Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-09

her VIII not be heard the voice OF COM
plant. But, sir, we do complain, that
anticipated appropriations ppropria-
tons, which never have been, and may
never be made, should be urged, as a
pretcxt for present and unjust taxation.
| will dismiss this branch of the subject,
by repeating that by whom this amend
ment has been offered and is supported,
or what section of the State has paid most
taxes, or received the largest amount of
appropriations for works of internal inn
provcment, arc not relevant questions,
and their introduction was work of SUI
pererogation on the part of those who did
Il. Before take my seat, / may shew
in what aspect this question is sectional,
and why Eastern gentlemen have elected
to so regard It.
Is it expedient and Just to adopt this
amendment? This is the true issue pre-
sented. have confidence that it could
be successfully maintained, as an abstract
proposition, that neat cattle, sheep and
hogs should be exempted from the bur
! th0ns of taxation 1t is n laudable pur-
suit, in which large number OF the best
citizens of the State are engaged. and Il
pursuit which needs protection, to the ex-
tent, at least, that an exemption from tax
alton would afford. The live stock Of our
own State meets in the markets of the
country, and is compelled to compete
with the live stock of Indiana, Ohio,
PennsyVania, and other States, where
grass, grain and land are more abundant
and cheaper than with US. And if we so
fettcr the grazers Of our own State by
taxation, that they cannot successfully
compete with those of other States who
enjoy superior natural advantages, they
will be compelled to abandon their voca-
ton and leave these other states in undis-
puted possession of the stock markets the
country. Protection is legitimate OBJ
| iect to be looked to in fixing up a tax bill,
which introduced the bill now under con-
sideration, as will presently show. But,
in protecting one pursuit, we should see
that we do not Cypress another and SINH
lar pursuit by unjust, unequal and bur-
thensome taxation, which l maintain
would be done, if you pass this bill i'll its
present form.
The friends of this exemption, however,
are not called upon to advocate and sus-
tain it as an independent proposition The
question is not thus presented, either in
form or in substance, for the action of the
committee and it cannot, in fairness, be
! thus discussed and considered In the
list Of exempted articles enumerated in the
bill, this clause; call agricultural pro-
ductions and provisions After the
word provisions" it is now proposed to
| add" Neat cattle, hogs and sheep" 1t
is proposed to make the exemption of
live stock part and parcel of the clause
exempting agricultural provisions and pro
auctions, We seek no special immunity
from taxation. We are willing that the
exemption of live stock shall stand or fall
with the exemptions made by this bill in
favor of other industrial pursuits and
have selected from this list Of exempted
articles, this clause for the purpose of
amendment in Consequence Of the striking
analogy which exists, in the eye of politi
| cal economy, between live stock and what
is here dcnominatCd agricultural produc
lions, If we show that the rearing of live
stock and the growing of wheat and to-
bacco are homogeneous or analogous pur-
suits, or that they are different branches
of the same pursuit, then VIC will have
shown that this amendment should be
adopted, in order that. as subject of
taxation, the one should be placed upon
the same footing and stand OF fall with
the other.
Let me here remark that, it rightly |
understand the gentleman from Gree brier,
Mr.. Price, he and myself different wide
ly in reference to the propriety of taxing
agricultural productions, AS an abstract
proposition, he would tax them, would
not. But am unwilling to tax live stock
and exempt agricultural productions. In
adjusting tax bill would discriminate
in favor of every department of manual
labor, mechanical, manufacturing and az
ricultural, And my consent or my vote
can only be obtainccd to tax agricultural
labor when find that it is the fixed and
unalterable determination of this com
mittee and this house to tax other indus
trial pursuits, l would discriminate in
favor of the Industrious poor of every de
partment OF labor. The honest man, the
man Of toll, of suffering and privaton,
whom nature had denied the intellectual
means or from whom An obdurate fortune
had withheld the Intellectual culture, or
the pecunary resources, to support HIM
self and family otherwise than by daily
and incessant toll, or the man who, by
choice and inclination, seeks literally to
earn his daily bread by the sweat of his
brow--such a man l would, by every le-
climate means, encourage, foster and pro-
tect from governmental burthens. But
never will consent to make invidious dis
tinctions among these men of toll, and by
favorIng one class, more heavily Cypress
another. l then, am not unfrendIy to
the exemption OF agricultural labor, and
am only seeking to place the labor Of ano-
Their branch of the same general pursuit
upon an equal footing with it--and this,
as I nndnrstanl II IL the rnn.it;nn Of w.