Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-03-25
The Fundum Developed

Elsewhere we publish Gov Wise's bill for subject
ing the tide water region to the tender mercies of
martial law. The history Of the measure may be
briefly noted His Excellency in the first instance
commended the subject to the attention of the Lee
giSla;ure in a special message of portentous empha-
sis The reading Of that document provoked from
venerable south side Democratic Senator the remark
"The is crazy" The General Assembly seem
cd to concur in the ustncssof the commentary, and
the Gubernstorial thunderbot fell still.born. But
His Excellency is not a man Ia be put off in that
way. IL neither House, nor any committee of Ell
ther House, would reduce to form and substance his
grand conception, he would do it himself So To
work he went-and behold the result of his labors
A French cook has sagely observed that mankind
derive more benefit from the invention of a new dish
than the discovery Of new planet The good poo
pie of Underwater Virginia when they come TO di-
gest the nice kettle of fish, which His Excelency
has prepared for them will be able appreciate the
Justice Of this remark. With odious Excise and
a still more oious Game Law eating up their sub
stance and trammelling all their movements, they
will have good opportunity of musing their
past happiness and freedom But while they are
groaning in anticipation, let not the gentry of the
Piedmont and Transmontane regions exult too much.
They may be that their power-seeking and tax
loving Governor has rod in pickle for them. Mad
though he be- there is method in his madness. His
great ambition is to amass power and screw money
out of the people Like every tyrant, he loves au-
thorty and loves to exercise it, Judging of his in
disposition by his external manifestations the
torture of those under him would constitute his
highest delight and if he could not find subjects
elsewhere for the display of his cruelty he would
not spare his household In his hands the
whole prerogative of the chief magiStracy of Yir-
gnia will be stretched to its utmost limits. By
land and by sea- he would cause his tyrannous sway
TO be felt in every kitchen and in every fishing
smack. Like Dean Swift's crazy Earl of Peterbor-
Ough,
He shines in every climate like star
In senates bold, and herce in
A land commander and tar.
There neither persons objects so nsigiti-
cant that he would not delight in abusing the one
and tortLring the other.
This disposition explains his object in seeking to
reduce the whole tide-water region the mercy of
his steamcutters and gang of oicials-who to be
privileged To arrest any citizen who shall dare To
shoot wild duck or catch a fish below the head of
tide-water This power is broadly and unqualified
y given IN the 10th section Any citizen is liable tn
arrest and forfeiture of his vessel his gun or fish,
ing tackle, and to a tne-if lac catches oyster
or terrapin, shoots wild fowl, without Il license
within the waters Of the State below tide The Off
cias the judges of the law and the offence and
nothing is said in that section about catching for
safe, the presumption and fair Interpretation H. that
man violates this law, who takes All oyster Kills
a wild-duck for his own table.
This measure 70 far is only designed for the peo-
pie of tidewaer But if they are tit subjects for all
Excise and Game Law, why should the people
above tide water be exempt from the intolcrI-
Die burdens; How long can they expect - escape'
The taXassessOr now explores the bed and kteh
en- OF every one Of them; but they STILL have some.
things which are nx-free Their tobacco, their
wheat, their corn their oats potatoes, rye, peas,
&c, their deer, wid-turkeys cartridges, old hares,
&c, are not yet on the taX-st. Why should not
these various subjects be taxed as well Us the oys-
tiers, the terrapins and wild fowl Of the people of the
low lands; Our tax-lOving Governor who declares
that the taxes are not high enough has his eye upon
these articles His next demonstration will be upon
them.
Gov. Wise is the leader Of that party, which has
grown up in the country within the last few years,
which considers every additional exorted from
the Produeing classes so much clear gain. lie is him.
sell an unproductve consumer. Like the party, OF
which he Is the representative, he lives upon the
sweat and labor ofndustrious people. He tolls not
neither does spin, and yetis he arrayed in fine linen
and fares sunptuously every day. The more lac and
his set can extort from the tong millions the better
for them. They spend what the others make High
taxation is therefore, with them, positive good
He IL, on this account keen as a hawk after par.
fridge for subectng every particle Of property in the
State and every enjoyment Of every citizen to the
highest possible tribute that can be oxtorted from
them.