Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-06
Speech OF Mr.. Wiley, OF Mo-
nOngalia.
IA tH6 OsHt5 OVHteHtIUH, -NuTCH 20, IC
TIE TAXATION QUESTION.

not before tie Commute Ol the WflOlc, IL Is
impossible to make an argument, and myself
shall no, attempt it, feel it due to myself,
however, as proposing the resolutions before
the Couvcnliur,, that should explain as brief
ly rs possibly can. the reasons which in.
duced u.e to offer them.
1t has been alleged that the subject Of taxa
ton was not cor,tc'nli lated in the call OF this
Convention. 70 me that is singular allega.
ton. To rcfutc any such assertion Of opinion,
We have only to refer 70 the Act passed by the
Legislature converting 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 the State,
TO be referred back to the people Of the State
for rejection or ratification. 1t is fact which
cannot be disputed, that, at least in the West.
err portion of the State, amendments ~ the
The minds of the people, when they appeared
ri the polls for the selection Of delegates 10
this body. II, then, We arc TO ignore this
subject, if We are to pass it by without con.
s,.ieraion, we shall have failed to discharge
one of the primary duties contemplated in
the election of delegates, md shall have ialled
to answer the just expectation oi vast ina
jority, as hunbly conceive, OF the people OF
this Commonwealth.
Nuw, sir, our organic law either wants
amendment or it does not The principle con.
templated in the first resolution which! had
the honor to offer, is either wrong or it is right.
If it be wrong If there be no necessity or pro
priety in auleuding the Constitution in this re.
gard, let t..is Convention say 81. Lei them At
onco decide this question. If the principle OF
taxation, as now provided for in the organic
liw, be right, let the Convention say so. If 1t
be wrouE, why should We continue to live ru.
der the wrcng? If it be oppressive, as many
people lhiHk it is, why si!-u!i the peolls Of
Ibis Commonwealth BE- required 10 live longer
under TIN. oppression? We have il nos in
orir power tu remedy tie evil, if 1t be nh evil
We arc assembled in Convention. The matter
has been brought t. the consideration Of d,l..
gates here. What is the reason adluCrd by
gentlemen, why We shouli not now consider il
tiS alleged that in point Of fact there was yir.
tual drisianding At the last Conventcn that
amcnirucntS to tho Constlluiion should not lie
considered Until 1865. In the first place re-.
member rc such understanding. and "it is not
so nominated in the bond" We are here nov.
We have iull power to redress the grievance
# It be grievance. What do gentlemen con.
template by postponins this matter? Not only
tha. We should suffer under this wrong for five
years longer, but that the people of the Com.
moIwcalth shall be put to the trouble and ex
p"nsc Of electing anGttIer Convention, to do what
we have it in cur power to do now, and which
we +ay rs well 10 uow as we conld in 1865. II
is objected against the consideration OF this
proposition now, that this is All inopportune
occasion, that it brings into the deliberations
of this body, matters calculated to increase dis
scn$;onS, ard strifes, ard heart buTnings, al
ready existing in the minds Of the people Of
Virginia in regard TO other matters. | suy
.galr, os said few days ago, that bad 10
such cbjac; IN introducing this measure 20 th"
consideration OF ;hiS body. | offered it as
pesca measure believe, that if fairly and
fully considered nov, it :s,ll hav" a tranquil
Lying influence on the minds OF the people. 1t
will show to the people Of the Commonwealth
that there is disposition to extend full justice
to them. II will remove from the public mind
IL question which has hean harassing and irrl-
ta,ing 1t for the last ten years. II is question
which, has been sowing the seeds OF irritation
deep in tho public mind ever since Virginia
had On organization as Commonwealth.
wii! axe it upon myself further to say it is
not sectional question. Iprotest against gen.
,leme:i asserting thas. this measure is sectional
in its character. 1t is question between the
non saveholGng and the slsvelIoldlng portions
of tho people Of Virginia In the streets Of
Richmond | see white man with his
morse and dray. ] enquire Of him and
he tells me no has n family and Il
small portion of the worlds goods | find
by the statutes of Virginia that his dray ard
morse his household furniture, and the head
on his shoulders, are all taxed. lgo into ,hc
county and SEQ the white man laboring on his
farm, with hia stalwart boys earning an honest
livelihood. Ills little stock, his plough und
horses, ard mules, and furniture, the head On
his shoulders, and the heads on The shoulders
Of his sons, are all taxed. look again in our
cities aaa zee. the sturdy arm Of the white la.
borer pushing the plaue. His very tools, and
al that he has, are t,xed-taxed TO their iull
value. There s no discrimination, no dlstinc-
ton. And this applies not alone TO eStern
Virginia, not alone to the hardy soDs Of toll in
the western boundaries of the State but 1t ap.
plies equally in Richmond, Alexandria, Nor.
folk, aud every county throughout the Com.
monwealth Why should there be any snch
distincliun2
Why is it tlla; the property, the entire pro-
perty, Of this class Of our population should be
taxed, while the man most able to pay taxes,
whose property consists in slaves, should haVe
very considerable portion OF his property
wholly exempt from taxation.
s'UgspAY, APRIL 2.
Mr. Wiley, in Convention, resumed as ioL
lows.
regret, tIr President, that NO have to
press within the short limits OF time allowed
US under Tie rules Of the House. the discus.
sion Of subirct so importapt as the subject
Of taxation. TIE time will not admit Of an ar
guru"n,; i, VII! hardly allow statement OF
the case TO be made. know, sir, that we arc
occupied With snothc. subject Of t'ahstndt;t
importance We art seeking to preserve the
integrity Of the Union. But, sir, let Inc as
sure you that, in my humble estimation, ihs
principle involved in the discussion OF tho re.
solutions now before the Convention involves
the integrity OF ths State. When | Was ar
rested in nv remarks the other day, if re-
,nembcr Alright | Was endeayoring to show the
unequal Operation Of the principle Of taxation
o.. now recognized and provided in the organic
law. was attempting to illustrate it by refe.
renee to individuals. | was protesting against
the allegation urged by the opponents OF this
measure that it was simply sectional! ques-
ton, that it was essentially Western qucs'
lion as contra distinguished from the whole
State.
have, since that time, Mr. President, been
locking li,tlo into facts snd figures; and
propose now, With your leave, to advert briefly
To fr77 facts which will settle the question IN
this respect, in ny estimation. protest again
against the argument OF gentlemen that this is
either sectional question, OF that it il con.
fined in its scope to the nc7th.weetern part G.!
tie State, or OF any other particular part of tire
State ] aver that it is matter 10 which all
the citizens of the State ere Interested. How
is Mf vas making somo enquiries Of the
Auditor Of Public Accounts, ,heOther day, and
| ascertaiped from him two facts. uscer-
tanned from him that the whole number Of tax.
PAYERS in the Commonwealth Of Virginia ut
this time, was, in round numbers. POI, ,Ooo.