Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-03-11
SUBJECTS or TAXATION.


We publish the d i nov pending ID The Houss
81 Dsiesafes which desi gnaies he property lhat
shah be sakiscs TO h. Il looks searching
enough, and viii 50 deep into the bowels Of the
GOOD people Of this commonwealth. Bat ii is saia
ihaf il viii hare 10 be still more searching IN lis
ops7atiop. and many 81 the artices proposed 81 he
bilto Sc exemp,ea, VIII hare to be incEuded in,lhe
taxing clause The foareen ii 6fieen hundred thou+
sand dollars necessary 70 be raised-sEsn II thers
are no more appropriations renders this snpposi-
ton probable.
We apprehene that some will find that they have
caught Tartar ii his new Constitution. Ills not
iai ii ras cracked Up 10 be- Even If ii can be got
- al All, about which there is difIiculty ii
81. II docs not promise 10 work like lis self
as-@s aatiered Us ii would The taxing
is = stumbling block al me serg Ex4;ia-ssrg
The clause allowing majority % exempt certain
articles, has been fer the last week the prolific
source Of dispataiou in the House. and will annu-
ally revive he sectional feelings. whieA ii was
thought the Cousiitutioo had ailayed forever. Bat
this removed anoaher fruitful theme OF controversy
Immediately arises-the al .raioreut taxation We
copy four sections % The Constitution relating the
subject:
TAx4Ttox AND FlSANcg.
aA@tsUJ 81 al Dc equal HLHQEI4fuTODZn-
OUT the commonwealth. aud all property other than
slaves shall be taxed in proportion 10 its value
which shai be aseeIlaiaed i such manner as may
be prescribed BY law.
% Every Stare who has attained The age of -
years shall be assessed with equal 10 and not
exceeding hatassessed on land ofthe value ofthree
hundred dollars. Slaves under thar age shall moi
BE- suaiisct 20 taxation; and other taxable properly
may q Anpted from taxation BY The vote Of a
majority of the whole number Of members elected
t0eaeh House Of The General Assembly
"a A capitation tax, equal 10 the tax ASSESSED on
land OF the value OF two hundred dollars shall
be levied on every white male inhabitant who has
attained the age OF tweniy-one years and one equal
smoty OF the capiaion tax upon white persons shall
be applied 70 the purposes Of education In primary
and free schools; but nothing herein contained
shall prevent exemptions Of taxable polls in
Of bodily infFIniiy.
25 The General Assembly may levy a tax on in
comes salaries and licenses hut no tax shall be
levied on property from which any income SO taxed
is derived, on the capital invested in the trade
or business in respect TO which the license taxed
is issued.
The al ualprem requsitfon in the cd section, de-
prives the Legislature Of its power 10 discriminate
between necessaries and Injuries Pie gold
watch worth hundred dollars cannot be taxed
more than horse worth a 500. The carriage and
the piano, the Accomplishments of the wealthy, pay
no more taxes than the same value Of carts and
wagons in the hands Of the industrious poor. This
is beautiful result Of The labours Of Den1cratic
wisdom! But itwas not foreseeni The wonder
fully wise men who made the Constitution, did not
understand the import Of the plainest language
For no palmer, than that all property, except that
specially provided for, shall bear an equal and
Gattorua taratios" g III proportion 10 It's ralaen
We infer from Mr. Barbour's railing, on Salur-
day, against The Cities that there was another over
sight. Mr.. Barbour was one oil the great men who
had hand in the construction this mighty fabric
and be oushtto understand all lis beauties and i'm
Projections. The towns, uBeer the operation Of
this provision expSrience benefit, which was not
intended; they escape unequal and unjust taxation
They are 10 pay, every body else does. accosding
to the value of their property. The benefewas an
known to the towns il was mot intended BY those
who framed the Constilution-withM what propriety
then Mr.. B. can denounce the cities, who have in
all but representatives for Overriding the country,
we cannot conjecture. AS Louis Bonaparte said OF
his invading England, the thing is simply absurd.
But the rub after altwill be, how fl the tax-gath-
erer shall 60 for the immense amount to be raised
now, and the consequent necessity for taxing every
thing, will overslaagh for the present the conroyer-
81 between }he Easl and the West Crops and pre-
visions hens and chickens cats and dogs, and every
conceivable subject wilt have we fear to share the
tateof neat cattle, hogs and sheep. We leoptd have
Democratic reforms and We must pay for Them
r. md