American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-07-28
ITO be concluded IN our next. !
For The American Republican. J

JdeSSrS. kGlt0fS:-l ncLlCGd some days ago
an editorial in your paper in reference to the
proceeds raised from the ''stamp act" in which
you alluded to an article in the Maryland Re
publican, which spoke of completing or perfect
ing this act Of injustice and oppression so as to
make it more available. had intended at tue
time TO notice the matter, but was prevented
by other engagements; and | only have time
now to say that if the author or authors of this
bill thnk that the trading community are dis
posed tamely to submit to the perpetuation of
this outrage on their rights they will find
themselves egregriously mistaken. The late
decision of the court has, as was anticipated,
thrown the burden Of this lin its name and
characer) most odious law, almost exclusively
upon the trading class; and all must see this
tax is not upon property, bat upon credit; the
wealthy man who has the money in hand to
pay for his purchases is freed entirely from this
taE, while the enterprisng and industrious man
OF small means, whose capita is his Standing
and credit, is forced to pay 4 tax upon his note
because he haS not the mOneyto pay for his pur-
chase at the time. Let rs see for moment
the working Of this engine of oppression. A
man commencing business with capital Of
Eve thousand dollars is, in common with his
fellow citr ems taxed spo2 this amount; and
having paid the tax, one would suppose he
should be left, like the farmer, lawyer, doctor,
&c. to w0- his capital 70. his own benefit but
not so; the state having, in accordance with
the bill OF rights, imposed upon him a. Just and
equal proportion of its Misunderstanding him, as
all Others are, in proportion to his actual tUortk
goes fuGtEer, and says to the merchant and ira
der-you shall not be permitted to sell your
1 goods, unless you pay ne for the priViege--in
other words, you shall not work your estate
unless you pay me fo- license; but foT so
much nscney paid down, | will give you H.
cense to trade upon and with your capital
which have already taxed. Well, the goods
are on band, and the merchant submits to this
unjust imposition beeause he cannot remain
idle; he pays what the state sees proper to
charge him for the privilege of selling his own
goods-snd now the first customer that comes
in and purcl Eases bill of goods, the state again
steps torwar and says, if you take q note from
your cugton Ter for that purchase, you will be
subject to hne, or yolr contract with the pur-
chaser shall be declared null and void, unless
you pay me Tor STAMP upon his note! Now,
Messrs. Edit ,s, is this law friendly to business
could the me IL who passed this law be friends
of the tcadn ig community? We shall leave
that commun ity to say at the proper time what
they think ali out it. Why not make the far
mer take out u license to work his farm? Why
not make the doctor and lawyer take out Ii.
ccnsc before hey dare to practice2 Why not
ask the mech anic 10 pay for the privilege OF
working with his toel9! Do this, and the ira
ding commun ty will have no right to com.
plain; bT Unit Tho is done, zoe shall protest
against The hcen Sc Tao as unjust, and The "stan,r
act" as @sost fl greet cggraratiOa Of that inius-
lice. We const Ter that the trader who has paid
to the state the sum which she demanded tor
the privilege Of trading, has as fair "vested
right" as can be made out; and the state hav.
ing contracted to give him the right to trade
for certain amt'ant, fixed by herself, has nc
moral or legal right 10 violate that contract by
imposing any new obligation upon him We
suppose the perfect ion of this iniquitous Law
means TO carry out little more fully Gov
Pratts recommends lion to have STAMP upon
every bill of lading,' sc in order little more
efiectually to tramn lel the enterprise of Balti-
more. Well, we sb all see, bye and bye, what
the traders Of Baltimore think of this most en-
frightened ard liberia measure. In the mean
time, we intend, with your permission, as VIC
may find time, to look little further into the
nature ofthis bill, and 10 pay passing notice
tc some of its leading advocates, who have TO-
luAteered in its defence. Yours, &c.
A BALTIMoREAN.