Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-03-23
Eronl ihe Riehnlona tThig
REMARKS OF MR.. GALLAHER ON THE


Mr.. GALLAmER took the aoor. but not, as he
said, 10 make speech. His objections 10 tho
odious principles Of the bill had been we'll ex :
pressed, il the main by the gentlemen from
WestmoIeland (Mr. Lewis1 and others. He
had ryder TO offer, in reference to the mode
Of collecting the tax onlhe salaries Of the state
officers. He had no idea Of allowing comm Isl
sion Of "a per cent 10 the sheriff for collecting
this tax, instead Of directing the Auditor to re-
tain il when be paid their salaries. Why this
waste OF money! But before sending his rgdtr
tolhe Chair, Mr.. G. would refer TO The very SIM
/ guitar and gratuitous rebuke Of the gentleman
from Halifax tMr. Edmunds,) who yesterday
/ himself voted agains. the engrossment OF the
bill and threw the wholesweight 81 his influence
mot very ligh.) in the scale against IL BY what
authority did the gentleman lay the scourge: on
the backs OF those who had acted with him on
that pccasior9 Mould il not be more Just 10
apply the lash to himself, for perhaps deludng
and carrying into the minority some OF bis own
paIty2 Is il fair 10 lecture US 10 advance, los
not disposed, as much as he is. 10 support The
honor and faith Of the State' But does this bill
sustain the public faith Let facEs show
Mr. g deemedit derogatofy tofihe faith and
honor Of the Ststel TO tax State bonds-frst 10
invite capitalists 10 lend Us moneysat per cent
and lnen, after obtaining it, turn about and tax
il, so IS in effect 70 pay less per centagei II
we can take away any part Of the interest BY 1
tax thereby impairing the sacred obligation Of
contracts, can we not, by the same process Taxa
atcag part Of The principal itself Ii We promise
10 pay sItjGG, and we may, by like stretch .of
power, Gin defiance OF the old adsge that t'it
takes two to make bargaint) declare that we
will pay but ninety-fivel Mr.. O. conld see no
difference in The morality of the two PROPOSE
lions Gentlemen resolUe agsinst repudaiion--
but here was rank, pspabe Reputation.
But the bill contained other odipus features To-
which he could not give his assent He was 4.
gaDst the bill, because it imposed unequal and
unjdst.burthens, (some Of which he enamera>
ted, > and because be had made up his mind To-
vote against any increase Of tares as long as the
Land Fund was alowedto lay idle and unpTo-s
duetive 10 eitb& government. Gentlemen OF
the dominant party glored in the responsibility
Of rejecting this Fund--let them lake, ioo, The
further responsibility Of piliog up buFthens upon
the people at Ibis period ofunparaileEed distress.
II isaleged that we mtst pass revenue Bill of
some sort. and that there il row no time 10 Dir
gesta new B4ll. Yes. sir. we have been here q
hundred days. and here is measure which tho
ruling party bad the power = pass as well, and
even better, ffty days gone By, as they have
now. Having consumed the hundred days Id
discussing Abstractons, can II now be fairly ur-
ged that we have 20 time TO prepare a proper
andjust tax bill, Bill founded On right, and
not On mighf He should not be deferred from.
voting according TO his conscientious convictions
BY any such plea. fit be sIeged that he Mr..
6. twas responsible as we'll as. others for the
consumption OF time, he would only sddihat he
seldom IL ever spoke Ten minutes at titpe--iD-
deed. he could not, il he would. speak longer.
! But there was enough in lie character Of The
4 principles Of the bill already stated 10 justify
hiskole against il; and he felt 10 hesitation IN 50
recording his name He was as well prepared
as others, he hoped, 10 justify himself 70 his
constituents.
MIR. g. ten semitic the Chair the following rYdeg,
which read twice and engrosse with very lille
opposition
\ Be i: further enacted. That the tax herein
provided to be laid on The sslaries the off,
GERS orthe State Government shall be ledneted BY
the Auditor Of Public Aecpnnts quarterly, or Il
such periods IS said salaries may bsu0me iueands
payable aI.tl the Commissioners ofthe Revenue 10
listing taxable Subjects hereby dlrected % omit
SUCH salaries 10 their lists. /"