Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-23
FOR TIE ENQUIRER
a Stale, SHE Nursery Of the lrts and Sciences ,cih

II oHlc 'Me nuTSGy " tHC TITS ana oClcNCcSi tcM
Vengeance
With all possible respect, we would ask the wise
inteligences OF our Legislature, whence do they de-
rive the right to lay an invidous tax upon Lawyers
aud Doctors II seems to your humble interrogator
that the only rational answer you can give is that you
have protiigately squandered the whole revenues Of
the Stale, and her quota Of that corruptng deposiie
law, fatterlng the dear people, that like bread cast
upon the waters, it would return to their pock
ets and enrich them beyond sail the dreams Of
ice" And now when the day of reality has broken
upon them, and before its light the sweet dozings Of
hope with its pleasant dreams, vanished and their
eyes fully opened TO the fact that with heavy
debt hanging US, and exhausted Treasury,
being Drained daily for carrying the expensive and
procss schemes begun in the seed time of our wild
oats increased taxation or reputation must be the
inevitable consequence, we are compelled to " bend
thoughts and wits to ascertain how this tax may be laid
with least detriment TO ourselves, not TO the people.
Instead of that noble aim of all wise legislators whose
object is the culture Of the mental and moral systems
of the people, the true means OF securing to them
happiness, and fitting them for the great destiny Of
mankind you, il seems under The control Of grovel-
ling policy Aaron-like have painted golden calf
paper and commanded them 10 debase themselves and
worship it, Ever since recollection you have been
legsatng principally for the benefit of banks, stock
jobbers spectators and swindlers, calling these
pires ihe dear people," md by tanaizng the basest
desires OF the human heart have lourished in mush
room popularity, and gained the hearts content Of
demagogue-otfce. And now, when your deeds
brough to the light, you begin again to seek for dark
ness, and ward off the odium OF imposing heavier bur-
dens upon cheated constituency, already demanding
relief from your mpotent body from the oppes-
zion unwse legislation has heaped upon them, by sin
Cling out classes constituting small mnorites Of the
mass, through which you may with mpunity collect
The necessary taxes from the people. You had prev
ousy furnished specimen Of your sagacity, in lay
ing tax upon plate of the value of S00, with much
Justice tax upon land or negroes above 500 in
ue only; and tax upon pianos, as much in character
with the progress of refinement of the age, would
be tax upon the textbooks in all polite learning,
rhetoric, Chronology, indeed any branch that does
not contribute directly to The computation Of dollars
and cents-or this you teach, in despite OF that high
authority that declares it 10 be ''the root Of all evil
TO be the great blessing and end Of man; and now we
have more step in this retrograde to barbarsm
If you mean to include lawyers and physicians in
class with bag pedlars, whom you have implicitly pro-
nounced nusances, out and say SO; and we will
establish the claims OF swarm OF cices seeking poll
ticans, TO the derison and contumely of this class
But, before you openly or by implication term lawyers
and physicians nusances make your gilt calf pa
nacea for all the diseases Of the human body, and do
what is next TO this mpossbilty for YoU frame laws
not complex that they cannot be Understood, aud
which do not require TO be re-modelled and
amended, repealed and passed. Your laws remind
one, of the cravat of the nice than wise candy
when he commanded his servant TO it, to hide the
sreaks of drt-"Wy massa, it done been turn once.
"Well, you return il"
But, how do you intend TO assess this tax? You
cannot think OF laying per capita tax; for this, in my
opinion, viii excite direct notification. There would,
ungueslonab!y, be much grounds for II, as there
was for the great South Carolina An income tax,
having eye 10 the ability to pay, affords rather more
shadow of justice. Still, ,oay equitable tax on The
income Of any class profession, IS very difficult
task; and it would be especially difficult 10 lay this
the income of physicians. All honorable physicians
do or less practice, regarded at the time, as
probably gratuitous; although, they may make
charge of it in their books. Would you compel
them to pay per centum on that benevolence, which
il is their bounden duty TO exercise towards their
fellow beings, thereby d;scouragng them from visiting
the poor unless they are afraid of getting their FEES
will you make them draw distinction between their
good and bad fees; and levy your per centum only
such as may be SUPPOSED good and then will you
guarantee the collection of these' Peradventure,
in your love for the people, and desire to relieve
them, you might be induced TO assume the payment
of the fees of the poor Cheerfuly, would we strike
bargain with you, TO pay yon tour fold as much
taxes you would dare impose upon any ndivi-
dual you will cash all The fees due for services
honestly and faithfully rendered any render
cd to man, that we do not dream of collecting. We
will here confess that We belong TO The profession OF
physc-and have paid tax OF $40 for the license to
practice this profession exclusive Of the usual fees to
an institution supported and fostcred by your mu
niticence-and large amount expended in pursuing
the study of it, that might be qualified whilst earn.
ing an honorable support to serve the of huma-
nifty and science. No physician can get this amount
back in two years-no very few are repaid in
years-and how many there, who, after ending a
laborious snd useful life hardly leave their widows and
orphans much they spen, in acquiring their pro-
fsssion' But this is DEPRESSING from the main point
Where is the justice, yea, | would say honesty, in
taxing The professions of Law and Physc, and e1emp,
ing any other vocation by which derive an inconle
1t you 10 lay tax under the garb Of an income
tax, come out fairly and command your commissions,
10 assess per centum on The incomes of Bank off
GERS, Railroad officers, Mechanics, Printers, Editors,