Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-28

From. tie DsC1'-i ~ }ts'sri1g.
THE ONE PER CENT. TAN-ITS HISTORY IN THE
HOUSE
The letter below from Mr. Robertson yindicltes the
House of Delegates iiom What he ye'y correctly cond-
es the fair inference from the remarks OF the Dispatch,
Quoted by him. The writer was mi,es more, perhaps,
than bv ANYTHING else by the idea which no the absence
of detailed report OF the proceedings Of the House,
might very naturally have been eneralned that so im-
r1r,lnt measure as the per cent tax could not
have been acted without elaboration and debate and
DE was moreover looking more particularly to the sur
ar,iug malr-v against the proposition m the Senate,
and he yGuarha!5 cQu-, presented by the attitude OF
the tyo Houses tie subject lie was not himself ac-
ouaiuted With the facts now presented by Mr. Robert
son and which yiuiylle the House from tue remarks
alluded TO- But does not the viCtcauon convey or lst
ily grave accusation against the House as dtt'erl'e
I iar pressing with such haste measure so lmpor-
t-r m M character aud OF such uncertain and vital con-
T5 ,i- EEar ofHs Dispatch Noticing the signal
defeat of the one per ceut tax m the Senate your pa
Der of this morning contains the iOuo"i'g we 40 not
remember similar ctSc-a case wherein measure OF
rrb, policy of the mos; important character pissed by
H.. H5rse of Deegat after elaborate donate was de-
tested ia tse Senate by such vote As THIS
The impression conveyed by this paragraph isl am
satisfied uuiuteu-.0uaiy ana UNJUST auke
% the House of Delegates and 90 lne opponents IN
g. 6f the one per cent merchants tax With wha- Io-
lows a . same paragraph OF your paper imports that
+, rls,.l.-s ,r, }a1pullrtv" IN the House after
I'M consideration aud discussion. Now, wha. are the
facts.
The amendment 20 tle tax bin proposing this mpor
ta-t measure Of public policy YOU justly describe IT.
and unsati1 the yery isuud.1us OF our system oil TAX
atom u not before the House three hours before !, was
,r 10 the vote H. g. understood only 20 have been pro-
s.tcl he evening previous 90 7 Introduction Oy an IN
formal conference of perhaps three members OF the
House and one of the Senate lt came from no commit
tee underwent no previous investigation by one, was
never printed add was pressed 10 an immediate vote on
che ground OF the House saDidy thinning by members
leaving for their homes IL istsctuced by the Char
man ID .he Finance Committee late in the u.c-nlng ses
sion of Marcu IHth In substitution OF the measure recO
meudei bv the committee instantly assaiied by my
self earnestly and ably seconded by the members Tor Ie
tersOarg Portsmouth and others lbut |iih the ad-
milgd disadvantages OF coping, uuprepared, aud az
a moments notice, Fia great and totaIIy
ness question OF public Potcy aGa was put to the vote
l the evening session OF the dav, ana adopted oy
a vote OF t5 90 a.. / immediately offered an amend
uert glstpou0g The operation OF this clause OF the OIL
So not affect license issued the present year.
which was adopted hv the House the next morning
This tltr-e Of the 0 lS-.l underwent dscns'ou "ueh
the Dill cams up its passage, DC, u could only De op
posed then s ground OF rejecting the ta1 OH Mtogeth
s- TIE bin ic fa-' for time lost but Two or shree
Gentlemen changing their yoteR saved II, though 90
not believe sf 10 could have pissed TIE House except
for the ltmadon made the door by toe patSon Of H.
that those actaC With him would introduce important
notifications otit in the Se0ats.
wish Co ssy that 4 concur most heartily N the value
VOC attach 20 tie able discussion il elected from men
u-tctiealy acquainted w'l these subjects No one Is
noe sensible than myself Of the indispensabeneSs 10
sol1d legislation on mercantile affairs that merchants
should be consulted and none owes them more obAga-
tious than do.
Ihtve thought this statement due TO myself Il not to
the House 20 correct the impression your re-
"''' A' &c ''' wINDHAx ROBERTSON