Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-01

the gentleman from Augusta but precisely IN that Dc
tween the greater strngcncy OF the demand Tor villa
are usually termed the nccessarIcs n lie which are III
d;nsn,ba 10 human existence and Comfort, and villa
mr.. Lno ,s mere h,Srcs which at best merely con
trbuto IN ,ni,ymen but not thus indispensable,
Tim, tb nonr man makes his contribution 10 the Stat
revenue ont Of the little ncume-the offspring n IN
daily tnil-wic generally, even with strict ccoiomy,
barely sufficient to procure for himself and those iue
ant ,non him the essential comforts of life. On III
his M, If that portion OF his larger income which h
annually appopratcs t" ltlNuries; nay, t" mere super
fuitins iy which mean something beyond luXu
ries nrnnerlv Speaking which, while They may tend /,
crafty the taste nr uiorn the intellect lampcr l
buly and in Il variety ol ways, according Ia The ycIc
raj nnnior contribute pleasure enjoyment are III"
INDISPENSABLE TO human comfort, or existence. a.
general rule the rich man. out Of his income, first
apart portion IL drrv th. expenses "l his rsiabs
mcnl upon :; liberal scale; then, il he is frugal man
another portion for the increase of capital and the
iduc assigns tn mere superilutcs What he includes
under the name OF comforts, being Ill fact, 10 great
extent xrlrics in the truc sense 81 that term. III,
term suneruitic$ t" convey the idea Of something
beyond that class ul luXurcs, which, though not essen
ti 10 mans existence vel are correctly supposed to
administer TO comfort and real enjoyment In other
words bv the term s'p"rilniics | mean to refer Il
those indulgence, 10 which mankind are often addicted
and which even when generally not deemed sinful in
fort or true cnioymcnl but frequently sooner later
prove injurious I" both Hence it is manifest that the
larger amount Of taxes mp,rd upon Tie rich mar j.
in truth less onrr"us 10 him, than the comparatively
smaller amount, Imposed the poor man. il Ia him
precisely in the ratio stated by because the former
paws his II the expense Of lux,rirS supcriuitics il
The sense in which have rcl those terms while the poor
man, as Il general rule pays his at the cXpcsc of
srics comforts. From this results the fact, known
to every man who has hal much experience, popu-
lar representative that the most vigila,t guardians
the public Golfers are those in mediocre circumstances
those with moderate means.
Though the amount al taxes paid by them colnrar,
ativcly small, vet they generally for the
Just stated bv al The least indication OF WASTE ar
extravaganza, i'll the expenditure of public money, the
first, and the inidct, and the longest III their cam"rl
and dcnmciations. Then, ask, because tn. citizens Of
the eastern section o the State constituting minority,
in consequence of their greater wealth. have heretofore
paid, and are still paying of the State revenue. larger
proportion than those of the western section who
stute ma nrity of the community Of Virginia. does it
follow that Hitter have not claln"t, il is true,
in actual amount but for Ill practical purposes
81 far a the present issue is conccrI"l-and Common
interest with the former in this subject Of taxation
In fine, i'll the entire subject of State and
pendllure: Ii not All affirmative answer Ia this
question ~ clear is any proposition can be! The whole
argument of gentlemen has been based upon
neous principle. athoug ingenious and able IT has
which ought 10 operate upon, and guide statesmen in
their acts.
But lei us Look little more particularly nrtn
the subject, admitting. tiat, a. between The two
tons taken Srpar:dely-l"oking at the west whole
and to the east wlole-there il diversity of inter
est Admitting, say, this proposition Of eastern gen
tlemen is still apparent that they wrong III their
conclusions Now. If admit that between the west
ern section thu, viewed and the eastern section thus
viewed there j. this inequality and diversity Of inter-
the subj cci u" taxation does it necessarily follow
that in order protect The from excessive taxa
ton. YOU must confer political power upon them IN
proportion to their grca!er wealth to enable
them in all matters of legislation override the ina jor-
ily Let Us look into thai matter ior moment. How
Legislative assembly TO be Co#lt Not by
general ticket i'll the west and by general ticket III the
cast-atd thereby sending gentlemen here holding pre-
cisely the political sentiments and the views
regard to fiscal matters and any particular policy or
system of public expenditures but by sending from the
east By counties small districts, representatives
specially charged with representing the local interests
OF their respective constituents and from the west,
representatives charged i'll like manner with the local
interests dc, of their respective constituencies What
will these gentlemen DO when they get here What
will be the motives which will influence their action
representative when called to act upon bill
involving the appropriation Of public money, will not
inquire what may be the of sentiment in all the
country Of the Blu. Ridge, To The eXpcIency OF
the particular appropriation contemplate ed by IT.! Ger
tanly not He would first loo; with single eye to his
own constituents, and how far their interest might
be implicated in that appropriation, and how far he
should act in accordance with their views in voting
for it.
In the time. too, lie might perceive that much
larger amount of taxes perhaps is paid by his county
into the public treasury Of the State than is paid by
majority Of the counties of the east though less than
paid by Of them; but yet certainly an amount sui
iicienty large TO make his constituents very chary il
the appropriation of public money-an amount suf
hcleuy large tn impress upon his mind the fact that il
he voted for an appropriation OF the public money moi
likely to advance their interest for object not IL
consUuuucc with their views he would BE- held rcspOl
sblc; and he would not therefore act with the west
unless his interest and those of his constituents
identical with the west and unless the will of his
stueuts i'll accnrdanc. with the general wish OF il,
west say them that gentleman whether from the west.
or the east will here TO reflect the sentiments and
advance the interests of their particular constituents
and not those either of the entire western or of the en-
tire eastern section.
Look beyond the Blue Ridge, gentlemen from tll,
east and You will that YOU do not paw all the taxes
of the State You only ply such amount Of taxes Il;
is in fair proportion t" the amount Of your wealth. and
We, you do pay all for there Is some wealth ou the
western side Of the Aeshanies-therc are some take.
paid even there. Cast yonr eyes too, beyond the beau
tul line of the Blue Mountain aud YOU will IN the
valley vast and fertile region spread before y"Gi
vision. Look al your tax and assessors b"ksal youl
auditor repprtH-aud you Will md that although not
rich you arc in Il certain description Of property
yet pay amount of taxes sufficient tn give Us, not
equality in point OF wealth. but TO give equality
in interest for all practical purposes in reference to the
exercise of the power of taxation. New take bric
and asty view of the condition. in regard to taxation
portion OF western Virginia. See the county of Ohio
in the northwcst-tle county Of K,nnwla in the central
west aud the counties OF Washington and WvtIc and
the whole tier Of valley counties Do ynu think that
the delegates from those counties will dare To
their voices in the Legislative hail. in favor Of system
Of taxation that will break down and Cypress the rights
of property. 1t is in vain for gentlemen to tell me
about int ernal improvements. Who have been the
greatest sticklers for internal improvements in this com
mcnweath and who have taken the lions share u
them. Why one halfway more than the larger half
this very eastern Virginia Go into the valley and
will you find any advocates i,r wild aud visionary
system of internal Improvement there. Will YOU find
in all that region any dcsre-any tolcraon-ior rcck
less system Of public expenditures: No; We have
with YOU IL community of interest and every other
consideration which would influence us to guard
the public treasury and TO check wasteful appropria
tons OF public money! Whenever such Il question
arises, and the east is true to herself YOU will int
sure and certain allies i'll the west who upon any tls:
of representation will give to the protection of property
the influence Of a ma orlty What more in reason, car
you ask, in order TO protect your property!
But We have tried eastern duminion-wc have triec
this faithful guardian of the public treasury and what
has been the result? Why, that more money has beer
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