Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-14

luton. BY Mr. BEARD: Ol James D Cuen,
TO be relieved from again paying Tor merchants
license Tor part Of The year ending May lofo'
he having paid the said tax for whole year.
On molten Of MIR. BURDETr, the comul''-
tee on Roads was discha ged from the considera-
ton of The petition OF citizens OF The county oil
Taylor, for an equalization OF distances De-
tween the toll gates on the North Western Iurh-
pike: and the same was referred 10 tie Board Vi
Public Works.
THE MILITIA.
On motion of Mr. NEWTON, the unfinished
business Of Yesterday (lhe bill concerning inc
Seabuard and Roanoke Rairoad) was laid on the
Ia bic, and The House took up resolution from inc
committee Oh Inc Militia Laws, declaring u ea'
pedicnt TO appoint a board 10 revise the Mill'ia
Laws. and recommend notifications cf them.
Mr. RAYMOND making enquiries on The sub
jec ascerlained tha, il was contemplated 10 leave
the appointment of the bead TO The Executive.
Mr.. H. declaring that he believed the proceeding
entirely unnecessary, moved The Indefinite post
ponement OF the resolution.
Mr.. NEWTON earnestly argued IN favor OF
the proptie.y of The resolution. de coh'ehaeG
that our Militia Laws were very deiec'lVe, ana
iha. il was proper they should be referred 10 a
board OF military men. A number OF such gen
tlemeD were now in the city, who wonid cneer'
fully undertake the task, and II would be Judi
cious in Tie Legislature 10 refer The matter 10
them, beca use they would be better abb to make
proper changes in The laws than any board OF
civilians that could be selected.
MIR. SCOTT suggested that II the Board al
uded TO would advise the abolition OF the system
| OF militia masters we now had, they would co
great service; for those muslcrs were OF no eartn-
y utility, bat were productive of much evil. il
they were abolished and system were adopted
for the enrolment OF militia and for training the
officers who were not generally as we'll qnaiihec
| as they should be, we should gel rid OF great
nuisance and accomplish great deal more toI
the better organization Of the militia than was
attained by The present system.
Mr.. NEWTON suggested that The whole sub
jecl would be before the Board, and their province
Of revising and reforming being unlimited, they
would in all likelihood recommend that the PIE
sent system be greatly altered il not entirely abol'
| shed
Mr.. BUSWELL very strongly objected 10 the
assembling Of such board here-aIIudins 10
| the board Of assessors which assembled here a
few years since and whose Importance was SO
masnifed by a feeling of self consequence that
il was difficult 10 get any thing out OF them.
He thought the Legislature ought 10 examine
and amend the laws itself and trust nothing 10
such board A special commillec might be
| alluded to might appear and impart The wise,
practical views their experience gave them.
Mr.. RAYMOND was 0fopinion that the sub.
jet OF The militia laws could be very well con-
sidered by a committee Of that House. They
were most all OF them in fact or by courtesy mill.
tary men, lie believed there was no grade
among hem lower than Colonel-and i, was 10
be presumed tina; a committee might he select
ed highly enlightened on martial lopics-onc thai
might certainly, with The aid of The military men
now on visit here, be competent 10 consider The
militia laws.
Mr.. OLDHAM concurred in the views Of Mr..
HAGMOl'D and lrus;ed The resolution would
be indefinitely postponed
The vote was taken, and the resolution was in
definitely postponed by decided vote.
SUBJECTS OF TAXATION
On motion OF Mr.. DORMAN, a resolution
reported by The committee on Finance, relative 10
subjects III Taxation, was taken up.
The resolution declared that twas inexpedient
TO increase The subjects OF taxation, except TO i'm
pose tax on stills engaged, or TO be engaged, in
the disliliing of ardent spirits the present year.
Mr.. DORMAN said it was important that The
subject should be acted On now Tor Inc instruction
Of The commissioners of the revenue.
Mr.. TEPElENSON moved 10 add 10 the re-
| solution an amendment, for taxing all monies on
hand on The Isl of February, lS4a, over $500.
Mr. s. desired 10 the sense OF the House on
the principle OF taxing money unemployed. Mo-
ney was The foundation OF wealih-the substra-
tum OF property, and ne commended was as proper
ly subject OF taxation as land, horses, or any
| thing else.
Mr. STOVAL.L moved further 10 amend the
amendment, by adding, "or which shall have been
on hand the four months nett preceding"
The amendments were opposed by Messrs.
DORMAN, MAYO, COOKE and TUNS-
TALL, and sustained by Messrs. STEPHEN
son and STOVALL. The general impolicy
81 taxing capital was urged especially by MI.
TUNSTALL, who could not conceive why NO.
neg should be so much the subject of restriction
and taxation. 1t was merely the representative
OF property. He could never himself see the
utility OF The usury laws-it seemed 10 him an
ineIplicable inconsistency, without wisdom or
justice, that man might hire out negro worth
say $500 for 500; and vel, il he loaned ont $500
for $50, he would he guilty of an offence against
society, which justified The deprving him oi The
whole sum! As for taxing money, he thought
there was already too many onerous burthens on
money in Virginia. They caused il 10 seek in
vestment elsewhere. Heihoueht the enacimenis
OF the Legislature ought 10 ook 10 the encourage
ment OF its Introduction.
Messrs. DORMAN and MAYO pointed out
the injustice whish the proposed tax might infic
in numerous instances where money might be Just
received for property last year taxed, and which
would pay tax in the hands OF The new owner
They referred 10 the numerous shapes in which
money was already taxed through The bonus on
bank stock, the per cent tax on money al interest
&C.
Mr. STEP HENSON had alleged that The Az
ricul,ural interest was heaviest taxed Mr..
MAYO Joined issue with him, ami commended
that the mercantile interest paid The heaviest
tax. An estate worth $4,000 did nnt pay as mich
revenue as merchant with capital OF 81 600
Nlessrs STEPHENSON and STOVALL
declare! their object 10 he 10 lax money boarded
to reach misers. The case Of the merchants
and The siockholder, and s. on, referred 10, might
be projected 10y clause in the lax bill.
Mr.. COOKE thought the many exceptions that
would be necessary, would make very CON-
plcated affair oiihe tax.
Mr.. STEPHENSON, expressing his willing
ness to defer the question until the tax bill
was taken up, desired TO withdraw his amend
menr, but Mr.. STovALL adhering to his further
amendment, il could not be done. After further
discussion, The House agreed to Mr.. STovALL's
amendment, and then rejected the amendment as
amended, by vote OF 4l to CD
The resolution OF the committee was then
agreed 10.
ROANOhE 6OAND RhlLnOhb
On motion of Mr.. COWPER, the House look
up the biIl.for uniting the Roanoke and Seaboard
and the Roanoke Railroad Companies.
When the House adjourned yesterday, the
amendment submitted by MIR. HARViE was
pending. This amendment went 10 restrict The
company from using The wood off OF the 1000
acres OF land they were allowed 10 own Tor any
other purpose than the construction or repair Of
their road or for fuel for their engines; and ii
further restricted them from carrying on any
other business than that OF Railroad tEansporia'
ton.
The debate upon this amendment was contin-
ued a great length, Messrs COWPER. VERIFY,
SYME. HARVIE, STEPHENSON, MAYO,
GUSTS and PRICE, taking part in ii. The
debate was lalirutinous and The subject not OF
much magnitude. We have not room for an out.
line OF il.
Al the conclusion of The discussion, the amend
ment was rejected, ayes So noes 60.
On motion Of Mr.. SHEFFEY the House ad.
journed.