bill Is that rs unequal
and consequently unjust oppressive aud odiOus Whether
~ be 50 or not is the issue,
lst. Is wrong for the Tax Bill be unequal This
be conceded by a for the value the necessity
Of equaliy is well known in country. Equality is
the basis OF institutions But. there high
authorities this subject 1t Is well to adducc them The
Virginia "b of rights" that Government Is, ougat
be- instituted for the common benefit protection and
ty OF the people" &c. Again-the bi ot rights
says man, OF men, entitled TO exclusive,
separate omouments, privileges" &c. The frst
Gle OF the Constitution of Virginia declares that the b OF
rights is he basis and foundation of Government" Equal
iy then, the basis and foundation of the Government Of
hls State. But there authority which, though high
direct and OF more extensive application than
the foregoing The Constitution Of the United States
a duties. and excuses shall be uniform throughout
the United Duties impos and excuses under the
Federal Government correspond the direct in the
States; and the requisition OF the Constitution that
ton, for the support OF the Federal Government shall be
equal Imay, process OF time, become necessary
pose taxes, for the support OF the General Govern
meat, part at least The Constitution has anticipated
and declares, Representatives and direct fdreS shall
be apporioned among the several States which may be
cuded within this Union, according their respective
numbers &C. Sec. III. g. Equality required both
and indirect II them The bill roiafe
thus equality rioates the letter Of Constitution and
the spiTHot Liberty itself nhieh they are founded
Badly Does equality The fret section exacts
.Ol lands for every 800 ualue thereof fifteen cents
for all houses and lots in any City, borough. town,
three dollars and srfy cents every OO yearly rent
annual value thereof" AT this many persons an
will be made pay triee much taxes, they
would have pay he amount OF real in the
country. g. house nearly opposite sold for $1,000;
iirents Tor $1,000 The tax on $1,000 $3.50 per cent
$500; whereas farm in the Country worth
$4,000 would pay Of only Sl5, not half much
house and lot in town, worth only $4,000, pays very
nearly much large landed worth S25,
Is there any equality IN this.
There might, under peculiar circumstances be
ceptons the rule OF equality but they should be
rare and unavoidable plainly jusSbe. But this dspa
ny applies every and borough IN the
wealth II citizen live Just without the corporation line
though his property Ia greatly enhanced in value by is VI
ciniy to the town, he pays only 10 cents for every 800
pdiUe; but his property Is within the condemned
circle his nearly quite doubled. Thus the dis
inch may make difference in the
the citizen has pay the State. AL the property
Is valuable paw twice much taxes country
lands but great deal of it is and the ratio OF Is
equal and UNJUST
The first also enacts: For all houses and lots in
any CITY, borough town, improved and rented
cuped andor all unimprOyeG lots aforesaid
for every 800 ralue thereof Thus house and shut
mp and unproducve IS placed equality with the best
cultivated ands but this fair because lands and ought
10 be taxed, whether cultivated Value is only
thing that ought be consider and value assessed
In town easily as IN the country. By this disparity
between real country the small
which the City Of Richmond built made pay
nearly much State our large and fertile
counties; as the whole county OF Louden. Ii the do
hand these would be fully illustrated
3rdly There several considerations which ure offer
cd answers the statements lust made as the vast
difference between town and country 1t is said thai,
the corporations themselves make difference between
improved occupied and unmproyed lots and the State hasa
right the principle, make similar distinction
between lands IN town and the country. This argument
shallow and desrucuSe has been boldly advanced by the
Enquirer. The corporations have the whole matter within
their hands. The people of lay the taxes upon
themselves exclusively, and may properly be guided only
by the demands they have TO meet ANY unjust dscrim-
nations they have within their power prevent since
they have government within themselves under her
own control They take partial and exclusive Of
ngs, applicable solely 10 their limits and make laws
for themselves, which would be gneyous and unjust for
neigborng and which 1t might be open tyranny for
any other power to enact for them iownsman through
ms own corporate authorities may 10 laws
quired by circumstances. Corporation laws then are
partial and exclusive and may make such provision
the Citizens Of each particular may But the
State Legislature Is general aud is laws should be general
La reference TO taxation, town lands only much of
The donan Of the STATE. They valuable bccnuse
OF the towns; and according TO value would pay more
than other lands; but only the same way as the low
grounds the James River pay more than the ashes Of
Hanover or the 'poison fields" OF Spousyyania. Value
The only fair basis Of taxation, and the State reaps
bohti Wlchef ~ ~ enhanced by the site Ol
by ferlzng streams. Bot should there be any, who can
not thus form an abstract idea Of towns and who think that
there II any charm, any advantage, any wrong abou,
them, Tor which they should be separately faxed they GER
iiinJ would be satisfied with moderate aud not
require toe tax To be doubled One thing be- clear
That the present disparity between and country taxes
would not stand the test Of Judicial investigation.
Again, u may be rcpiicd,-The disparity complained 81
mas long existed aud as been sanctioned by many
eve Legislature This Is true, and the towns have long
been oppressed by H. They have complained of ~ but I'M
a Uf and ord,
10 submitted But the injustice hsF been continued and
greatly increased The increased the more
Encyous does the disparity become II easier ,,h the
same MEANS TO pay two dollars, than S36 O though when
people 90 towns paid dollars double Of VIVA,
country people pad for the Of property Now
the means VI towns people great as they were
when the taxes lower and every commercial com
muniy has received terrible blow, from the late dsaste
Certoiny was 10 be expected Of Democrats whose fun
danouni principles equality and justice 10 aH that thew
would remove, diminish the inequality. but they have
increased it No matter by whom sanctioned 10 j. unjust
There De- not now enough good feeling between the towns
aud county, 30 our Stlei and foster jealousy and dislike
between tltn, unpatr0tc and dangerous Then, b. M