Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-21

ve.nmcn, and at all times bear all ntrtssary equal and
ua3rm Taxation, - sustain aEd peTpe'naie Tie crso
and honor OF this Common wealth, we must, Us e'o"
ctzcns demonstrate against the passage o. lhe present
Tax Bill, being wholly devoid OF these cardinal ptih.
cples which Indispensable ingredients Of oil JUST
laws.
"Resoircd, That 10 make such unjust and lispropor-
tiona.e snc;ios either to subjects of taxation or
quan,um OF lax, Cor, against different geographical
portions of the 50 ne Commonwealth, as contained IN
this BILL is d,so!.aniz ng and revolutionary in priaci
ple-monarch,cal and odious IN practice.
"Resoirca That the provisions regulating me chants
licenses are cnerous small retail dealers, unequal IN
their determinations between merchants and auction
GERS, and, from their legitimate tendency, best calcu
lated TO cripple commercial enterprIse.en'oarfass
trade-dcpopuate and relard The growth OF our COM
mercial mor,s, by repeng the influx OF capitalists
from other States and forcing those already with US,
10 seek homes under other Governments, more efficient
TO guard and encourage their commercial interests
without which, the products Of the soil are raueiess,
the and wealth Of this great State, how
eyer iaaxhaustitlr, are wholly porsr.sss.
sRssOietd. That while ready and willing 10
bear equal burthers with fellow citizens of the
couni.y-uron whose prosperity ours depends-we
perceive justice reason in that portion OF
this law which imposes real estate of the towns OF
the value of 81 000of the gross annual rent of 500
tax of three dollars and sixty cents, while farm
Of hundred acres, Of equal value, in the coun.
try-wha,ever my be lis net. products--pays only
l
or imperial Governments, than the Commonwealth OF
Virginia.
"ResoireJ, That wa honor the sacred memory Of our
evolutionary ancestors for resisting taxation without
| represt alton and should be unworthy sons OF
such noble ses if did not, like them, resist the
equally odious principle of taxc,ion Of unequal bur.
i hens.
"ReSorcd, That hereby solemnly demonstrate
against its passage and appeal, without hope, TO
the calm justice and wisdom CT the Senate-the con-
servatiye branch of free Government-to stay its
passage, and the people of this State from this
uncertain and oppressive law, which, judging from
the votes lis engrossmeDt, los TO So has not re-
ceived the cordial and decided approval Of the Law
makers themselves although finally passedby vote OF
a TO 40.
"Resoird, That Senator and Delegate be request
ed to communicate these, opinions, TO their respec-
tive Houses and their best Efforts to defeat this
anomaly in lcgsation and obtain the passage Of a
venue law, bused the just and equal rights OF all
, citizens, with ample provisions maintain the credit
and honor Of the Old Dominion and especially from
the covert but not less certain, reputation Of this
onerous bill.
"Resolced, That these proceedings be published in
the Petersburg ln,clgencsr and the Republican, and
copies be sen, 10 our Delegate and Senator"
At the suggestion of Bernard Todd, Esq, Maj Boiling
offered the following:
II "Resoired That the tax on salaries Of clerks and
others, afe oppressive and onerous
The Secretary 10y reques offered the following re.
solution, which was adopted
II
Of the best ways of paying off the debt Of the Stale is to
cutail The expenses of lis Government end that in ths
behalf the General Assembly might sci good example
by curtailing the length fits sessions"
THOMAS BRANCH, Chm.
! j. NJ. ii. BRusEr, Secy
! IIt is but Justice to observe that some opposition
made TO The resolutions repeatedly the committee
Of five OF the names mentioned in the proceedings,
D. H. Branch, Esq, and the Secretary Of The meeting,
although they consider the law unequal in its operation,
and extremely oppressive portion of the COMMUNE
ty, could no. join in The wholesale denunciatons Of it
, by the reso!u,ions.-EI. Republican
By reference 10 the proceedings Of the citizens Of Pc
tersburg, in Town Meeting yesterday, it will be
seen that member Of the committee who reported
The preamble and resolutions which subsequently
adopted, rerbatm ri He'atm, by the meeting, saving
and ping The two last resou, whch would have
received my hearty had been then present,
bui which offered in meeting after my retirement.
As ! an unwilling that the circumstance of
:, being member of the committee shall to
occupy position reference 10 The preamble and
:, resolutions, which the facts Of the do not author
i.e, hope 10 be excused for making the following
/ sa'ement
: While recognise the undcniabis right of the people
To meet IN their primary assemblies to discuss the me-
rils Of public measures and public men, and by
quence that the citizens Of Petersburg had the proper
right assemble and discuss the merits and dement's
of the Tax bill, pending before The Senate OF Pr-
GINA which bill am free TO acknowledge here, as
expr. sssd III the meeting consider unequal IN s
provision, and will be unjust, and IN some cases. pro-
bablv oppressive in It's oprralion-ye hold it 10 DO
equally true and undaniaJs, that such deliberations
should be characterized by candor, fairness and argu
meD:aveness. TO the matter dis used, courtesy and
fairness TO ali public alluded to- aud sellrespect
+ and dignity to the meeting itself
Entertaining these views, il would seem strange and
irreconcilcabe that should appear in apubc print
, operating in The formation, recommendation and
passage Of preamble and resolutions, which, by reason
of their asperi,y and denunciatory character, cons
dered unsuited 10 the occasion, and alike exceptona
BILE 10 good taste and sound judgment.
Again, from my respect for the intelligence, and my
confidence in the patriotism and virtue of those
bers OF the House of Delegates who voted for the pas
sage of the Tax bill, could not subscribe TO the
just censure and unworthy imputaons aimed at them
III the preamble and resolutions as reported by the
Committee. II did, could consider them other.
wise than as the 'ahless aud dshunored Representa-
tves OF free people
Again, as tbs meeting called for the express
and sole purpose of considering the Tax bill,
unwilling To aJerrae from The main object and by
indirect auson 10 population, any other extraneous
matter 10 say or do that which we'll calculated,
will not say s;dtsgned, to exert political influence
I future events.
In conclusion, have simply TO state THAT the pre-
anhe aud resolutions me, my decided disapprobation
in Committee; they were, however reported 10 the
meeting made unsuccessful effort 10 amend the
first resolution and believing from the political COM
p'exion Of the meeting, that further resistance would
be fru;ess retired after the first resolution had been
carried, leaving il TO those who remained to shape
matters according to their own taste and Judgment.
d. II. BRANCH
Petersburg, March II, 1913.
| IL We are requested 10 state that j. 3. SroyALL