Weekly national intelligencer., 1857-10-17
AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF RICHARD h LEE.


forced the political right of Widows, either to
exemption from taxation or to share in the elec-
ton Of the peoples representatives. In order pro-
perly to appreciate the origin and motive, well of
Mrs CoRBIN's letter to herGhrpther as of the argu-
ments contained in the reply the latter, it is only
necessary to refer to the great principle for which
the American colonies were then struggling against
the mother eountry-the doctrine that taxation and
representation should be inseparable. This is well
termed BY Mr.. LEE /" a large subject" and it per-
haps should occasion surprise to find that its
boundaries were deemed wide enough by some strong
minds of the female sex in that revolutionary era
II embrace the rights of women as well as of men,
especially when the position of the former was such
as to impose them the liabilities which consti-
SA.ss1l--,~~l r4+-.~
S-raHsd " fne latter If women were taxed wby
should not women have voice in the election of
the taxing authority
Butt the letter of RICHARD HENRy LEE which
weshall make the foundation of further remarks bv
way of appendix:
CHANTILLY, MARCH IL 1778
My DEAR SISTER: Distressed as nv mind is and has
been, by variety of attentions am v able bv letter
to give you the satisfaction could wish on the several
subjects of your letter. Reasonable as YOU are and
friendly to the freedom and happiness of your Country
should have no doubt about giving you perfect content
In q few hours conversation
= on complain that Widows are not represented and
tna being temporary Possessors of their estates ought
not 70 De liable to the Tax The doctrine of
uon IS large subject and it is certain that it ought to
De extended far as wisdom and policy can allow Nor
DO see that either of these forbid Widows having pro-
perty, from voting notwithstanding it has never been
the practice either here in England Perhaps twas
thought rather out Of character for Women to press into
lose tumultuous Assemblages of Men where the busi
ness OF choosing Representatives is conducted And it
might also have been considered as not so necessary
seeing that the representatives themselves as well as
their immediate Constituents must suffer the Tax i'm
posed IN exact proportion does all other property
ed and that therefore it could not be supposed that
Ia1es would be laid where the public good did not abso
lutey demand it, This then, is the Widows security
as we as THAT eff the married women who have
lands In their own right for both of whom have the
greatest respect and would any time give my consent
10 establish their right of voting, altho I am per
suaded that 1t would not give them greater security nor
alter the mode Of Taxation you complain Of Because
the Tax idea does not to the consideration of per-
Peuai property but is accommodated to the high prices
given for the annual profits Thus no more than per
cent is laid the Assessed value although produce
sells three and four hundred per cent above what
1t formerly did Tobo. Tobacco sold or years ago
for los and 3D. It's at so and 55 very consider
able part of the property hold is like yours tempora-
~, for my life only yet the propriety of paying
my proportion of the Tax laid for the of pro-
pery long that property remains in my possession
and derive use and profit from it. When we complain
ed Of British Taxation did with much reason and
fboro -
the unrepresened in this country The English Paria-
ment their Representatives would pay farthing of
the Tax they imposed us but quite otherwise Their
property would have been exonerated in exact proper
tion to the burthens they laid ours. Expressions
therefore without end and Taxes without reason or pub
lie necessity, would have been fate had submitted
to British usurpation. For my part had much rather
leave my Children free than in possession of great nom
nal wealth. which would infallibly have been the case
with all American possessions had our property been
subject to the Arbitrary Taxation of British Parliament
With respect to Mr. Fsuneroy if he spoke as you say
it is very good why he ought not to be an As
But if he should be- the law has wisely provided
remedy against the mistakes or the injustice of As
SCISSORS, by giving the injured Party Appeal to the Com
missioners of the Tax which Commissioners are annually
chosen by the Freeholders and Housekers Ihouse-
keepers and in the choice of whom you have as legal
right to vote as any other person believe there no
instance in our Government of any unnecessary
Plaeemen and know the rule is to make their Salaries
moderate possible and these moderate Salaries
are to pay Tax. But should Great Britain gain her
point, where we have one Placeman we should have a
thousand and pay pounds where pay pence; nor
should dare murmur under pain of Military exc
eution This, with the other horrid concomitants of
Slavery may well persuade the Americans loose blood
and pay taxes also rather than submit to them. NY
extensive engagements have prevented from advert
ing to yours and DR.. Halls subscriptions for Id Cam
denis picture not having been refunded the restl
have long since been, but the money is ready for
your call
am my dear sister, most sincerely and afeconately
yours, RICHARD HENRY LEE.
RS Dr. steptoe and myself returned last night from
ten days confinement BeTevew, where our Brother
ms. defaeedl very great danger of losing his life
ms. defacedl I have the pleasure to inform
you ms. defsced. -. danger R. H. L.
The arguments addressed to his sister by the wri-
ter of this letter lead us to infer that Mrs Corbin
in claiming for widows the right of suffrage, had
based the demand on the general theory of taxation
and representation which then obtained in the re-
volted colonies, and had especially remarked upon
the injustice Of assessing any tax upon the proper
ty of those who wersbut /" temporary possessors of
their estates" She seems to have mainly valued
the elective franchise as means of redress against
what she regarded as an unjust imposition of the
taxing power, and one which pressed with special
weight upon widows who were only temporary own
ers of the property taxed.
We are left to believe that the arguments of her
brother were deemed cogent and satisfactory by
Mrs Corbin, since, for aught that we can learn,
this Revolutionary lady, though doubtless as strong
minded as many of her sex who in later years
have usurped that designation, does not seem to
have led crusade for the assertion of Women's
R.cxh&al1 Ii =