Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-05-06

ration stocks, &C., at
All personal property 9TH 100 oao ooo n,
or than slaves,
s,767 ,05l ,52s 81
Professor Dew, gentlemen in whose
accuracy we may all have confidence, es-
timated, | understand, the real and per
sonal property Of Virginia in 1884, at
5000, 900 600. The increase 10 the val
ne Of real estate alone from 1888 to 1850,
has added SOS, 900, 900 TO our real estate.
The increase in the value OF slave proper.
ty has not been less than $50, 600. 600
since that period, so tina, my estimate at
the present time, compared with his in
1884 must be deemed within very moder.
ale and reasonable bounds.
An ad valorem tax OF one mill to the
dollar--one thousandth part OF dollar
on S767 GOO, 900 of property, would yield
a revenue Of S767 600 to which, il the
tax on law process, material seals and those
other specific sources of revenue above
indicated, be added, (Which together make
Sal ,273 I'D would make an aggregate
revenue ssh. PA II, or $40, 900 more
than our present revenue.
Now, sir, what is the enormous burden
imposed on slave property by this rule Of
taxation? Ten thousand dollars worth of
slave property would pay tax OF ten dol
lars )! Is this oppressive' AT present no
one will question the fact. That slaves have
for many years past paid less than their
fair proportion OF the taxes Whilst lands
are taxed at one mill per dollar, horses al
about three mills per dollar, slaves are moi
taxed more than at the rate Of ! of one
mill per dollar. |. there anything in the
system that should alarm the slave inter-
est Of this commonwealth can see
nothing in il that should do so.
As stakeholder myseIl-as the repre-
sentative of large slave interest on this
floor, could make any valid objection 10
that property, so far as taxation is concern
ed, being placed upon an equality wltb..all
The other property Of the commonwealth,
and being required TO bear its just proper
ton of the public burdens 1 could moi.
1t is not only productive property TO its
owner, but il is an expensive and burden
some property TO the State, and am sure
that when the STAKEHOLDER reflects how
much of the time OF the General Assem-
by is consumed in egisla,ing for the safe.
ty and protection Of that interest, how
much Of the time of the courts is consum-
ed in regulating and controlling the civil
and criminal relations which grow ont Of
it,--how large an expenditure for our
State police is required by its presence,
and that almost at anv moment. the whole
physical power and treasure Of the com.
monwealth NAV be needed to defend that
ins,i,ion from foreign seeresslon-that i,
is mol asking too much 10 REQUIRE that il
shall be placed on footing of equality.
so far as The burdens of the State are CON
cerned. with all other kinds of proper,v.
The ad valorem system viii do no more.
Then. If this system be adopted vba, be-
comes Of the fears expressed bv the GEN
lleman from Halifax. (Mr. Edmunds that
if the suffrage basis should prevail, high.
er rate OF taxation nigh, be imposed upon
slaves Than upon other oroperty. ACCORDING
TO their respective values? Is no, this
objection scattered to the windss And
is there auy reason 10 apprehend tia, this
provision is like one of those sheds. TO
which the Imaginative gentleman from
Buckingham compared il. annexed 10 the
main building. and which y ould be swept
away by the frs, northwestern wind?-
Has The west any motive thai could promp,