Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-06
DIR TAXES AND TIE TAX BILL.

The. is no subject whatever upon which i'll &C.
neral way reasonable men are so much disposed TO bc
unreasonable Us upon tie subject of taxation There
Is IN, man OF ordinary selta IL any community VII"
will not saw that taxation is Just aG!spensaba for
tbs proper regulation Of every community. ~ The
administration of justice itself. Indeed taxation -
the great fOu6datiOn stone upon winch every pubic
interest Of any s;aio rests Tor It's support. "Hh"ut
taxltion tie whole structure of our government would
fall Ia pieces anarchy would prevail and brute force
wnuld bee substituted for inv aud oricr,
No man therefore, who is q friend 10 the yell being
Of society object Ia the principle winch IL essi:!i-
tis 10 maintain it, If laws for the protection ot the
peace aud property at tbs country are to be enforced,
we :.:u.t raise money to do it and taxation Is The
only proper and legitimate mode BIZ which 1t can be
uns Ii il not then against the principle VI tnfatph
TINT any good citizen OH. ct-but whichever a
cInnur is raised against taxation, Tor III abuse OF
the pow.r rather than the eXerclng OF 1t.
The tax bill of the last Legislature has excited
o God deal of attention, and IN effort Is making IN
some quarters just now to raise canlOr about IT,
The first question and the most important one IN con-
sidering this suhiecr, is this: "Was the increase of
our taxes necessary for the payment OF our just
debts7' That's the auestion. 1t 1t was necessary,
them who where is the pra: " no will assert before
honest community or to III EoEsst man. that these
debts sneht not to be paidl No such mpn can be
fnund-anG any one who attempts 10 raiae >amor
against necessary tax one which Is esseia! to the
maintenance of State credit and State honor has 10y
10 means more patriotism than another, but has mere
" greater contempt for the intelligence of the peo-
rle he talks to- We owed large and heavy debts
which were obliged to be pad-one OF two things
only was left either to raise the taxes anu pay Tue
debts or repudiate the debts and Disgrace the STATE
of Virginia forever. Which will an honest and in
t.lr.nt ueople say s the right policyi No man can
doubt for IL moment what will be the answer OF the
people il will be unanimously to pay the debts anu
scve the honor of the State.
Butt the cUurse of legislation which led to the ne
cessty of rasiug the taxes, ID repreheisl1e let US
see whether the isst Legislature had any hand
in 1.-THE last Legislature wa IL 10 wise Responsible
for the Indebtedness Of the State large mnJurlfy
Of tie members had never before had seats Eiin the
Capitol il was their predecessors then and not the
last Legislature who caused the Necessity for raising
the taxes. The last Legislature made 10 appr"prla-
tiun which required the erease OF a1atIon even Ia Tie
amount of fifty thousand dollars &c payit made next
10 no appropriation AT all-ihere is not an in Wash
nytun county who has any respect for himself for
the person he talks Ia who will deny this statement.
If then former Legislatures had done what the coust
tuition required OF them which to levy taxes Ia
meet dsmands, when they made appropriations, then
the last Legislature would not have been under any
obligation WHICHEVER 10 raise the taxes.
Bin if Tho last Legislature had increased the hole
unblic debit and had been wholly responsible for
raising the taxes then indsiG would they have been
suti,let tn the thanks rather than censure OF the
country, We cannot expect Our coH.try To Keep
pace in advancement aud prosperity with a:.srs, 1t
we expeud nothing, while they lnvish millions "a
works of internal Improvement. II We aim at pros
perity we must work for ii, and pay for il. But
low stands the account with this county There IS
not QUE acre of land in i. tha, ha. not increased III
value from fifty TO 1--WE hundred per oent'' owing TO
the works vi Internal improvement TOR tile ionslrhc
non OF which we gre now paying tins immense t"t.
But beside the increased vnluc Of lard, every arucls
Of produce from hen to q horse has Increased TO
dnuo!eiis value within the time since the system OF
internal improvements besan And, lastly, the TAX is
temporary, tor the roads viii begin directly TO pay
duSed' We incline to the opinion, iha. this tax bill
VIII serve those who handle it, like old nusket
overcharged-it is likely to kick the shooter over,
whilst the game it is aimed at goss free of harm
abingdon Democrat.