Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-02-09

IN iavOr OF The petition.
MIR. Darlington said that the Com
mii,ee had talked over the various me ans
Of raising a revenue, aud found but two,
direct taxation, or the indirect means
heretofore used by taxing lotteries, banks,
aud by licenses. Tho property in this
state will not amount 10 more than S5O,-
600, 900, upon The most liberal valuation;
aud of this large portion was already
burdened by the bank tax. This tax
could moi be increased, and the only re-
course of direct taxation would be to re-
sort TO n land tax.
The State have deficiency in their
revenues Of six TO eight thousand dollars
TO pay the interest of the money with
drawn from the deposite funds. II lot
teries were abolished, the deficiency
would amount to sixteen or eighteen
thousand dollars.
There was this alternative only left,
either To tax the fast property IN The state
to pay This debt, or to continue lotteries
until it was all paid.
When he concluded tho House ad-
Iourned ill Thursday morning at nine
o'clock.
Thursday Morning, Feb. 2.-The
House met al 3 O'Clock.
The militia law was taken up at the
tenth section, providing for The organi-
zation Of the militia in brigades.
Mr.. Amcs moved TO recede from the
vote, forming the county Of Bristol into
separate brigade. The members from
The county of Bristol opposed it, and the
motion was Withdrawn.
TO the next section MIR. Hazard offer
ed an amendment, excepting the New
port Artillery from the operation of this
act, unless they should signify their as
sent within sixty days. Other members
moved to except all the old companies III
this pro,so.
Mr.. Ames objected TO any exception
would be the death of the whole system.
Mr. King said, he thought ii would be
best to make this voluntary system with
respect to all the companies. lie did
not wish To compel a single company to
comply with this law, while it was pass.
ed without giving them any notice oi Ms
pendency. lie had no doubt all would
come into it, and the force would be
much more effective if no feelings were
hurt by it,
Mr.. Bluke also spoke in favor of max
ing it voluntary with all the companies.
Mr.. Randolph said, that much ,ll-ieel-
ing would undoubtedly be caused BY
making it compulsory upon the old com
panies to take commissions under this
law. In the city of Providence, difficult
~ would be caused on account Of the
United Train Of Artillery, which must be
numbered as regiment before all the
companies in the CITY.
The question was taken upon the
and it was lost.
The remaining sections were acted
upon, with few amendments and with
out debate.
The assessors Of taxes were 10 be paid
by the towns for their services in enrol
ling the militia.
Some debate arose between Messrs.
O. Potter, Randolph, Blake, and Ames
and after several Intellectual attempts to
adjourn, the House was called upon the
passage of the bill, which resulted as fol.
lows Ayes 48, Nays IL.
So the bill was passed.
The House then adjourned till three
O'Clock.
afternoon The House met at 3 o.
clock
Resolution appointing committee to
procure the Statistics Of the State, was
read and passed. Nlessrs. King, Ames,
Dixon, Bosworth and n. B. Durlee,
were appointed ,ha, committee.
The petition OF BENJAMIN Marsh, Jr
and others, for alteration OF Jail limits in
Newport county, was continued.
A resolution was passed, snspendIng
the collection of fines in company in
the 10Th regiment.
The petition of Philip Case was then
taken up.
MIR. Blake said, that he should give
his vote against granting the prayer OF
the petition, as he could not sanction for
expediency, what was in itself morally
wrong.
Mr.. Branch said, that the great argu-
ment which had been used in favor of
this petition, was the bug bear Of a land
tax. Examine this in its details and see
what i, amounts to. The property in the
State amounts to $4,000, 600. Suppose
a tax Of $4,000 year should be laid
upon this sum. ln the estimation of one
OF the gentlemen who reported this mea-
sure, the tax upon one hundred dollars
would be but three cents. The poor
farmer, therefore, with his hundred dol
lars worth Of property, would pay the
enormous sum of three cents TO the gov
crnmcnt which protects him ! The
middling farmer who has his thousand
dollars worth of property, what would be
his burden bu, thirty cents and the
rich farmer with his ten thousand dollars
worth of property, would pay but three
dollars These would be all the bur
dens imposed upon the people, aud these
would not be necessary under ten years.
This therefore IL all the bugbear OF a.
land tax which the gcn,lcman from South
Kngsiuwn had described as of such APP
pallng character.
Mr. Updke said, ,ha, the eiior, had
been made several tunes To change this,
system of internal revenue for one of