The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-11-06
TIL. Approac hing Leu,.latur..

The people view with nervous soiieitude the ap.
preaching assemblage of the tex-laying power. The
present taxes are enormous beyond the power the
people to bear driving many ofthem ofthe State
onerous as the agrcnlturis.s consider these taxes
they are mere trife to those which are levied
upon the residents of cities, all Of whom have 10
bear the double burthen of city aud State taxatoh'
and whose mereh rts always singled out TO ne
taxed moro heavily than any other ciass' inns
has been the uniform policy Of Virginia up
the taxes on the merchandise II IL were wise anu
advantageous to crush commerce ana make IL Su'-
ordinate 20 every other interest VI course All
other classes If taxpayers are willing ana eager 10
make the merchants bear the heat and bnrthen Of
the aav, and accordingly, whenever tax bill Is
under discussion, the representatives OF the plant
ing and farming interests come down IN soid
phalanx upon the merchants, and all the eu,rea-
ties, remonstranccs, arguments OF the oppressed
classes have not feathers weight with those who
have the power to decide whether the money for
the support of government shall come from their
pockets, from the pockets of the petitioners anu
reinonstrants aforesaid
II is clear. therefore, that in any new tax hi'''
the merchants may expect to bear the present
large proportion Of the public burihens, aud If the
taxes are increased, that proportion will be H.
creased, so that in all probability, in such a cor
tinsency every commercial man in Virginia Viii
be driven out of the State, or forced to leave his
business and Baltimore. Philadelphia. or New
York become the exclusive markets for NlrgiDFl.
II the times were ever so good. the people OF III
ginia have much taxation as they can bear; but
in view Of the money pressure, which IS causing
the whole land to groan. we submit that III Wouii
be most oppressive and inexpedent to increase the
public burthens. New subjects Of taxation might
be introduced, aud We agree with the Barbour jet
fersonian that much may be effected by jDdicious
tax levied upon fish and oysters This recoinmen-
dation Of Gov. Wise always struck us as practcai
and valuable
"But few are aware" says the Jefersonian, so
the vast wealth possess in the shell fish Of the
tide water sections of stata in fact, SOME have
estimated them valuable as the gold mines of Cal
ifornia. Millions Of dollars worth are annually car
ried from our very shore by the rapacious North
ern Yankees: who generally kill two birds with one
stOne-take our oysters aud steal our slaves. We
know of no other subject which has'cost the State
more in the shape of Legislation than oysters aud
fish; and if but for nothing more, they should e
taxed to a sufficient extent to remuuerate tie
State for the Legislation Consumed in their protec-
ton. We can scarcely open Statute book. from
the commencement of the Commonwealth up
TO the present time, but we fluid more or less
legislation on this subject; and. in fact We
believe the protection Of fish and oysters has
cost the state than the construction of every
turnpike in the State Yet, after ali this cost they
do not pay one cent tax to the State. If they are
yalueless, why spend the time and expenses Of
enacting laws for their protection? Ii they ar,
worth legislation. why not make them bear thcii
just proportion Of taxation -
We fully appreciate the importance of compile
ting the public works of Virginia, aud if there i,
any surplus, let it be bestowed npon those lines 0
improvement which to connect us with the Obi.
valley. and no other. But not for them even. ear
the people stand any more taxation. They havt
as much as they can bear and more than there i,
return from.