Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-07-31

Fellow citizens, let calmly pass in review before
ourselves, and the West the grounds which
resist her claims yin the State. We have
the ni5rty the legislature let whether
is reasonable should keep It. Admit that the
Der OF white the West OF the Blue Ridge is equal
To that the East OF you choose. that IL
greater. Then suppose The property the
East is many times greater than IN the West greater al
most beyond computation; suppose also That have
tain species al property peculiar IN its cha
racter and the readiesi tempting and most fruitful
subject of that be conceived winch species o
property will suppose the have only very
limited eaen-supPosc also, that during all tho time the
toAing aud spproprang powers have been hands
We have not only been guilty of oppression iibcra
lily 10 the West but in spirit ot kindly iorbearance and
partisy TO her have imposed taxes bear heavily
ON ourselves and lightly her, and yet have made oppo
prations for her benefit from the common fund o
tent greatly exceeding the ratio ct her conrbuuOns:-
What then. would you hink OF the cl,mours aud demands
OF the Wcsii What then, would you think Of the
ableness OF transferring the West the control Of thaax
ing aud appropuaing power for these oiecs
(no the abuse them by the great head and
oending;'' and their IL the moving
OF the efforts they making for a
Convenlioni And yet, fellow citizens,
the foregoing ypoheses into facts GA which side
o the Ridge, ihen lie the subjects of nxaonl On which
side OF the Ridge the OF the State for the
part raisedf Let set:-ln 1910 the whols revenue
Vi the State raised from the following subjects
lands. lots in slaves horses, licenses,
and the whole amount > ie3.Sl5 ~: Of this
Eastern Virginia paid S329 4O3 ri and Western Vsi.
MIA $l5iil2 oil; from which appears that Western Vlr.
gina paid that exactly % per OF the of
there were 6o cent OF these subjects of taxation
Eastern Virginia and j per OF them in Western Vr-
gina. la the year lo43. the necessities the State
CURED that the lakes shond be greatly increased which
effected by increasing the the subjects
taxation, aud by enargng the number OF taxable subjects
the subjects Tor that being lots land, slaves horses
carriages Watches clocks pianos, pate interest," income
attorneys physicians dentists wills and deeis bridge
and licenses; the whole ASSESSED
on these S7550s9 81 Of which Eastern Virginia paid
$3.50, lis 81 and Western Va. paid oaly S22o.37 49, that
is Eastern Virginia paid 69i the the
State, whilst Western Virginia pa d cny 303 per cent
THIS indicates too, with approach accuracy
proportion possessed by each OF these great divisions OF
the STATE ct the above subjects of taxation, that of all
these subjects in the aggcgaIe) found ~ the Stae Eastern
Virginia contains 69i per cent and Western Virginia 3Ul
per cent Again. let take the 1874, rather
the important subjects al that year The pro-
periy tax OF that year 297 49, % OF which, Eas-
tern virginia assessed with Size, 399 2 aud Nes-
tern Virginia with only $lS S57 o. shelving difference
OF nearly 100000 against the Fast, indicating also
great pEeponderancc III the nnountoi real property
Eastern Virginia that u the West Dat IL
slaves that the striking and significant difference OBJ
eervabe. The on slaves for 1874 was SlOn
6I6 CO. of which sum Eastern Virginia charged with
Sooe3l 40, and Western Virginia With tho small amount
OF only Sl3s4l 40! showing of difference
III the number OF taxable slaves Slaves above IL yeas
aac IN the two great sections OF the State. What HAT
terence Observe IL, citizens OF the East. Last
the whole number OF taxable slaves la the State g.
~. and at these slaves sc in Eastern Nifg-
MIA, and 5000 in Western Virginia, difference in the
number in the East that IN tue West Of Is2 IS0 Ia
other words, the number OF taxable slaves East
than that ia Western Virginia But Il may
be said that we pay much these great sub
ecs OF taxation, (and aud saves) u il made up ty
the West horses, that II it have these
two species Of property and and slaves much greater
stake the government than Western BRETHREN yet
the superior value ot their horses Offset this Let
The assessed horses IN 1874 Sil 0iO
%. OF tins the West charged with S22 AS ~. and
the East with sic J9l 81 showing that the West was
charged with oniy 1851 50 VI horses than
were, insignificant with which to equaize the
stake and the burdens of the Fast and West On other
Subject Of taxation whatever does the West poy much
as the East very striking fact exhibited by the above
calculations, nnd demons of the ground
Iessness OF the complaints Of the West this that When
1t became necessary. as did In lSi3 greatly increase
the taxes OF the State by raising the the old sub
Jecs and selecting onos the increase effected IN
such way as not only not To enhance the proportion of
revenue the West had been paying but actually reduce
IT. The proportion the West paid in 1910 will be emem.
bercd 80 per cent whilst that paid by her under the
great increase made IN lSi3 was 81 per csntum. This
proves OF two things: either that Eastern Virginia bay
ing the control she has OF the taxing power has
disposition oppioss the West that she cannot so
adjust the burdens Of taxation bear heavily ON
tue West than horso Having the Legislative MAORI.
which gave her the command of the taxing power,
shc employed il tighten tho relative burdens u
the West She either had tho inclination then be ia.
Norabie anu liberal To the West she could aUOid
being The FACT cstops the West from complaining
whether be imputed the magnanmity the East or
80 the necessity Of the The truth is however, that
the East not take credit TO herself, tho OCCASION
for generosity The Wcst has stronger guarantee of
safety than the magnanmity the Justice Of the
East IL Is this that the Eos not, II she 1uld OF.
the West Tor she for the support OF Govern.
Incn adopt any system Of which will not be more
favourable to the West than herself Whilst you re-
verse the relations Of the parties and place the taxing
power IN the hands Of the West nothing would DO
easy than Tor It 10 be made the instrument OF the
grinding oppression. How strong would be te tompta.
ton to throw the burden Of Government Slave populs
ton That burden would thea be borne by and not by
the West Keep from temptation " is the wisest
part Of tie wisest prayer and " our brethren of the West
are so iorgeiu OF the fraiy Of desire incur
n Ia mi aTtuu ..Va - =
tue, that Of taking money when you have the power and
ttlc very little doubt Of your right TO take H. We will
ourselves act IN the spirit Of the divine words and will
Keep them fom temptation, and ourselves from danger
Their equal superior number, they cay entities them 10
equal or superior representation in the Legislature Very
we-f they will add 70 this that It subjects ho to equal
or superior burdens IN the support Of Government We will
agree with them II they will bring up their per cent Of
the from 30 TO 80, they may their repre-
sentaon accordingly. Bot fellow citizens, those who pay
ought TO cay how much and IN what they will pay
We pny now, and shoud retain the controlling voice rs
20 the amount and subjects Of taxation. The argument
drawn from tho equal or superior numbers Of the West
one which, when justly viewed, s fatal their pre-
tensions, Tor IL not manfs that the greater their mum
bes, the more they outstrp population our amount
taxable property remaining superior 10 theirs the greater
would DO the induecment nay. the necessity cypress
u.s. The greater their numbers the greater will be their
wants, and, therefore, the need Of money n we
have the means Of satisfying those increased wants. aud
they the power TO take those neans will they fotbest =
In other wofds, will you put your property the power Of
needy community only because Inst community is larger
Than your ownf To every prudent mind, H would seen,
a' his shoud DO reason for tho very contrary course u
action. -
II you your attention from tho relative amount
oi property owned by the sections ~ the State and of
taxes pad by Them 10 Tho question Of Legislative appto
pfHnous 70 Wotks OF improvement, you will perceive that
complaints this subject come with an M grse. rom on,
Western brethren From the year 1885 down 10 Jsnasry
1871 tho sam OF Sl,14i753 III paid on, Of the Tea
sfy ii the Commonwealth account of works OF internal
Improvement lying whoiy Wost Of the Blue RiJpe Ada m
,h ihe sumo e25OOOO 90 appropriated othc Chesapeake
q Ohio Canal Company. This should be sdded because