Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-04
LEGISLATIVE POWER us TAXATION. dr.

Mr.. FAULKNER hold in my hand some PROPOSE
lions tia: desire 10 lag before ihe Convention epd to
ak that l. body will consider tiein so;e future day,
either in connection with the bas. report amend
m1nts - the report of the committee Oh the legislative
department They relate to the subject of taxation. to
the limitation Of es:ang State dcbt, aud to limitations
IN the Legislative power create indebtedness. 'nnn
no merit Whatever for these propositions trom anv merit
If my own have ruilcd hem from whatever sources
were accessible and wherever found them - coui"m
hest to ms own ideas Indeed, in matter III 20 much
difficulty .s foun this >ubieat 81 limiting HE manev
appropriating power of ihe legislative department
have cn,leavorcd avail mysef OF the wisdom and
pcr;ance Of other States aud governments. brlicve
that il there is Il subject certainly SPEAK in
gard TO nv district aud my colleagues bear
ou--whic t, this time engrossos lie pubic mind cor
taiu.y the rejecting portion Of the people oi ;his STATE
il is the tendency manifest III tine past aHi pre-
cent actor If our legislature, involving M increase
of pubic debt believe that mans persons were lei
most anxiously 10 look the c oi this Convention o
the people Of Virginia, because Of :iat defe in CIR
existing system OF Government, which placed in the
power Of The agents Of the people, single i, part
n,ent Of the government. the power OF aging al
iEi!a, the property and labor oi the people oi this
State. II Is my ownopinon. and know it the known
aud declared opinions and sentiments OF The dctric.
which represent that II fail neglect to impose
upon those who wiold this power in the general
bly, just and proper limitations that Shall fail to
have accomplished of the mos; important objects for
which the people have sent Us 10 this place shall
press these propositions propagation locking the
end, without the slightest reference to The fleet
10 whether the east shall retain OF the west shall
qure power under the constitution which now
engaged in framing Our past experience has shown
,at where the control Of the legislative policy OF thi:
State has been in the eastern majority that has rot
furnished to Any adequate safeguard against the wild
reckless and injucios system CT public expenditure
and il would be assuming mere than am disposed "a
IN hat heck
ted power transferred to Tie w.. IN "
should be free from the abuse OF the saFns ger
shall therefore press this proposition, or proposition
looking TO the result care not what ilay - the
decision Of this body upon questions Of Eeosrn ihca
power anu aware Of the extreme difficulty q attempt
Ing to regulate this subject OF appropriation know
there is not in the whole structure Of our government
function that requires 10 DC cauiious and mere dc
i;;,era;ely dealt with l Tot opposed 10 the spirit Of IN
terna Improvement the policy OF Internal Improve
rentthe state but seek TO give 1t direction would
wish t. give il direction different from hist winch ha.
i, re.ofore had in this State. Above all would seeA
% define il in those local connections that have been the
bane and destruction Of the system wherever mas pre-
vailed. | do rot fatter myself that The plan have
proposed viii psh these results Of that IS the
best that can b. proposed but it IS She b-t that has yet
occurred to my mind, and Unless something better cal
cu!ated to accomplish that result shall be suggested to
IL. mind By others il the proposition that sal! sus-
tain in this body desire 70 lay 1t before The Con
venton, that il may be printed, and that the members
may have opportunity Of rejecting upon IT ana OF
giving to ii whatever direction it may be thought that
il merits.
The propositions were then read by the SECRETARY
follows:
l. TAXATION.
l. Taxation shall be equal AMI uniform Throughout:
the State and no species of property shall be taxed
higher than another species OF property of equal value
on which taxes shal be levied All property IN the