Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-09
The Virginia State Convention.
NINETEENTH OA J.

Mr., Brown, OF PreStOn.-t believe, MT.
President, that it will be in order this morning,
with the consent CT the gentleman from Harri.
son, (Mr. CARLILE, who was entitled to the
foor,) to offer resolution before the business
Of the day shall he taken up
The PREsIDENr-A resolution can be offered
by consent Of the gentleman from Harrison, il
it lead to no debate.
Mr.. BRowN.-I cannot tell Watcher the reso'
luton that propose to offer will lead to de-
bate or not. certainly do not intend to de-
bate it, sir. desire, however, if my friend
from Harrison, (Mr. CARL1LE,) will permit, TO
offer the resolution; and, in doing sp, 10 state
the reasons why offer it.
| desire it to be read, sir, and then will
simply state the reasons why have offered ii.
The resolution reads as follows:
"Resolvcd, That the President Of the Cen
venton sppoint Committee Of ~ menbc:S to
be styled the Committee "of Finances" whose
duty it shall be TO take into consideration ali
subjects 10 it referred iu relation to State and
county taxation
Mr. BRowS.-We are now nil aware that VI
are drifting rapidly, drifting to that point where
men and money, the sinews Of war, wll! cr re-,
Quired.
With regard to men, we have them; but. sir,
with regard to money, 80 have it not Sir, |;
you will just look, with Il view TO show ou
force Of men, ut the report of Your Auditor
qou will find that there are nearly 4V,Goo mel
in Virginia who cannot pay their taxes. In the
CITY of Richmond. uui Of 50 or $4,000 persons
there arc 1870 that cannot pay their taxes.
| Now, sir, these persons will Eake nooI'
soldiers. They are patriotic men, and gcoo
men-rhey IRE men whose patriotic snotioh'
eau be aroused by such appeals ss are every
day made here; and while want the serr'cr'
If such men in the event Of a war, desire tina!
| thew shall be we'll armed, well fed, aud wei
| clothed.
Sir, YOU are aware that there is large pof
ton of the property Of this State that Is 10"
axemot from taxation-ihat there IS Constr
tutional prohibition which prevents liz be
ing reached BY the .a1-layiDS power OF The
State.
desire, sir, to have this committee raised
and all resolutions looking 10 the subject o
finance and taxation referred to it. My nobi'
friend from Northampton, iMr. EISnER,) thu
other day, as you are aware, sir, offered & reso
luton looking TO the appropriation OF millions
| for the defence OF the State. know, sir. tha'
| he will coms to the rescue and will cid me III
initiating steps, and in Initiating measures D!
| which the funds can be raised. You Know, SIR
verv we'll that in tue present condition OF S!a''
4 sernrities VIZ cannot borrow dUllar. You are
aware that the other day ut Washington, upo'
the repor. Of the Peace Conference the hopes
! NJ RI. nation were revived, and, sir, Virgins
stocks went up in or= deg five per cett. in the
city of New York. Sir, the very next day OF
two-l believe tl.e very next day-uroa the
sc,;on Of the Senate III relation 10 that report,
they went down again. Our action here, sir.
since the adjournment Of Congress has further
affected our State securities, SO that our sources
must be raised, not BY borrowing money bu!
by taxation and want The "iie!e heIo
opened, and all species of property su9jectec
to the ad ca26rem system. 49,.
While am opposed TO al steps ths' VIII IN
volEe Us in u war, Yet declare 10 Eon, sir II
| the event that var must come, every ooilaf
worth have shall be subject TO taxation. AYE;
sir, and the dollar iIseii shall be at the dSpo,
sal of the State 10 arm and cohe Tue true all:
brave men that We may send to the held lIr
rot want to send them, sir, IN 4 Condition II
which they would not do hoi.o: IL the old Com
nonweaiih. Sir, desire action 10 be taken II
reference to this subject ard ,ha. ut the earliest
| period possible.
1t was stated in the Enquirer Of yesterday
| morning that there was bargalr-ycS, sir, Il
bargain-madc between the Western Antl-Se'
cessionists and the EASTERN Anti-Srccss ionists,
by which Western men were to vote against
this I'D 5alorem system Ot taxation upon all
the property OF the East in consideration that
these Eastern Art-Sccessionists were to Keep
the West in the Stale.
Now, sir, if there be any such Western men
as these want TO know them. want my con-
stiiucnts to know That |, at least, am not bar
gaining their rights away, aid with that view,
want to have my vote recorded when the proper
time arrives. Other Westei n men Tho may have
desire to be set right upon this subject, cal
pursue like policy il they choose. ain sa
ttisfed, sir, that Eastern citizens are prepared
now, in that generous spirit which hope anl
mates them, to subject their property to equal
taxation. I want those true and brave men OF
the East who have delivered such patriotic
speeches mere, to come forward and help Us nov
10 raise the Sinews OF war. Sir, do not wan
our army to he fed with pstrio.ic speeches and
resolutions want them to have good coffee
for breakfast; want them 10 have good ban.
kets tc keep them warm; want them by eli
means to be we'll armed.
These are tire considerations which Induced
me to offer that resolution, End | trust II will
be the pleasure Of the Convention to adopt it
want the Eastern Secsssonists, if they br.
leye the Richmond Enquirer" which is their
organ. and am satisfied they do believe i'll
have been a reader Of The Enquirer" for
nearly 40 years. doubt the prcprlety, sir, OF
Indicating q time so far back, aad thus making
myself appear so old-but, sir, | have beei;
reading that paper since 1923, and have always
had great faith in il, and suppose i. is now
we'll Informed upon this SUBJECT was going
on to say, sir, that ( hope the Eastern Seces.
sionis.s, who believe in the doctrines Of the
Enquirer" will join r,e in carrying out the oh,
ject of that resolution. know lhey ere really
sincere in their secession sentiments, and !
would therefore ask them to come up and as.
sist me in procuring the sinews CT war. Let
nv friend from Northampton, (Mr. FISHER
ask that the resolution which he offered DC re.
ferred 10 the committee proposed to De raised
by the resolution which Offer We all know
that war cannot he carried OH without the
necessary means TO prosecute it-and it Is
therefore the duty Of those who favor scccs-
sion to come up and provide these means
Mr.. EcuoLs, OF Munroe,.-At the rink Of
being considered party to the bargain TO
which the gentleman refers, move 10 lay the
resolution on the table.
Mr.. BRowS-Upon that motion | c.! the
yeas and nays.
The call wuy sustained.
Mr.. TrgsEK-I desire to know whether all
amendment or substitute for the resolution will
be in order?
The PREsIDEsr-Not now, sir The motion
is to lay on the table.
The yeas and nays were then called, and re-
sulted-yeSs 90, nays 4S-as follows:
AYrt-Messrs. John Janpey, (Prcadent) Amber Aston
Buxey, Bo!sseau, Borst, Bruidn. Branch, Brent Csbe
Campbell Cecil, Casmoiiss, Charman Conn, Couch. H.
Cox Richard Cox Custis, Dusuy Early Eehos Fisher
Elournoy Forbes. uraasm, Grant, Gray, Gregory Cog
gto, Thomas I. Goode, Addison Hall, Hammond, Hoge
Hoconbs HoiIaday, Hunton, Marmaduke Johnson, Kent
Kilby, kiudred, Leakr, C. X. Malc:y, Mar.hsi, Mari
Msrye, sr Mofett, Morris Norton Nelson, parhs Pusht
Randolph. Richardson, Saunders. Sr., s=aSe slu:hisr
Speed spuElocS sLapl-s strange, Sutern Tayoe Thorn
ton, K u. Turner, Tyler, Waller, White. Whi:nvld-6V