Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-06-04

I'm. , interest aud in of the merchants OF me
lie did believe this 10 be The cnse 4. was
co w., r,tr u increase in the tax merchants Incense,
cnnten, plated the bill, not equal 10 lhs 'a - IT.
crease which applied land and slaves oui NC
lied that the heretofore had
the MERCHANTS His friend from Augusta hau u!.auy IL
ferrcd the striking that in 1872 when no a w,s o
raised perhaps fifty per cent? hat On into the re-
creased several hundred But without ENDURING ,d M
laye increase which from time TO time hud oGen
the Two classes would call the attention Oh IN
,r th in 1851 the aggregate Of license TAX hon,
Soas nm ,vhilsI that on land and slaves was
saGO OOO Here then was Conclusive eyius ,ch no wns
WIN licensed paid more man "nes ,,onwoaIh Yet
I wnuld admit that whether reference were ua ~ ~.
nnmbrr of persons belonging TO the respective cass u ~
e AGAINST The mercantile interests If the proposition
f The Senator from King William had presaiiee 10 lncleose
the Licenses in the same ao as e DlI T
have been to make the license paying classes pay an az
The treasury large as had ever mere
foore been pud lands and slaves If the bill should &C.
mn law as it had been engrossed he believed the tax on
lands slaves would yield something more than sooo
and that the license would yield considerably more tatl
,hree.ilts OF that Surely this was SUFFICIENT
contribution from those whose capital SO far from being
half or hs Of that invested in lands and slaves, was
perhaps not more Than one-flh thereof:
The number of merchants represented by Mr. W. was very
small when compared with The number Of his agricultural
constilucnsbu it still smaller, he would consent
to no policy which he thought unjust 10 them nor did he
believe that great agricultural interest OF his county
would him for doing Justice 10 the minority lhey
were TOO intelligent honest and proud TO desire any
fellow citizens equally mer,oous For one he was Tree 10
say that he thought the mercantile interest somewhat hatd'
" dealt with They had sent memorial 10 the Legislature
asking that the graduated tax puid by them might be ad
upon lhe invoices, rather than the amount OIL the sales
but il had received no formal consideration Now, MI W.
did rot mean that sound policy required mat mo
tax on merchants should be their capital and should not
exceed that paid capital invested in land and slaves but
as showing they had received no particular favor al Tue
hands OF The Legislature lie begged 10 remind ie senate
hn lands were taxed upon their cdsh valuaon-almost al
ways below their teal yaueand slaves now taxed
ON her constitutional value Of $780, which every body knew
10 be much than half The avorngo value OF slaves
over II years age, which alone taxed and yet
| a merchant with $4,000 of capital, pays tax upon the
amount his Sales which, in many cases no DOUBT are an
nually double his capital!
Ar W did not nuke these remarks shew that the agr
cultural interest was taxed TOO ilebut simply to vndcae
the bill the charge OF discriminating unusty IN favor
OF the mercan interests. Like the bill concerning commas
nncrs OF the which the basis OF our new system
of uxnlun The bill before the Senate was not free from on
ecIon But he should chcerly vote for IT. and though,
hm tIe skilled in finance all calculations would be- al
s6ed if il did not without expressing any body yield us
ample revenue for all the purposes OF government Mr. W.,
concluded with appeal who had Indicated
intenlon 10 against the b abandon that Intention
and thus ouy the necessity OF extending the session
bevond It's prescribed limits but perhaps save the treasury
itself from degree of embarrassment and confusion never
before perienced
Mr. RID said lie arose make speech but rather
suggestion. II is known 10 the Senate that many OF US
with earnestness and zeal the assessment bill upon
which this bill is founded. We did so not as matter Of
!etu but matter Of principle dear TO every PATRIOTS
heart The principle sought 10 maintain wns the great
principle equality which lies at the very basis of our re-
publican institutions and forms the great supersrucure
upon which our civil poly When first entered pub
lie life inscribed this principle upon my banner and there
il remain long that banner Itself shall reman-
We have been told that this assessment bill IS temporary
and that the adjourned session can change It's prnc
pe If this true shall with pleasure for the BILL
but before do So gentlemen voting for this odous bill Of
exemptions and determinations, must rise IN their places
and give that they will change their former
course the adjourned session. and vote for general ad
valocn system of taxation am as devoted TO the inter
ests and honor Of This ancient as any 0 ao
grace for gentlemen demand OF US an unconditional sur
render of conscience and principle without yielding any
thing urou their Ii the Stale is to be saved her honor
ard credit by concessions, do wish to monopoZe
this glory but share with friends Of the majority
| Mr. BsowN thought that the question had better DC taken
now There were gentlemen in the Hall who were COM
PEELED leave; he therefore moved the previous question:
| MIR. B. withdrew the call at The request Of
Mr. DOUGLAS who desired TO PROFOUND to the chairman
of the committee OF Finance, question Would the part
cular patrons OF this BILL when they came back al me aa
ourned session. plege themselves 10 aid him (Mr d. inr
moving inequalities Of this BILL in relation to the lakes on
land and licenses!
Messrs SrovALL and SAEyFEy answered in the afTma-
tive. ,,.,,
Mr. SuAcKELFoRp would go for material increase on IL
censes. ;.
lenses He thought it already too high
Mr. DOUGLAS said that although he should be made 10 &C.
cupy an inconsistent position by voting for the bill yet In
view OF the extreme exgences Of the Commonwealth IN re-
Spouse 10 the appeals Of his friends he would vote for The
bill under distinct understanding with the friends and au
hos of the BILL that at the November session they would
assist in correcting its inequalities II there was dissent,
he wanted made before The vote given (Ihcrc
being dissent Mr. DouoLAs avowed his Intention 10 vote
and did vote for the bill
question was ordered The bill then called, and the
vote follows:
AYEs-Mcssrs. Amber Barnett, Basel, BraSton,
Brent Brown Cubell Carringon C5eigh. Daniel Douglas
Funston Ganham, Greuver, Meredith Moncure Parker,
Paxton Pitman Saunders. ShacEcord Shands, Shelley,
Sheard S,ovaI, Stuart Tate, Thomas, wade, ana wat
NOES Messrs. Cowan, Roger, Thompson, Ward, und
While-5
Twentysix Senators were necessary carry the bill
thirty having voted for il, II passed.
Mr. BASEL presented the following protest. which was
ordered be entered on The minutes:
We The Undersigned in voting for The Tax Bill desire TO
record our procs, against the principles OF the BILL and
induced for il only by the necessity which for
ces rs assist in maintaining the integrity ofthe Common
wealth and preserve lis credit unimpaired.
i THos CREaH,
3. BASEL, Jr.
| B. b. DOUGLAS,
| GEORGE WA. Brent,
| WIZ. MoScuRE,
RossrT B SHERRARD.
Mr. SToyAlL was directed to inform the House Of Dele
oales of the passage of the bill.
The license tax bill ordered 10 be engrossed.
At O'Clock the Senate took recess.
WEDSEspAv, JUNE g 1852.
AFTERNOON SEsstoN-The Senate met at hall-past o.
clock (Mr DESEAtr in The Cha) and proceeded nnedi-
atcIy 10 consideration Of bills on the calendar The toll
lowinr were read a third time and passed
Defining the boundaries Of the l25!h and 1881 regiments
of the Virginia MlttH.
In relation 10 the Mddebrook and Bownsbprg Turnpike
Company and authorizing increase Of private subscrip
ton 10 the stock.
Extending the charter of the Winchester and Frederick
County Savings Institution.
Authorizing the incorporation Of the Alexandria md Wash
inpon Navigation Company.
To incorporate The Fredericksburg and Lowell Manufac
turing Company.
TO incorporate the Mitchell Mining and Manufacturing
Company
Changing the Of the Welsburg Manufacturing Com
pauy into That of the Phoenix Manufacturing Company.
Concerning money paid into and providing for the
appointment Of general Receivers and for the settlement, Of
| Receivers accounts.
Releasing fine TO Capt. Theophlus Minor.-[Ayes 49,
noes 0.
For the relief Of Armis,end and G. Il. G. Davis-[Ayes
2G. noes l.
For the relief Of Stephen Hansbarger-[Ay a. noes
Mr. STovALL from the committee of finance, &c, report