Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-03-01

70 every mcfnper OF th's mouse 10 say wlsclh,
cr ought. whether could with Justice
and 6rmness, entertain proposition to ts !
the asour Of one portion Of my consti,u.
ents and exempt that Of the othcrf should
be uniaithfnlIo my trnst. recrcant to ihoss
who sent me here, and should deserve Ia
forfeit forever their confidence were | 10
do IT. It's my purpose to rcproscnt the
will of my constituents faithfully pnd fair
y. and mean to carry that purpose out,
| am not, Mr.. Chairman, advocating 1
proposition to tax agricultural productions
in any form, but the position occupy 10
thatifagricultural products are 10 be faxed
at all--all must be taxed or none. | am
no, contcnding for eastern or western in,
tcrest upon this floor. but | am contend,
ing for what | regard % strict and stern
justice and equality. 1t has been urged
with mreh ingenuity by gentlemen who
have participated in this Discussion. that
the slaycs Of the east stand in the sans re-
lation to the slavcholdcr Of the cnst, as the
stock Of the west does 10 the stock grower
Of the west, aud ,hat. iltaxcs are imposed
upon slave property. they shpuld by pari.
ty Of reasoning be imposed upon stock.
do not, Mr.. Chairman. regard tho position
as tcnablc one. Slaves are regarded as
part property and persons paftaking some,
what Of the character Of both. They are,
wherever owned. the tillcrs Of tho soil aud
not the product Of the farm. and whatever
they produce on the farm by their labour,
must be regarded rs The legitimate pro.
duets Of tie farm. and not the slave. You
al, al
the poor man who raises his family upon
his farm, and relies upon il for support,
is the produce Of his farm. " that slaves
are. Whether u man raises on his farm,
either by his own lalour or that OF HE
slaves. is tho actual product Of his farm,
whether it be corn, wheat, tobacco, or
stock
Some depend upon the sale Of tobacco
and wheat FOR their support. Others do
pend upon that of stock for their support,
and hence my position is a correct one. that
in determining what IRE 10 constitute laxa-
blr subjects, stock, wheat. corn. or tobacr
co should be either INCLUDED alike, or re.
Jected alike. tr
II il be the determination Of gcnii.aeg
10 tax agricultural productions, then say,
there is no class that constitutes . moro
proper subject for tnxniion than tobncco.
While it is an article ruiscd cntjrcl2 Ior
market intended for market and hen cary
rcd into market always meets with rem
dy SALE it is not an article Of consumption
like corn and wheat. And, sir, ! repeat
the position, if the proceeds Of agriculture
are 10 bc taxed while all should bear ~
equal share Of the burdens alke, there j,
no class better able 10 sustain q tag tIap
tobacco.
The constitution, Us have shown, pro.
vdes that all property shalI bc IpxeJ NC
cording to lis value, except such ss tho
general assembly may exempt by the voio
of the majority of tho whole number Of
members elected to each house.
Now. sir. il is evident. unless il ia pro,
posed TO exempt oil agricultural products
hat may be regarded as properly. che
amendment Of the gentleman from Green
Lricr ought 70 prevail Sir. are agricultn,
raj products property Tho eommiiics
on finance that reported this bill, rrgnrdcd
neat cattle, hogs and sheep IN the light Of
propsry. or thoy would not bsve been en-.
braccd in the taxable list. They are con,
sidcrcd as property. md are 10 he taxed. if
the bill under consideration be adoptcd--
Now | wish to know Why exempt otbcs
agricultural products that are ~ much
property as stock. What rcnson cap be
advanced for such rank injustice. and 80
| odous dstnciion7 Does not every ono
know that tobacco meets with as rendy
sale in market us stock, and even whilo
neat cattle, hogs and sheep arc ARTICLES of
consumpton--yca of necessary consump-
ton. tobacco is not. is il not while in tho
possession of The farmer his property, 10
valuableto him. in proportion 10 the smount
Of money il viii commnndl And il such
be tho case. ] again enquire where js tbs
soundncss Of policy, thc equality and uni
iormi,y absolutely required by the consii-
tuition, in making this distinction Lctwceg
tl,cni an willing so far rs sm con-
cerncJ, 10 exempt sll agricultural products
and provisions. and neat cnitle, hogs aad
sheep. but never will consent to exempt
H. one and tax the other. Sir, the sub
ject Of taxation u the most difficult aud
dangerous of ali subjects oflcgislation, and
one upon which the popular mind is most
sensitive and most easily aroused. Tho
rich man. whose resourccs are great. may
not complain much al The injnsijcc Of taxa
lion, but the poor man, who dGprnis upon
lis hard labor for the bread be cats. looks
upon il as matter ofthe most vital impor-
tancc II is as diIcuItfor him to rnsc ono
dollar as for the rich man TO raise his hpnr
drcd; and taxes should be so imposed as
not only to operate as lightly as possible.
but as equally as possible upon oil clnsses
and upon all sections Of the community.
II is deeply 10 be regretted TINT this Dis.
INDUCED in the hope. in the vain hope
that that unfortunate controversy WHICH
had so long divided eastern and western
Virginia had ccaecd. that the fires Of Sec
ional feeling had entirely burned out, and
that the members ofthc first general assem-
bly, under the new constitution v ould meet
together as hand of brothers, sciuafcd by
one common motive, one common feeling,
the regeneration OF the state of Virginia,
and the adoption Of such series OF inca,
sures as viii advance the prosperity ard
promote the best interest fihe entire com
monwcalih Although residing irl the ess,
tern grand division of Virginia. am proud
to he able 10 say. that ], IN common with
the people i represent, regard oil such
questions as assume n scctionDl character,
not through the jsnnjiced eye ofprcjpdice.
but We stand upon firm basis of princir
pie, prepared 10 meie Out cven-handed
justice 10 all. and 70 discriminate in iayop
Of none. ,
THE GRAvE OF WAsnfNGToN's MorH-
ERA correspondent ofthe Lowell Cou-
rier. writing from Virginia, says that ~hils
in Fredericksburg. which vas for some