Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-19

that every man Shoulu pay taxes according to
his ability to pay them. II that rule is carried
out the principle involves every species Of
property which man possesses, everything
that n man is worth And maintain that the
property in slaves should be valued according
to their worth to the planter in working them
in Virginia, and not according to their worth
in Texas or Mississippi.
II you value negro in Virginia to be work.
ed on plantation here, according to the value
Of negro in Mississippi, you must at once
see that you lose all the negroes. They will
be taken into those States where they can be
worked more pro6tably; and when the exodus
becomes more rapid, you will see that there
will be hnt q small proportion Of slave property
to be taxed, and the agricultural the min.
eral and manufacturing interests will have to
pay away very large proportion Of the forty
millions Of dollars now due by the State. We
cannotafford to lose our slave labor by over
TAXATION
The time has not yet arrived to agitate this
question, but when the Convention shall have
determined that the State shall leave the Union,
then there should be a reorganization Of the
organic law upon the basis above stated, which
say cannot be controverted | am surprised
to hear the gentleman speak in the manner in
which he has in reference only to negro proper.
ty. Has he forgotten that the mercantile in
terest pays about one quarter Of the whole tax
of the State of Virginia And does he ask US to
increase the tax on negroes and not to reduce
it on the mercantile interest-to which class
belong, and Of which am an humble member.
We pay more taxes than any other class Of
men in Virginia Does the gentleman not
rs ho t. 10
he is judging from the able manner in
which he has presented his views to this
Convention, Qaughter)-that if he has an in
come, say, of $500 per annum, by his profess
sion, that he only pays $50 taxa half of one
SIS for lawyer making sos; while /, if l
make $500, have to pay $3.50 taxi Now is it
not perfectly plain that the tax should be
equalized; and if the matter is attempted We
should scan the whole subject Of taxation and
put it on basis Of equality! trust the gen
tlcman from Harrison, will take more compre-
hensive view Of the subject of taxation. For
myself, have but few acres of land aud few
slaves. have but little money; and if it can
bear the same proportion OF tax rs other proper
ty, am willing to pay it. But, Sir, it is un-
necessary to proceed further OH that subject
am not now called on to elaborate that point,
ask the gentleman to let the resolution DC
laid on the table, and if the State deter
mines to 60 out of the Union, the subject can
then be considered before our final adjourn
ment
Mr. WILSON, (of Harrison,)-l propose to
let Committee be appointed for the purpose
of ascertaining and reporting if it be expedent
to take action upon the subject of taxation. |
wish to make further remark, namely, that
according to the present rate of taxation, the
Northwestern portion Of the State defrays its
own expenses and returns to the State every
dollar received out of the public treasury for
public improvements in that section. So that
We are in advance of appropriations
Mr. BRAScH-I do not mean to 60 into IL
detailed argument upon this question, but |
wish to suggest the improperly Of taking up a
matter which We cannot properly consider at
this time, and which involves u question con-
corning the organic law. say wo have no
right according to sound morals before God or
man to take up this question unless we first SO
out of the Union. Why? In 1850 We had a
Convention, and adopted constitution upon
compromise The people have accepted it,
and have agreed to live under it until 1865.
Having entered into that compact ne ought
never to touch the Constitution Of our State
unless some extraordinary cause requires us
to do it. OF course such an event as Virginia
Withdrawing herself from the Contederacy,
would be such an occasion and would
justify it That contingency not having
been anticipated in 1850, but having arisen
since, why, sir, that extraordinary cause
would bring about the extraordinary necessity
Of remodeling the Constitution and eQualizing
the taxes. But until we do determine to 60 out
Of the Union, We should not touch it.
Does the gentleman mean to say that he
means to lay an additional tax upon negroes
Sir, cannot believe that the gentleman upprs-
bends the subject in all its bearings. I am in
principle for equality in taxation, and believe
that the man who has got property should pay
taxes upon that property. The poor man
should not be obliged to pay upon his labor.
1t may take all he can get by his labor to sup
port himself and family, and he should not be
compelled to pay taxes upon hard-earned wages
Under the present organic law, that man has
to pay taxes upon his income. | do not mean
to charge any improper motive upon the Legis.
lature that enacted such law, but contend
that it is unjust and oppressive. am labore1
myself and feel it myself, in my own pocket
| contribute more than can afford TO pay tc
this Government
Mr.. BrowN-I want to call the attention o.
my friend from Petersburg to q resolution
which was offered few mornings since, to
raise committee on Finance to which should
be referred all resolutions relating to State and
county taxation. That resolution was intended
to protect all classes, and to equalize taxation
to remove the very hardship Of which the
gentleman complains.
Mr.. BRANCH II merely rose to reply to the
argument of the gentleman over the way, (Mr.
WILSON, BY way of conclusion, I say that
will never vote for touching the present Consti
tuition unless we determine to 60 out OF the
Confederacy. Itwould not be just 10 the peo'
ple-they are not prepared brit, and the Con-
vention would never have been called for any
such purpose. 1t was called together in view
Of the extreme position of the South and the
state of our Federal relations. do not think
that we ought, in advance Of the separation
from the Union, to change the organic law.
Mr. CApEEroN-Id desire to say something
in answer to the suggestion made by gentlemen
as to the propriety Of laying this resolution
upon the table, and granting the committee
asked for, leaving the subject open to be dis
posed Of at subsequent meeting OF TINS Con
vention. think that that course would have
an unhappy effect upon this subject. We are
here sndeayoring to obtain FROM the Northern
people such concessions and such guarantees
as will enable us to continue in the Union with
them. We know we'll that those people will
grant those guarantees very much in proper
ton to their apprehensions as to what may De
the ultimate action of this State We present
these demands to them with the implied de-
claration that if the demands are not accorded,
we will separate from them. If they have any
ground for disturbing the earnestness OF TINS
declaration, they will, Of course, be slower IN
according to us those demands, and If we ex'
hibt to them The fact that there is domestic
trouble in reference to that very property, when
has caused all these national difficulties IL
will have the effect to retard them in
their etforts--the conservative portion Of them
:, brine abort nm adjustment OF the