Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-04-09

cases Al full rates ~
Sermons, so cents oach ,,nyi1-,5a
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Speech OF 0Ir. Wiley, or fDIonongalIa,
IN the state Convention, March q 8,
1s61--Tlle TaxatIon Question.
The resolutions introduced by Mr.. Will
ley, being under consideration in Commit-
tee 0t the Whole, he addressed the Com
mittee Ns follows:
Before the vote is taken on this ques.
ton, desire to make few observations
! am aware that under the rules allowing
but n few minutes each morniug for dis
Cussion of matters notahefUre the Com
mittce of the Whole, it is impossible to
make an argument, and myself shall not
attemptit. feel it due to myself, how.
ever, as proposing the resolutions before
the Convention, that shoutd explain as
briefly 0s possibly can, the reasons which
induced me to offer them
1t has been alleged that the subject of
taxation WAS not contemplated in the call
of this Convention. To me thatisn sinuu-
lar allegation. To refute any such asser.
tion of opinion, we have only to refer to
the Act passed blythe Legislature couven-
ing this body. We have only to Look into
that Act to see that there is an express
provision requiring any action that may
be taken by this body, on the subject OF
amendments to the organic law of tue
State, to be referred back to the people of
tue State for rejection orratiiication. 1t
is II TACT which cannot be disputed that, ut
least in the Western portion Of the State.
amendments Ia the organic law. were tile
primary considerations in the minds of the
people, when they appeared at the polls
for the selection of delegates to this body.
II, then, we are to ignore this subject, il
we are to pass it by without consideration
we shall have failed TO discharge one al
the primary duties contemplated in the
election OF delegates, and shall have failed
to answer the just expectation of vast.
minority. rs I'liumbiy 'concefve,Sof tho peo-
pie of this Commonwealth.
Now, sir, our organic law either wants
amendment or it does not. The princfple
contemplated in the first resolution which
had the honor to offer, is either wrong
or 1t is right. If it be wrong, IL there be
no necessity or prOpriety in amending the
Constitution in this regard, let this Com
ycntiou say so. Let them at once decide
this question. If the principle of taxation
MS provided for in the organic law, be
fright, let the Convention say so. If it be
wrong, why should we continue to live
under the wrong2 If it be oppressive, as
mnuy people think it is, why should the
people of this Commonwealth be required
( To live longer under that oppressiou3 We
have it now in our power to remedy the
evil, If it be an evil. We are assembled in
/ Convention. Thematter has been broHght
to tie consideration of delegates here
What is the reason Hdduced by gentlemen
why we should not now consider il? IL is
i alleged that in point of fnct there wRs a
virtual understanding at the last Cnnven-
uon, that amendments to the Constitution
should not he considered until 1865. In
the first place remember no such under
standing, and "it is not nominated in the
bond" We are here now We bnVe Full
power to redress the grievance. What do
gentlemen contemplate by postpOning this
matter2 Not only that We shoulI suffer
under this wrong for five years longer, but
that the people of the Commonwealth shall
] be put to the trouble and expense of elect.
ing another Convention, to do what we
/ have 1t in our power to do now, and which
/ we may as we'll do now as we could in
1865. 1t is objected against the consider
auon of this proposition now, that is an
inoPPOrtuue occasion, that Il brings into
tthc deliberations of this body, matters cal
lcniatcd to increase dissensions and striGes,
and heart burnings, already existing in the
. uAAAANs Va tNN HCOHlC VI NllEluIt III
! to other matters. sHy again, as said a
+, few. days ago, that had 30 such object III
Introducing thic mrasnre TO the consider
alton of this body. ] offered it as
peace measure. ! belieyclh 1t if fnirly and
fully considered now, it will9have n tran
/ QUILTING influence on the minds of the
4 people II will show to the people of the
Commonwealth that there is disposition
/ to extend full justice to them. II will re-
! move from the public mind question
which has been horrassiug and Irritating.
il for the last ten years. 1t is question
which has been sowing the seeds OF irrita.
ton deep in the, public mind ever since
Virginia had an organization as a Com
monwealth. l will take it upon myself
further to say; it is not sectional qncs-
tton. protest against gentlemen assert
ling that this measure is sectional in its
character. 1t Is "a question between the
non-slaveholdtDg aud the slaveholding port
ttons OF the people of Virginia. In the
streets of Richmond see white man with
his horse and dray. enquire of him and
he tells he has family and small
| portion of the worlds goods. l find by
the statutes of Virginia that his dray and
horse, his household furniture, and the
head on his shoulders, are all taxed go
into the county and see the white man
laboring on his farm, with his stalwnrt
boys earning an honest livelihood. His
little stock, his plough and horses, and
mules, and fnrniture, the bead on his
shoulders, and the heads on the shoulders
of his sons. are all taxed. look again in
our cities and see the sturdy arm Of the
white laborer pushing the plane. Hisyery
( tools, aud all that he has, are taxed-tnxed
to their full value. There is no disefimi-
natton, mo distinction. And this applies
not alone to Western Virginia. not alone to
/ the hardy sons Of toiIiu the western bonn
daries Of the State, but it applies equally
in Richmond, Alexandra, Norfolk, and
every county throughout the Common