Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-17
TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER II. 1850

precisely us If the corporation of New York, uebuildn
great cost bridge the East river 10 BroOk houl
maze an ordinance that nobody should pass over But
am NOT clear that you right in regard to the povr III
otate government under the Constitution, TO 3 law
taxing goods produced in other Suites aud excnpns or
taxation goods produced in Virginia The State b rgl
lay taxes, and surely may lay them upon wha,tces
pleases."
This point is certainly worth examining as lhe3les,io
VIII probably be seriously discussed this winter the tir
einia Legislature and perhaps in the cesatnr Of son
IN regard 10 taxes levied by the State government on i'm
ported merchandise are these-ihey form part oihe lot
section Of the first article:
NO State shall, without the consen, of the Contss l
any linposs or duties on imports EXPORTS exgt wE,
may be absolutely necessary for cxccutiniis kcc
laws ard the net produce Of all duties and impos laid
any State on imports or exports, shall be Tor the ol III
treasury OF The United Stnes and all such laws sha IL sb
lect 10 the revision and control Of the Congress"
An impust, we told by the lexicosra piers Is ta
toi custom paid duty, in the financial sense s,cc.d
Ing 10 The saline authority, IA tax impost ri,on
toll" Customs are defined by Johnson, US "l.iitcda,
paio or goods imported exported" Now II is NOES
lial TO the nature of impos duty inporte Eod
mat should be raid at the frontier any fixed er
would Dc stia duty on imported goods, If the mean
we're obliged 10 report his imurtalons the seat gr
en and pay the duties there if tho agents col,in.
e customs should visit his warehouse and receive tdu
Ties alter examining The goods. Governor EiowiS liar
seems TO De OF this He proposes 10 create cls
ouceIs whom he calls inspectors and whose busnessyi
De 10 ascertain what manufactured goods are brrkanto
he respective districts from the free States ano cer
ouy OF Ten Per cent their value. Those offers riqt
De ambuatory stationary, or both They mat i viii
De perceived for the greater convenience OF coEo es.
laos her Offices the principal highways cssir tile
oounaay o thslr dstncf and receive the tax themer.
chandlSe IS brought in; they might visit the uretnuscs
OF Places OF sale and collect il the spot or ey night
comoine the TWO capacities Of publican and spyolctlng
e TAX waen they could, at the frontier Of hendi gcts
aha employing their leisure in the search smugkd oods
But whatever he the method of collecting It. * social
" laid on merchandise brought from another Stat so all
ntehts and purposes, duty imports Ii cannobe eyied
wnout The consent of Congress- and if Congress- ys this
consent he proceeds must DC paid into the reasry the
Cntcd States IL is not the mode OF colecon,o hich
the prohibition In the Constitution refers for that's little
consequence; but The thing tee the collection of reenue
oy ievyng tribute on goods Imported If The proShon In
ne constitution can be avoided by change in firm OF
demanding and receiving the mpos-by collectin il The
warehouse OF the importer and calling the coecor in
speclo-~e may throw aside the Constitution nc ns
lhng cupaoie OF no certain or rational Interpretation I
The construction have given this passage h,
ettuon derives support from the eighth Section wieh il
is provided that,
"The Congress shall have power to regulate ounerce
with foreign na"ns and among the sercrai tatesn with
the Indian tribes'
is agreed on all hands, that this clause gives %
lEe sole power. In which the State government hive no
snare 10 regulate commerce with foreign nations. pari-
~ oi reason gives Congress the sole and excus
OIL regulating commerce among the several State few
years since, MI Verpanck, In learned and a9spaper
SHOWS that al the time the constitution france lay
"s Vi oh ipo!teo gooos was 80 frequently pcen oi
as mode of regulating commerce thar the phrase a,qegu-
late commerce came to be generally used for i'm
poration5.
The tax proposed BY Governor Floyd has for Its obct
mocy TO restrain 10 force into particular shape rade
among the several States and is thus direct nraon of
The province Of Congress- II Of the great ccs
OF the union of the States, combine them oil urpr an
equal and impartial commercial system and put itn, OF
the power of any cf them nIure the trade
factures OF the Others by any burdens rescton the
way of taxation II Virginia is TO bo allowed 10 frlrae
;hs design BY any forced Of the wordsf the
that instrument might well has heen
framed