Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-23
TAXATION AND SUFFRAGE.
To The Editor of the Wing:

10 Ws EdttW V Ws why
Precisely what might have been exp ,cted-what mast
have been expected has happened Toe Convention has
opened the que ,ton Of taxation. No one who observed
the attitude OF the Legislature at the opening OF the se-
sion when the question OF Convention was hrst pro-
posed or the conditions then found necessary Tor any
thing like unanmity in the call OF this body, or the pow
err at last granted in the call 10 enter the consdera
ton of questions touching the Constitution Of the Com
monwealth, as we'll as our Federal Relatons,-no one
who observed all this expected anything less than the
opening of this question: IL the state oil federal affairs
permitted il. 1t is well. Let the Convention overhaul
the whole matter They cannot make the case worse
they try for the profound genius for either mis-
chief laundering could neither invent, nor stumble
on a worse system of taxation than the now in ope
ration. II the keenest intellect had undertaken to dis
the best plan for depressing enterprise discourag
ing business avorng classes citizens and burden
ing Others he could have found nothing superior to the
method by which the people of this Commonwealth are
now taxed. Can any one contend that there is Tree
use of capital, just distribution OF burdens wher
property in shape is taxed more than when IN anoth
err? Let wipe out these miserable distinctions and
put our system of taxation on such basis as will be
fair aud Just 10 ALL leaving enterprise untrammeled by
unjust discrimination against it. and in favor Of unthrl
fitness.
Let the Convention give u, the people, just and fair
system of taxation and safe suffrage and we will ever
be grateful them, whether they leave u3 tied to the
North or cut away moorngs and let us Drift to the
South Let them put into the Constitution the one SIM
pie principle that every species OF property which any
one possesses matter in what form it be found sha
be assessed at its cash value and taxed pro rata pro-
vded that certain sum- say 500 in every estatr, s-a
b, exempt from taxes. This is just to ALL and is what
every citizen will be ready TO stand up TO- II he s willing
to bear his fair share of burdens of the government
which protects both him andhisprOpery. Them let pre-
vision be made for State Board OF Equalization, vic
shall have no power to alter the aggregate assessment
but shall be authorized correct aud distribute such In
ifiasa arei
different Commissioners of the Revenue Give us this
system of taxation and shall have every needed
stimulus wise OF capital, and an active use OF
business talent.
What is the objection? That it will bear heavily or
any one species OF property in any section? All prop
ery is valued alike and taxed alike IL worth nothing
or worse of constant expense then it Is valued
at nothing and taxed nothing Besides are We, OF tie
East ready refuse Just system OF valuation and Is
alton because it may affect that species Of property
which more than any other thing, is the OCCASION II
not the cause of present difficulties? Can We have
the face ask for any discrimination In It's isyor when
we are pering everything in the Commonwealth more
for protection than for any other cause Il such the
temper in which ask the 0is State and every man
in the State to stake everything, rather than have our
rights present prospective, in this species OF property
interfered with in any Whatever Is there Il
man who owns, hopes TO own, single servant, who
will ask his fellow.ctizens 10 engage IN revolution,
with its certainty of its Increased taxes and It's chances
OF boodshed protect this species OF property, and
no; be willing that his shall be assessed and
taxed at fair valuation is all property? Such can
not be the patriotism OF this hour and this crisis
In immediate connexion with this re-adjustment Of
taxes AID proper aud necessary counterpart OF H.
let have thorough and radicale OF our suffrage
system Let there be going back to any OF the OLD
expedens which have always been found impractical DE
and in contraventoa of the genius of Republican gov
ernmen because they involved the avidous acd ofen-
sive distinctions of class but let go forward TO such
Just principle Of su age will give every pOlt
cal power propoTtioned ohis political burdens. Universal
suffrage in all governments or later, has proved
universal failure. Whoever hopes that we can escape
such fate hopes agaas all the lessons OF history all the
principles of philosophy, all the visions Of prophecy
The causes of the failure obvious enough aud need
not be argued What is the remedy? Not retreat but
advance; and for this, ready it we are 20 save
the civilization already secured and make further pro
gres or save ourselves from the ruin which has come On
other popular governments, whose wrecks slrew the
coast Of time.
So long "a a man Is bound to defend the government
at the risk of his life il is claimed that there is mani
fest propriety and justice in permitting him to vote II
there were not have already admitted him TO this
privilege on this or other plea and cannot go
bach if would and ought not 10 DO so, if We could
l. must therefore, be admitted, that every free white
male cizeL, aged twenty-oIe years is entitled to
vote because he Is man. aud, such, the burdens oil
tie government fall on him But is not on man alone
thai these burdens fall They fall also, ana uniformly,
on his property and in this way affect the man, aud az
feet him too in proportion TO the amount Of his prop
er.v War which perils the life OF man, il an accden
tai or il you prefer, Incidental condition OF State
temporary aud transient. But, taxation is necessary
AID continued condition Of State; the State protects
both person and property and imposes the burden OF
protecting both almost exclusively on property. II,
therefore man shall vote because he man, and TO
protect bis person. though he may have nothing else TO
protect why shall not the holder o! property having
both his person aud his possessions protect have ad
dona votes proportional bis estate protect this
additional Interest," In other words, why not vote in
the State on the same principle vote in Joint stock
company--every man having votes proportional to the
interest be has stake? Them let every free white man.
who pays his capation tax, vote, because be IS man,
AID give every additional votes proporoued to the
additional taxes he pays 10 the Commonwealth. The
ratio is matter of detail which can be yeTy easily
ranged
This is the joint stock principle just and fair, and sal
utarv against the evils that threaten universal suffrage
Tie conservative effect Of be at glance. It
is the one grand step advance left for the Old Dominion
70 take in this beginning OF revolution, when enter
ing on this new era of governmental reform Il secures
all the advantages sought for ia the Republic OF Rome
by her division of citizens into centuries aud tribes while
il avoids the difficulties Of that method by establishing
no sharply marked classes Let the Commonwealth adopt
this basis Of popular suffrage and she plants her repubi
can institutions where hand o faction OF dem
agogue can again disturb them. She would give her SIS
ter States practical lesson in popular government worth
more than all the abstract resolutions political pbioso-
piers ever dreamed obctter than III the theories ever
spawned by Mr. Sprat, heraljed by the Charleston
Hercqry. uNE oF The PEOPLE