American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-12-25

nehutu. me Chei burden u the public
debt Tails on the current year, or that would
BE- unnecessary.
THE SINKING FUND.
The report of the commissioners is COM
mended as clear end satisfactory, and their
administration as faithful. The whole in,e-
res, on the puHic deb, has been and will be,
on the FIRST of January next .punctually paid.
Since LIST January, 1852, 81 .OS5, 1926 is of
me principal has been sunk, and Of that
S4o3 wv in Tire last TWO ,ears. The total
public debt is now reduced to. S27 ,AS2, 9l5
g.
lie course OF the comm isSioners in re-
aeemmS bonds in the hands Of the current
creditors OF the State at par, instead OF buy
my them from others at the market rate of
~, on condition that ;hsse creditors would
purchase hew bonds at par from the Slate is
highly commended, rs having enabled the
State to pay creditors al par, who must 9TH.
cr"i>e have stood IS per cen, shave Of
their claims, payable" oaly "when in
innds.' '; is recommended that in future
none OF her bonds he redeemed at less than
par; and that the device above described be
made use oil hereafter whenever there is a
necessity for it. The result has been to
make $4,000 Of the appropriation to the
Cov'nglon and Ohio road available 10 her.
| otherwise none Of il wonld have been stop.
| ped IT there was ANYTHING wrong in il the
Governor admits his full responsibility for il,
| the plan having been adopted a, his sugges-
| ton.
| THE MEANS OF INCREASING THE REVENUE.
In order TO increase the revenue, and
made the taxes eqnal and uniform through.
out the Common wealth some other and more
just mode al assessment ought TO be pres
crlbcd. Taxpayers themselves ought not 10
be- allowed 10 estimate the value of their
own property; it ought To be done by sworn
appraisers with proper powers to make the
| necessary examination.
Brokers ought to be taxed according 10 the
| amount OF business done by lhem-say from
| S3O TO $500. aud not as at present, uniform.
| ~. THIS would, doubtless, add to the rtve
! hue.
Tho lax upon retail merchants license ia
too high, and bears most heavily uron the
poorest portion OF the people, the small pur-
chascrs from these merchants. 1t ought to
be reduced. But there cannot be a reduc.
| 'ton IN any Other item.
The additional revenue, from the new as.
| sessnent OF lands will he, the current year,
not far shor OF $500 600. Besides this, the
recommendation is renewed, to relieve the
burden OF direct ami involuntary taxa,on,
|. By tao on oysters.
By policies Of State insurance.
The State has some two thousand square
| miles OF bed OF waters, covered with the
| rock and matrX Of ovstets. This is a jus
| publ'cum belonging 10 The State. There ale
some 7S4. 100000 of bushels of oysters -
Near 30 600 OU0 bushels, worth 81. 500 900.
are raised ami consumed year,, four. iths
at them 10y CitZens OF other States. This
| immense amount, at our expense, they take
| contrary 10 laws which there are no means
10 enforce. They do IL, TOO, in such a way
as 10 destroy more than are taken, and even
to bring into danger Of ruin this source of
wealth which, properly guarded, is hides
tructibie.
The means Of ra sing revenue from these
she'll fish are simple and certain.
FIRST, prohibit any except our own citi.
Xens OF two yeats residence, from taking
Them al all.
Secondly, Strictly regulate the time and
mode Of taking them.
Thirdly, require a license to be obtained
/" inkI"g them, upon paying SO much per ton
per G"Hum for as many tons as the person
may empIo! in the trade.
Fourthty, Organize n revenue service OF
jcW steamers to patrol in the oys,er beds.
ms iofcn VIII be sufficient, and its first
cost will not exceed $50 600 nor after tina I
~, " '',',I, U.s. Fay @[o'ooo. reasonable
q =, = ',. ,e' ,a'en' W rom
won,G ho ahon, oiEn g., na ",S' AZ cen's
IN ,ho ,raJo iJ ~? 'on e',S"SeI
wonId xisII .r n'' o"S" o., p oo Pau, "lo
.tsn n6n ', 10 o'"o' y" ''.ooo to''s' Ut
c.5,,,
r'''"iy: require TINS cutter force TO per
FORM po''ce duty on our coast, especially for
the projection o. orr slave property. Th 5
c.'I, '''',' ""''' 'o "''," VIC eAPehSe'