The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-15
THE NEW TAX ACT.

THE NEW TAX ACT.
We observe that the Petersburg Tnselligen-
Ger has already broken ground against this
most oppressive lava law which seems to
have had Il 10 view no other object than that OF
restricting trade, and Gripping, as far as posi-
BILE. the business of the towns. II is the least
creditabls legislation, to those concerned 10 4,
that We have ever known. II 10 confession,
on the part of members, that while the Golfers
If the State undoubtedly need replenishing,
,bey are afraid TO tax their own constituents for
that purpose. They, therefore, fall without
marcy on the towns, which being unable to re-
sisr. must of course bear the burthen. There
is a district of country 10 Mexico, spoken Of
Nv Ruxton, the inhabitants Of which are the
weakest, most timid, and least offensive Of all
creatures on earth. 1t borders on the Apache
country, and these warlike savages regard it
rs their own special domain. Whenever they
20 out 10 war with any Of the neighborirg
tribes, provided they be successful, they do
not pay the wretched Inhabitants ofthis DIG
trict visit. But il they should be worsted,
and get no scalps from their enemies, they then
resort to it, as to a. game-p preserve, where they
never fail to obtain them. They manage mat
tiers with great forethought, for they never rip
up the goose that lays the eggs-that is, they
never kill so many that there may not be lett
enough to supply scalps for future occasions.
Our legislators seem to have borrowed their
policy from the Apaches. They can get no
scaips among their own constituents-they are
rather too strong for that-but the towns pre-
sent field where they luxuriate in abundance.
The towns lie at their mercy, and can only Of
fer prayers and remonstrances. We presume
NO candid member of the Legislature will deny
that he laid the heavy burthens prescribed BY
the tax law upon the towns, because he was
afraid tos touch his own constituents.
This city already pays an eleventh part OF
the taxes of the whole Commonwealth-,hat is
to say, 80 600 persons pay what ought to be
paid BY lie, 600, if the taxes were levied only
per capita. Taken upon property, OF every
description, the disproportion is still greater.
Really, we should think this were enough
But the present law adds nearly one hundred
fold, in many instances, to the taxes of certain
classes of the community, and greatly increas-
es all.
The only effect of these enormously in.
creased burthens must be to injure commerce,
and, conseq uently, to affect the interest OF the
whole State. The oppression under which
they cause the mercantile community to labor,
will drive many merchants from the city, and
forbid others from engaging in merchandise
Already, number of our most distinguished
merchants has resolved, if there be no hope
Of obtaining repeal ofthe oppressive law, te
remove beyond the limits of the State-to Bal
timore or elsewhere. The argument used by
distinguished member Of the Legislature, tina
ii made no odds what sort of tax was laid upol
the merchants, since they made the consume
nav il. is too absurd to deceive the most shall
low understanding. The consumer, especial.
if he be such upon large scale, will not pa
the enhanced price for articles of consumption
when he can buy them so much cheaper OF
ofthe State-when we have such rapid and d
rect intercourse with New York, Philadelphia
and Baltimore. The Legislature may succee
in forcing trade to these places, thereby break
ing up the merchants here, and, with even les
sense than is manifested by their Apache pre-
totypes, ripping up the goose at once bu
they cannot force the consumer, unless he b.
such on very small scale, to pay the advances
prices.
We learn that in the city of New York, NJ
taxes are laid on the merchant, except for th
property he has in possession. They striv
to encourage commerce there, and we do no
learn that the country suffers from having suc
an immense market always ready to receiv
its products. Here, ON the contrary, it seem
to be the settled policy, to break down all til
markets for produce, as far as legislation ca
do it. We say sach 'seems'' to be the object
but we should be doing our Wittenagemot
injustice did we attribute to them any desig
whatever, beyond that of keeping the favor {
their own constituents, at the expense of til
towns.
MIR, MEAGHER THE EXILE