Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-03-13
MEMORIAL OF THE BOARD OF TRADE OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND TO THE LEGISL AZURE OF
VIRGINIA UPON THE PROPOSED TAX RIII

NlhUlNlA IfON IItE PhOPOSED TAN BILL.
Your lnemoriaist respectfully represent your homo
rabe BODY, that ordinary grievance would induce them
10 appear in the present posture Of public affairs with an
appeal against any proposed PLAN having in view the pro.
lection OF the credit of the State and the prosecution of
schemes Of improvement identified with her future wealth
aud power. In common with others they recognize the
wisdom OF that policy which exposes the full of
tue debt OF the State and proceeds draw from the re-
sources Of her population sufficient annual revenue To
meet the interest on that debt pay all obga-
uons complete those schemes of Improvement aud pro-
vide for gradual reduction of the principal
Whatever the rate of taxation be necessary to
compish these ends, and laid with burden upon
all classes and sections your mcmorass rcedy to con-
tribute their full proportion, ascertaned b. any uniform
test, and without regard to any nicely dis
elimination. They fully that this no time to
6e holding back back; to be raising nice questions Of d
Ference 70 be contributing grudsiugy to the public
sury. They are fully sensible that ii any citizen
has the love Of the State in him. he will be prompt now
to accord cheerful response any ghtlu and reason
able dcinhd sic may make upon hs his cucr-
gir Such affection aud such readiness your enoru-ts
erl conscious Of possessing they would bear tie grew
anccs they feel rather than submit Themselves TO the
suspicion OF lack Of these requisites 10 good citizen
ship.
Yet such their sense Of the inequality ofthc scale ortax
alton, proposed 10y Finance Committee IN it, bearing
upon tlen such the weight Of the burden il will impose
on them as individuals aud class such the effect
eprcss the energies and the growth Of communities where
merchants cOngregate drive from the State and to de-
ter rom entering the State capital and enterprise inds-
pen'ibc TO the development Of her resources that we
hOuOTa
be body, and TO candid public, the relative position we
arc made to occupy in bearing up the common burlen
The three great branches Oi all industry we assume to
be alike important to the State and Indispensable each
other All derive the protection aud owe tho like
allegiance They must provide in for the gene
m need, ~ they enjoy In the general benefit
we a'o take II As an axiom, not TO be made palmer by
argument that obligations due 10 the State are due ns
individual citizens not IN classes aud that each ci.
u<cn should contribute TO the general fund in pro.
portion to his ability, which il the measure of the
protection he receives in return, nearly that ability
can be reasonably ascertained.
ln pursuing this plain ratio Of tuxaon the plan per.
ircty simple The property Of the State being ascertain.
cd aud the needed also ascerancd the per cent
/ age h AZ once arrived az.
In all cases, except our own this ratio l. observed
The farmer pays under the proposed tt bill 10 cent?
on every 500 value Of his land
The manufacturer pays ~ cents on every hundred
doas value Of capital invested used in his bust
The property holder pays forty cents on every hundred
/ qnircd 10 be- listed
But the merchant has another law 20 measure his cont
button 10 the public treasury ts quite easy to ascertain
10, Hlvlorm proportion II Is quite simple to require
Rom hin iOv cents every hundred dollars O his c,pi.
t Bot In liru u hi-. the track ~ taxation pur.ued IN
reaching every other employment, i dertcd when he i,
v1ted Tie pays first specific for the privilege OF
exercising hi industry Ill., Then tax upon hs sale.
HnRed upon sliding scale, which will average FULLY fso
dnlfs aud hifysx cents ~ every one hundi dollar. Of
mtcapir ini increasing Par PassH With the ~ with
Which hs business Is carried II this tcs we're no,
substituted by which the comparison Is concealed the
s'ounilng tact would stand ouiin plain 6gurc. that c
zen VI Virginia who follows the calling Of merchant 4.
required by as pay nj least S times q. much In pro
portion 70 his the citizen engaged n any ,iber
occdpluon The mode by which this estimate j. arrived
a. W.T. When exclaimed, show the 10 be- Sithn
me pn'Sibl" limits ~ eSaggerstou The inquiry Il ca.
nous onr 10 speculative inquirer l. sO &c OF .sfpr.
lection, ard j. beconing Of seDrsssrvaton to the
merchant himself.