Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-04-14

cd in stocks yielding interest and owes nothing No
deduction IS made i'll taxing the land OF the farmer, TOT
the debt which he owes, and on which he pays IN
terest Ii there be inequality in these PROVISIONS
surely II one of which the capitalist cannot complain
Another ground Of clamor against the Tax Bill, IS
The aedged inequality which il creates between the
real esate OF the country and the towns. Such IN
equality, If in reality existing, might not be with
out adequate justification, in the fact, that very large
proportion Of the whole debt Of the State has been IN
CURED mainly for the benefit of The and cities,
and expended in works Of Improvement termlnatIng'n
them, and calculated TO grow up their trade and en-
nance their property. Nor would some nominal differ
ence between the tax improved city property, and
the ren estate OF the country be practical inequality;
or 1t should be recoecled that the farmer is taxed On
his unculiYned and unimproved lands, his woods, aud
his marshes while the tax improved property III the
cities, which is alone complained of, Chat on vacant
lots beng The same as land in the counry) is I'M
posed on subject, the whole OF which IS capable o.:
yielding to the owner handsome return. 1t IS like
WISE VIGOROUSLY true, that the real estate of the cIes,
considered in the aggregate yields larger annual re-
turn, IN The way OF rent, than farms in the country. An
investment IN real estate in the cities, yielding Elk
per cent. return, would be deemed bad employ
OF capital, while, all know, that few farms the coun
Try yield as large per cen,age OF profit In reality,
however no inequality whatever has been created by
the new Tax Bill between the real estate of towns and
cities, and OF the country Whatever be The apparent
inequality, it had been established by precedent le-
gisallon and found, originated doubtless in sound
considerations oil wisdom and justice the previously
existing Tax Bills The last Legislature, in in
crcasing the tax on all existing subjects of tax
alton, but added proportonaie increase TO the
previous taxes, alike III the country and the cities,
ana preserved the same ratio Of burthen which
they found established. Surely the charge of op
pressve Invocation, of seeking TO crush Tie Wings
of the cities that The Democrats of the country may be
a IN ntpt do. nd
with the subject OF the taxes imposed on improved
city property, it is not unworthy of notice and NAV
tend to reconcile the inhabitants of cities 10 the bill
that in its practical operation holds out s.roor en-.
couragemen! to the improvement of vacant lots and the
building up oflheir cities This occurs in the foowng
manner: Vacant lots taxed according TO their ap.
praised value the Commissioners books When
improved the taxes assessed upon the rents re.
reved or annual value. Now, upon large vacant lots
frequently estimated from the value of city property Il;
many thousands, should only small tenement be
erected which may command moderate rent the
tax then assessed such rent would be far less than
that which would have been taxed the assessed va.
lue. That under this Involvement, lots which might
otherwise have been destitute Of ,enements have even
in times of recent embarrassment, been subjected TO
Improvement, we have the best reason 10 believe.
Altogether submit, that the features Of the bill
applicable TO cities, when fairly examined, are liable
to no just criticisms.
But the charge most preposterous OF all urged by
our Wing opponents against this bill is that its au-
ihors, who rsked their party ascendancy and popular
favor, 10 maintain nviolae the faith Of their native
State and 10 preserve her proud escucheon unsuled
by spot blemsh have stopped egradng prin.
cple Of reputation. This pontess dart is hurled AT
the proviscn snLectng the interest State stocks
Ike uxaoa, with that imposed Oh the interest of mo-
ney loaned or invested in, other securities ouId not
equality and justice both have been grossly violated If
the and precarous investments had been
a ost nndp nj intb a
been wholly exempted On what principle should ce
p,a invested in loan be charged and capital invested
in State securities be exonerated Each constitutes
the property of citizens, who enjoy the protection
and blessings from civil Government, and who should,
therefore, equally contribute to The supply Of its ne
cesstes The interest paid State securities 10 the
holder, as much any other property, is his and like
Ill other, subject to far contribution support OF
Government But, it is said that State stock is sold
by the Stale and therefore, It's proceeds should be
touched but so, likewise have most of the aads in the
Commonwealth been sold by the State-yet, who ever
dreamed that it lis proceeds should, therefore, be
exempted from fair proportion Of the bur;hens Of
State taxation
liz principle, there can be distinction whatever
between taxing directly The interest which man re-
ceives, ms part of his income from State Stock and
taxing his income itself. Thus, If one per cent be
laid mans income and five hundred dollars be re-
ceived, as part of that income, from interest State
stock owned by him, is il not apparent that his $500 of
interest is taxed per cent; Must then, because,
forsooIh, of this new discovery by the Wings that tax
ing interest on stocks is repuaton every Government
in the civilized world, who have Government stock
forego the hitherto undoubled privilege of taxing in
comes: The ancient monarchy Of England, whose pre-
servution for day rests solely its invioate credit,
which stands, perhaps, the highest in the world, has
hesaied to tax incomes aud, in dong, to tax
eiftc.uay the interest her Government Stocks; and
has mother the Radical ha, Financial sagaci.y
ever limited that she had repud,died. In
try We are familiar with Ike income taxes, and yet
such objection never before mGg ned Nay, it ia
that directly and in manner SINH.
lar own, have The States Of ~ York and lassa.
than which in the confederacy have
higher credit taxed The interest their State stocks.
They, however, have not been denounced as repudl.
ators, violating vested rights, and inpairing the obl
CATION Of contracts; but such charge reserved TO be
laj, for the frs: time the Democratic Legislature
Of Virginia, whose action has already amended
State credit TO appreciate lis stock from seventy Todd
10 nea. par
Trust not, feow.czen,, TO idle representations
or declamalory deuuncialons Of this Tax bill. We
have hastily examined the leading charges against IT,
You how bcseess they To the legion of fur.
Their objections which Wing ingenuity may array
ogainstt, oppose the result your fair examination
and consideration. St it for yourselves. Blu: under.
stand, and you must approve it. You are called on TO
redeem your honest obligat;ons-the pledged faith
of your own loved Virginia. You are taxed, 1t is true,
but not as the wings would nave you-to give ooun-
ties 10 remote interests-o rear up nonopoZers and
spectators to atten your property and your
ngs; but TO maintain your own honor and the integrity
OF your State. Under the infamous Tariff law the
Wings have saddled upon you, now you
paying more on every plough you buy, than the
Increased tax on many an acre OF land.-On every
garment you furnish your slave, more than the SIX
additional cents the State requires. You are tax
ed, On the salt wherew,h you season your food
Oh the sugar you in your drinks-on the clothes
hat cover you from head TO loot-Scarce gift from
tSs bounty Of Providence 10 man-scaIce reward
won by your labor, but comes TO you budened with
taxes imposed by indirect ind insd'ous legislation.
yet the authors of these very impositons, who
have SO abused The power of Federal taxation, you
modesly required to yield the privilege of melting out
your State burdens likewise. To such guides you
not yield. If burdens must be shaken Off lei them be
onerous unjust Federal mposIlions the moderate
en,cnds Of your State Governments. The eyes Of
other States you. The character OF Americans
will mol be unaffected By your action. Some States
have unfortunately failed to meet their liabilities. II
virginians sink craven under the infection Of ne
cessary taxalon where the hope Of the patriot, TO
rescue American honor from the foul aspersons rife at
hoa and abroad, repose' The repue your sister
States, now suspected, forbds you TO shrink Patriot.
ism, honor justice command you TO stand firm But