Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-01-12
THE SIYUNTOY SPECTATOR
----sazs SFAUNTOY :szs,s..--
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY la, 1853.
Small Notes.

The report of the minority of the Senate's COM
mittee instructed to inquire into the eNpediency of
further legislation for the suppression ofsmal notes,
is conclusive argument against the new-tangled
scheme lately recommended for that purpose
The minority (Messrs. WATSON and CREIGH,)
express the opinion that the existing laws on the
subject are stringent enough to accomplsh the end,
ift were in the power Of legislation to do it; and
they regard the failure to execute these laws as
evidence that the people do not desire any addi-
tonal legislation.
The scheme of the majori'y proposes, that the
Commissioners of the Revenue, "when they shall
hereafter apply to the citizens of the Common
wealth. for their lists Of taxable property shall
prupeund to each one, ON OATH, the following in
torrogatory Have YOU since the first day OF A
pril 1853 passed or received, either for your own
purpose or for the purposes Of any other person or
corporation, any note of less denomination than
five dollars or any note security issued in cio-
IatioR Of The sirteenh or he Seventeenth or he
eighteenth Sections Of tie 1881 chapter of the
Code Of pirginia' And if the interrogatory be
answered affirmatively or eyasivey, OF if there be
refusal to answer, -then it is to be the duty of the
Commissioner 80 assess each person so dns,eering
or refusing 10 Gns,Csr, agih an additional tGr o.
ten dollars, Lich IS TO Be collected as other iaees M
This plan is objected to by the minority of the
committee on the ground that it is contrary to the
Bill of Rights, to natural justice and public policy
requiring as itdoes individuals to accuse themselves
on cath, and constituting the Commissioner, Judge
jury and executoner. Other objections are speci
fed by the minority: lst The bill will not ope.
rate as substitute for existing laws by which
party may still be fined, on testimony extorte(
from him before the Commissioner End There
is no Init to the law, and person violating i
once may be punished every time the Commission
er comes round. 3rd. The bill provides for pun
ishing the Commissioner for delinquencies in hi
duty, but deals with him much moro tenderly thar
with the citizen. 4th. The citizen most declare
upon oath that he has not violated particular sec
tons of Z certain chapter Of the Code, which few
of them have the opportunity Of consulting. 9Th
The bill is defended on the ground that it only ex
acts tax for the privilege of using small notes
but ii in reality prescribes punishment for pas
act and confers no future immunity. The Repor
concludes with resolution declaring that it is Ia
erpedient to resort to further legislation with
view to the Suppression Of the issuing and circula
ton in Virginia of notes of less denomination
than five dollars"
Another scheme has been introduced into thu
House Of Delegates. Mr.. ToMLIN, of that body
proposes to require all persons taking out license
aud officers collecting the revenue, to swear thai
they will not violate the law against the circula
ton Of notes under five dollars Ifeither of these
plans is adopted, Virginians will have 10 swear a:
hard as the British army did in Flanders, accord
ing to Uncle Toby. Better pass general act re
quiring every body to say upon oath whether he
has violated any law, and thus get rid at once OF
the expense and trouble of witnesses and iuries.-
The Democracy are sorely perplexed about this
matter, and there is no knowing what ridiculous
measure they will adopt in their extremity.