Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1849-07-05
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VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
WIRE suLPH tR June rs. Id

ff IL ShAPTkRt 90--CQUNTY LEylE9. * in sSS
The proposition before the House being moion
to strike outthe Alb Section, auhorising the County,
Courts to lerythe amount required for County DUR
poses, BY ataxton land slaves and other subjects "a
taxable property "a.
\ Mr.. Thomson of Jefferson hoped the motion ID
strike out would not be- Withdrawn as he Mis- al
posed 10 =enlargingfthe power Of taxation oil new
subjects Unless there was inequality in The pfesent
mode OF taxation and unless 1t was insufficient ft3r
\ county purposes, why Introduce this new system
lie was informed that neither Pf these reasons exist
cd Mr.. 7. believed that III ibis increased taxation
be allowed, il would induce aEsysten OF countv in
II terhal improvements as ektravagant as theSaaIe
SYSTEM. This power had been given to Berkeley
equity, and the people had repeed, on account 81
me pHIa PLY e6etalse a tbs power and on This qnes
the subjects OF taxation and new inducements will
present themselves Aor wasting more money. For
these reasons be hoped The motion 10 strike out
would be adhered to tH.E
Mr. Faulkner said, that suffering as he was on
mat day. from severe indisppsition, he should not
have taken partin the debate, but for the direct
Reference which hegentenan from Jefferson fMr.
4 Thdmson9 had made 10 certain recent proceedings
In ihe4 County Of Berkeley That gentleman had
referred to the yoeof the people Of Berkeley last
Spring, as an evidence Of the popular opposition I'd
the proposed system Of raising the County revenue
from property ir l;ea 81 pcrs5ns Ii was to vindi
cate the Couufy Of Berkeley from this aspersion-
for he considered It such that he rose to make few
remarks. 1t was we'll knownt that 10 the County Of
Berkeley belonged the honor OF Introducing that
reform in our County Financial System, which is
\ now 10 become portion tho General Laws OF the
Stale. II had originated there, as early as 1894
bntthe plan not fully perfected and did moi 20
into effect until 1885 il had how been in operation
IA years Il was introduced with the almost uHani-
moas petition Of the people and from sense OF the
utter injustice Of the Old system. Captation taxes
were the NEST grieypus and unequal taxes that could
be imposed-they exarted the same amount from
the poor man. that they did iffom the rich they i'm
posed the same burdens upon bill without respect to
their property and Interests Id The ends Of taxation
they were condemned BY every sound principle oil
political economy and had been abolished in almost
every State in the Union. County taxes were main
lily for the construction and repair Of roads and
bridges. It was Ubiquitous that poor man, not
possessed Of horse CT wagon should pay more
towards the repair of roaus and bridges than the
large land holder whose conxenience aud advantage
were continually promoted and whose lands were
steadily advancing in value by such expenditures
There was another conclusive argument In favor ut
\ the proposed Reform. In ths County Of Berkeley
there was argeRqqahtitF bf land held Ok nom
resident proprietors4 Under the Capitation system,
these persons did not contribute dollar towards
expenditures by which they were annually benee
fitted Now they are made ID bear their just share
OF the County taxes. Il was these considerations
and others which be had not time to diateI upon.
which prompted the people ofIBerkeey 10 cash aside
the old System, and be did not believe that there
we've Ten men now I'M the County who would vote %
Substitute the old System for The new,
II The gentleman from Jefferson has asserted that
the late election In Berkeley was test of the ex
Perfence Of the people On that question, and was
condemna,ian Of The properly tax system. This
Comfy election which would not be proper fdr him
AZ this time, 10 enter into detail Of bur which were
very apparent TO him. BnlIthis he would assert
from ainll knowletge Of thk people Of Berkeley
Comfy, and 81 their sentimentss thai no delegate
from the County Of Berkeley who had any resnacf
for his own position Id thar Co1nty would dare Is
propose the substitution OF ahe old system Of Can't
talipn Taxes, for the existing system nv which ihe
County expenditures were 6dfrayed BE- takation
mainly upon property
Mr.. Faulkner proceeded 1t some length 10 Cyl
plain the practical operation o the system in Berke
ley and while be Admitted that the greater facility
Of collecting revenue from property than from
persons might lead q more liberal or as some
would term il more extraraaant sy stem Of County
Improvements, still thar was Ian unimnortan con
sidsratian compared with is intrinsic equity. ana
Us manifest advantages. Errors Of that sori were
continually committed by ain public bodies ard
could pnly be checked BY the vigilant energy and
watehful attention cf The people. The scheme pro-
pnse BY The Revisors like The Berkeley System from
which II IS borrowed, proposes TO confer nd new
powers on the County Court The obiectsnf Com
q expenditures are limited and defined BY law
They cannot appropriate . dollar except as au-
ihDrzed by some act Of the legislative will Ii is
their business ID raise revenue sufficient ID meet
their limited and welI defined purposes The only
question Isl from whence shah this revenue be de-
rived Shall il be raised BIZ atax equally imposed
upon the head OF every rnapiA the County, whenfrs
he lie rich or poor or shah ii be raised BIZ a tax
upon lands, slaves &C. Should u oc ralSsG ~ 8
tax upon labor, or BIZ a tax upon properly HsseM
not think General Assembly q virginia. ~ tAis
day al least could doubt as y rs propsE
Mr. Faulkner adYeried lotne manalss.
- IS ne Eastern epunties where slavery
- isrre MI extent and where the slave
- vere TeFy Numerous the practical IN
Justice Of The xystEm was NOT 50 appareatl But
- a. he Blne Ridge where the slave pnpnlatian
- srSFsS. he Cspiziicn System vas onesof M
rn;tieSted ws0ng and iuIustice and should nct Be
tolerated FOR olk moment He therefore trusted lie
t,h Section would pot Be stricken ont
Mr. Thomson 81 Jefferson explained The ground
Of his information
The House ID COMMITTEES Of tEe whole ~ ID
overwhelming voie refused % strike ont Tie 4lh
Section,
Cav McDuSrrft. IL lfSRe4sr Snrrrr 4 rfsl.5.la