The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-03-09
DAILY CRESCENT
Louisiana Legislature.

Louisiana Legislature.
SENATE-Mdrch S.-The Senate met pursuan
to adiournment-the Hon Trasimon Landry in the
Chair.
Mr. Moore called up the bill to provide fund fol
Internal Improvement Ii was taken up, and after
some amendment passed its second reading.
resolution was presented by Mr.. Adams, at
ribnting much of the success of our arms in Mex
leo to the beneficial operation of the Academy at
West Point, and requesting our Representatives in
Congress to sustain all measures which may extend
and consolidate the usefulness of said Institution
Mr.. Van Wrinkle presented a resolution to submit
to the people an amendment of the Constitution,
| proposing annual sessions of the Legislature
| Mr.. Bell, from the Committee Oh Finance offered
report concerning the statement of the Board of
Bank Managers. Mr.. Adams presented counter
report on the same subject: both reports ordered
to he printed.
Mr.. Bryce called up the bill to improve the navi-
CATION of Red River at Alexandria: the bill. after
being amended, finally passed, with provso that
| the cost OF said works shall not exceed SIS 900
The Senate then took up the bill for the relief of
| II. III. Labatt, which, on motion of Mr.. kenner
was referred to the Committee on claims
| HoUsE-After the presentation of s,indry petit
| tons and memorials, resolution was offered by
Mr.. Duncan, of Orleans instructing the Commit
tee on Education to inquire into the eXpediency of
purchasing limited number of copies of Gayarre's
History of Louisiana, translated into English, and
about to be published for the use of the Public
Schools adopted.
Mr.. Mather, from the Committee on Commerce
reported bill amendatory of the Act concerning
liarbormasters and Pilots increasing the number
of Pilots to 60, and diminishing the potage on
vessels drawing less than ten feet WATER vessels of
100 tons and under, from Alabama, louisiana
Texas and Florida, free The bill was passed after
somtodiscussion
The majority, from the Committee on Finance,
reported adversely to the bill to repeal the third
section of the Act to Provide @ Revenue for the
State. O
Mr.. garue, on behalf of the minority of said
Committee, presented the following counter report:
The undersigned, a minority of the Finance Committee
to which referred Bill entitled An repeal the
sixth enumeration of the third section of entitled an
act to provide revenue for the support of the
of this State beg leave respectfully to
REPORT:
That they have been unable to agree with the majority of
the committee in the report which has been made in refer
ence to SAID bill The portion of the law to which
the bill refers, is in the following words
SIXTH from each and person who brings and intro
duce or causes to be Brought slaves into this State for sale
exchange which shall be paid On the ntroducton Of the
slaves into the State, when such slave placed public
having possession Of the slaves provided that the person
bringing slave slaves for sale this State shall be bound
to report within ten days. the State collector of the dis
et or parish in which he offers the said slave for
e as d dH nnmbG SO SSg a under penalty M
jurisdiction Tor every slave omitted to be reported by him.
be paid Free School Fund Provided further always,
that persons so INTRODUCING slaves into the State for sale hire
This tax thus imposed is included under the general de-
scption in the revenue law of trades professions
Constitution which gives the Legislature power to tax ali
the species of taxation here sanctioned by the Constitution
nue. The undersigned will at present say nothing. However
m nsd TIC #, may s be ON gensa pne has been
material change only be looked for after long discus
sion, and minute examination of all the bearings of the
era welfare of the community. Such discussion and ex
and Sf@Ge % ay be OF m ahd bs
LegIslatpIe until has seriously occupied the attention of
preston of opinion. But admitting the upon persons
pursuing any trade occupation Or profession to be
Slave brought into the State kept for sale, such tax Is
i tax upon the slayedeaer for pursuing his trade or pro-
nndo9bed night to impose but then it must be imposed in
Of w Rc eeSe d0 tIa 5
shall be equal and uniform throughout the State
pursues the occupation of selling slaves the same must be
imposed upon every other slave dealer tax will be mel
regulated by the amount of business done then ceases 10
BE- tax npon the person pursuing the occupation but
tent OF the business always indication of the amount
Of the profits become tax upon INCOME In the same
his suits the physician by the number of his patients the
the business. If such tax, regulated be levied upon
dealers in slaves it might in the be levied upon
community without running Counter at once to ali
IDEAS 9leqGay and nnonnty if be So levied in
In Inc he Rut r,rIIl
perceive that such would be neither personal for fol-
f n somena Tax on on M
OF all without the justice equality of any. But the under
above qpoted cannot regard the which imposes in any
other gh, than as tax Gpon Progera tax OF five dollar
hire and in this opinion they are fully sustained blythe
s doa sa bs p sas 1 s and tax e Of
that persons SO nrodncng slaves into the State for SALE
to show that exacon of five dollars for every slave when
the value of the kind of property levied hen held
by another class, is clearly prohibited by the words Of the
But aside from this, there other and fatal objections to
cannot regard them oes Without the most msnfes
this legsaiue has right to
it has to impose like tax barrel of flour any other
artists tF9 9 Re to Gnr market from Of the
the commerce the States is Possessed exclusively by
Of the United declares e that fs eo Of ss a coh s
without the consent OF Congress lay mposts or duties on
imports or exports except what may be absolutely
for the execution of its inspection laws tax exaced
from person for Introducing article into the State is a
iuy imports; and this duty, the present case NOT
evied for the of executing any inspection law but
provide revenue for the support of the Government of
he State.
1t has been suggested that the might be so modified as
Q duty OF one per cent upon the amount for which
fleet the same thing by the OF different words There
den no difference to the slave dealer whether he pays
I'VE dollars tax slave worth five hundred dollars or
me per cent upon the five hundred dollars which he
ecefves tor the Slave when sold. To levy tax of one
'eT cent upon the price for which the Slave is sold would
.9i change the result at all or if it did, would in all proba
'lly change it to the detrimen of the slave dealer Bot
" this change the objection arising from the words of the
constitution OF the United States, would in degree be
bvated because has been adudged by the highest tribunal
II the country that it immatenaI whether the be col
ected TOR the Introduction OF the article whether it
levied upon the business of selling teach duty
N imports While the change would thus effect nothing in
citation to the validity of the tax under the constitution
he Union would only further involve the question when
ewed in relation TO that OF Louisiana If tax be imposed
thnS OF 1-aa4L