Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-04
ouse then adjourned.


lection Of oysters
And The House then adjourned
Thursday, March ..
a communication from the Senate by their Clerk
that lhry had passed the bills,
10 authorize loan TO Emory and Henry College
rom lhe unnves,ed capital of the Literary Fund.-
Ann.hoFizng the purchase of the copy right of Da.
WIS of'hnoi Law and Exposition of the Office and
,holy 81 Justices of the Peace in Virginia. including
forms OF Practice
"Aulhorizing JOS. NcClunn and CHRISTOPHER Champ
70 execute their official bonds, and qualify Sheriff. of
Tie Pe5ce;''
"Concernins the decisions of the General Court"
Ahd An act authorizing the guardian Of orphans of
jesse iom!inson deceased, to sell and convey the in
'e'eSlS oi ms wards in ferry therein men,ioned with
an al amendment in which the House concurred
lie following engrossed bills were read third time
and passed:
"Concerning the School Commissioners of Hardy
county. CIhis bill supported by Messrs. Blue
ano Dowoef, and opposed by Mr.. Anderson. 1t pass
ed-ayes 80, noes 32)
ana "anlhorizng payment 10 Christopher c. Dill.
lard from the school quota of Nelson county for le43
Mr. IRVING called up, and moved the indefinite
posponenent Of the bill amending the passed the
2th November l19o entitled, 'an act agains, those
VINO counterfeit letters and prvy tokens to receive
ney CT goods IN other mems names"
'''Nb MOI tlllHk tulS the l'IHc 10 Uc fnahlnE
criminal proceedings more rigorous, especially the
punishment Of all crimes is so much softened. We
ought 10 be very cautious in introducing these new
classes OF offences, penalties. 1t will give to
creditors TOO much power in depressing debtors
Mr. DANIEL OF Richmond City, commended that this
law was not harsh, oppressive, unprecedented. Mr.
d. cited The English law, and the laws of New York,
and many other Staes we'll the Virginia Statutes
as containing analogous provisions.
Mr.. ANDERSON thought it too late TO attempt TO
amend the law, which required some change
Mr. MILLER of Ioudoun, thought the presen, law
on this subject ample and sufficient, without further
amendment
Mr. SrovALL called the previous question, which
was sustained.
Mr. lRvisG called for the ayes and noes
The bill was indefinitely postponed-ayes 20, noes
Mr. GRAY moved 10 reconsider the vote, so as TO
recomnt the bil for the purpose of amending the bill
The House agreed 10 reconsider, and the bill
recommted to the Committee Of Courts of Justice.
Ga motion Of Mr.. WATTS, the Report of the Spe-
cal Committee on the Latimer Case, was made the or
der Of the day for Tuesday next
On motion of Mr.. SMITH of Harrison, the bill to
take The sense of the people upon the proprety of call
ing Convention 20 amend the State Constitution, was
made The order Of the day for Monday next.
The Order Of The Day was taken up, being the bill
imposing lakes on merchants licenses, &c
Mr.. BRoaDus substitute was under considerations
II provides, that the Commissioners Of the Revenue
shall, on or before the Gay Of May, in each year. go
TO each store, and receive from each merchant slate
men of the amount OF his stock in trade, 10 be gwen
oath, IT required; and If the amount be - dollars
OF under, III The of retail merchant, and -
dollars in the case of a wholesale merchant the Com
missioner shall give him license to sell for year.
from - day OF ilay, upon presentation to him of the
sheriff receipt Tor the assessed by law for that
year upon those sums. Should the stock in trade ex
coed the of - dollars in the case of a retail,
and - dollars III the Of wholesale merchant,
such commissioner shall ascertain such excess and
require lie merchant TO present the sheriff receipt
70! The Tax upon that excess. and then give TO said
| chant the license as stated above.
Mir. ToLEK moved amend the substitute go az 10
ascertain the amount of stock hand, according 10 the
las. inventory provided said inventory has been taken
within nine months. Lost
Mr.. Ra>DoLru objected to the substitute the
ST February, The stock is small, and the Ist Eay,
| it is very urge Therefore, Commissioner might
snow favor TO friend, or prejudice to an enemy by
selecting either one The other times. Had this cub.
stIiue been reported by the Committee Of Finance il
woulJ be characterized inquisitoria Mr.. r. ex-
planned The merits of the Committees bill. That bill
will remove the present great injustice 10 small deal
ers.
MIR. BGoADrs was in favor of taxing merchants
rateaby; bat he preferred his plan being sim
pier and iess oppressive than the Committees bill.
| Mr. TAYLOR thought, If comparison be instituted
between the bill aud the substitute, that the bill was
| 4 J
fully sustained from sIgmatizirg the bill SUCH
| Mr I thought The substitute recommended by its
simplicity and as much revenue be raised by il az
by the bill MIR. T. explained that the substitute laid
tax upon the actual amount of stock in hand, while
the bill imposes tax upon what merchant expects 10
receive, though he may have made bad sales greater
than what he has received in cash.
Mr.. STKornER thought the substitute cnnRcted with
first principles. Tie true policy is 10 lay taxes on
the capital of the State; which this substitute, from the
rregulay of It's notion, does not carry out Again. the
stock in hand~toes not show an ability in the mer
chant to pay taxes. He preferred the bill originally
reported b. the Committee disembarassed oil its
bou, machinery, which levies taxes the actual sales
The farmer has To pay tax upon all his capital whe
tier rnprotcc;;;e or not-and still the gentleman from
Norfolk complains OF the merchants bad debts being
taxed.
M WILLIAMS said line substitute would be unequal
in lis operaon-u thriving may ha We small stock
Of goods on hand, and yet may be much more able TO
pay taxes than man who has large stock hand
There is drawback TO the msfortunes Of the farmer
and why should there be one TO the merchants The
farmer may lose his whole capital (house by fire. &c.
and still he has 10 pay tax on it. Yet, the gentleman
from Norfolk opposes the bill, because it imposes tax
npon merchant who may make bad debts. Is This
fair obicction Much has been said about the cumbrous
machinery Of this bill. MIR. w maintained that it
necessary 10 carry out this law
Mr. CRuTcmrIELD thought the House should vote
down the substitute, and then he would move 10 strike
ont he first six sections of the bill, do away
with the cumbrous machinery of bonds &c in The H.
Ne would also move make the scales Of the licenses
fever, retaining the and substance Of the 7th 9Th
and 9th sections. lie thought this arrangement should
he agreeable 10 all those who willing 10 graduate
merchants licenses and TO raise the necessary taxes.
Mr. BIRD of P. called the ayes and noes on Mr..
substitute which lost BY The vote of ayes
Is o.
The House then, on motion of MIR. CRurcnrIrLp,
no fret The bill. embracing
the boads, &c.-(6i TO 2S
Mr. Goopsos moved 10 lay the table the bill and
amendments, ought 10 have night to think over
this important subject, which has been changed.
DIR EnMUSDs Of IL. explained that the principle CT
the bill had no, been at all changed
MIR. GooDsos Withdrew his motion.
Mr.. WALLACE took leave 10 say, that he should not
90 for increase Of taxation, unless the House adopt
some resolution increasing the circulating medium OF
The country We ought not to levy further exactons
Of The people, unless we do something for their relief
The bill was then ordered to be eng5cssed in the fol
lowing shape:
l. Be it enoesdIy the General assembly, Thatevery
wholesale or retail merchant dealer in goods, wares
or merchandise, shall, upon application for license or