American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-07-30

THE STAMP ACT AND IT'S ADVOCATE


Messrs. Edifors:-In accordance with my
promise, design to say few words more in
relation to the ''Stamp Actn and lis advocates
in our city. think no man, whc regards his
character for veracity, will dare to assert that
the tax imposed by this act of infamous noto-
ricty is tax upon property---upon "actual
worthn--as the bill of rights defines it. lis,
on the contrary, a tax upon credit. Whether
the seller or the purchaser pay the tax it will
not alter the casc-the property, the "ectual
WORTH of both has been assessed and taxed
alike with all ether property, and will be sub
iect 10 taxation, no matter where, or TO whom
it nay pass wiJhn the lmits of the State. We
coatend, then, that it is unjust, unequal and
Oppressive to impose tax upon either the sell
O. or the purchaser every time this property
may change hands. We further insist upon
the proposition, that TIE State having cove
snanted with the merchant and trader, that Tor
a certain specified suta--lUhich sic herself has
fred-le shall have the privilege OF trading,
and that he having Eaid that suH1, she has no
moral OF legal RICH: to impose any additional
tax upon him-and in so doing violates the
principles of common justice.
Nov, Sirs, how have the advocates OF THIS
law attempted to snstain it! Sometimes by the
argument of Napoleon, that the State wants
money and must have it, !" an argument that
mightdO for a despot, IN answer to his slaves,
but will hardly do for the tiE:es and the people
anong whom We live. And again, the inus-
tice and impoliuy of the law has been attempt
ed tc be upheld by the sIatdsrous cry OF repudl-
alton against those who oppose it. This will
uotdo-and we tell these interested edsocates,
thet their charre of Reputation against the OPP
ponents of this reS,Scitdte@ act Of oa Old oppresS-
oiy will no, do 1t isa base siaadsr. The
merchants and traders of Baltimore are free
! frcm the foul stain We know not man u
lnong them who is not ready and wiling soPay
his fair AID Just proportion of the burdens of
the State nsorder to redeem her character from
the degradation into which it has fallen.
! But, Messrs. Editors, who are the advocates
l~cf this law amongst US? For oarself, we most
confidently aver, that we know not maR with
/ in che limits of our city who sustains it--be-
yond the 3s,o office hcldtrS Of G0uornorP rot!-
! who feel, OF course, bound to uphold whatever
! he may recommend.
! Very certain, it is, that the fo,o who kave APP
| peared in public as its advocates have, so sar
as we have been enabled to loarn their identi-
ty, been of that class alone who are the reci2i-
ents of the honors or emolunfents flowing from
the Governor We have thought tosprint the
names OF that depete6 tclO IN Roman capitals, enc
of thesedays, that the people of Baltimore nnay
have before their view, the gentlemen who ap'
prove OF making the merchants, traders, and
dealers,cf Baltimore pay the interest upon d
debt exacted by the attempt to take onr trad'
and commerce to the District of Columbia.
1t has been limited that we, who oppose the
Stamp Act for its injustice, must suggestsome
other mode of raising money before sc ear ex-
pect to,be relieved of this. We would suppose
that if we succeed in shelving the law to be
unequal, unjust, and unconstitutional, thatwould
be sufficient to insure its repeal But we say,
let the direct tar be ncreasea-!et The bartkens be
made equal, and Baltimore will pay her proper
but not one cent for trihute"-this was the
heroic watch-word of forefathers; and We
say aay cmount fairly aud equally imposed, but
nothing from partiality, injustice or oppression
A BAIriMoRnAN.