Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-02-18

allved since tho old Constitution was adontc,
q SEQ no changes in tho clause OF tho Oons,i,,,
sStion as 1t stands, and am unwilling to sec an
8innoVsaoa now in favor 0! trade, when t.ed
s's 4 such great source of profit to tho trtrin
community Of tho State, and is particularly g
sth!s time resping rich harves; from tha ne
saeesstles Of the country. If that trade Shic
;s's q thus enhanced By the peculiar circrnsts1
ssaces 0! the tlmeS is not made to Suar portio;
got tbs burdens of tho Commoawvalth in III
sox'genc!es Of tho present crisis, cannot Sc
is~nat osee. subject is Il. subject "a. ..satioi
Ahy tho Legislature Ct the Com IL on c'aa!,!,.-
.gth!s bod: will la well to look carefully 10 tn
::setoe. OF taess propositions before they 7oI
ssicr either: and hope !hat those familiar viii
t4tha sub)nc! will sxIu:ine il carpiull; for .hsrl
::SSSs!Vus ana see lSst they ace not caught hv III
sllau5ibie Statement that taxcs on l:;.anst.
sssGoulo not eScecc TIA capita! inve3.aa. |
isonghi 10 eXcesa Il, because Il, b0S; i. J.; not II
ismnch q tax 2pon the t.G;irsiuai, i! jhs prngsn
Snma, considering h;s vast p:oiiig, n. s .i,. ~
culinary tex en- Isodcd ptarusti,, fT-e saarI,
!. look wsll 20 the &cndi:ior Of Ito ;-o,.it:,oa
awc....ss a. ,ba pFoaou; iinue, an.i sis il ~ th
,,aaaGog.;oa o; these propositions nu rou.i DO
l2:s.iously r41Ire the rsVsnue OF tho State.
sam opposed :I .fy systs;c tJat will throw no
IIs2n :ard sEt s:a"es anv Increased burden. By
issns exemption .! IVaIe from liz due nroror-
. i9n 0: the puN.i'> rersuue.
3 Mr. S.rAnr.---I ali sslisfsI Tia: ,hs sion.
sAtien IT this r.opoaiiion will .pTa7a highly die
laastr9ns to IL. rayenuC If the Common wealth
aa7G :. hope Il will not meet the sanction OF tn
. SssConvcptIon.
d Il is tho oGcH G. the iuljRncntfi !s5 sc
Clay dowr tho general propositions; bu. &c; :,
Sulderlaks to e. nto cctsi!s and u !im!. tn
Hd!sc; e.ioa Of Tic General Assembly unou =. II
At?-s Of the Aioci
q Il seems to un tant this subject cf sszatio:
sSiH r subject which variaH with circu,.-
sssatsncss- |; ie & question Of expeaicncy, an
uat o! princ!p!v. and therefor. ..is w::o!a suE,-
@jre: 4ugnt to ba LIT To the i.a'nadisio repr.
;ssentat.ves OF the people, coming t,os,: from III,
areople, reaaet:ng the views Of tho psarl. nnt
;5cogn;zant @! lhe general interests II ,!,a a,i
@:nonweslth. believe g:aat Icai tl@t Ia
:spasr said by the ge1tlonan from ;,uyth (Mr
SSasr7gy.i believe that the !ax upor license:
3sht 10 be srealo- team the tax UPON pro
Ypoztioual amount Of other property, oelie7e
sstha. lie taS upon capital invested ii trade tis
ayelds profit Of g 900 should oo create. thar
arpon the same amount Of capital invested ir
4 Hand inat doas not yield probably half tha
3amount. Isnd il seems 10 me thrt prot
Srather than capital ought tc furnish the basis
sof taxation. j merchant with capital Of
$3.50 900 ma; sell in the course of yasl
a$l00, 900 worth .! goods, Thich yields hin I
siargs profit a a,rue7, with the game amount
ss'of capital, uay not do moro than support his
atsaui!y in yesr, aud why, therefore, should
s!pot regard oe hsd to the profits rather thau
So the amount OF capital invested?
3 I maze thesa suggestions, BIZ, not frcn all
peculiar knowledge which l possess upon thi
Squastion, but more from s conHol sense o
I a:fe matter, which, il seems to me, must strik
Gall fsrcibly, who give the subject any attention
4 would appesi to the distinguished gentle,
Conan, who was Chairman Of the COMMITTEES O
1 Finance il tae House Of Delegates, to gi7o hi
avie~a upon tho subject. reier to the gentle
;Sman from Cu!peper.
q Mr. RARBovR--i havs not acted fdT the les
Y Session Of the General Assembly, nor for
Every largs portion Of the preceding session, a
sOhairman oi the Committee Of Finance, be-
& fcause OF the condition Of my health {; but
: have just conferred with the gentleman wh'
3 shas acted recently in that capacity, and no In
siormed me that the amount Of reVenue derive;
ssa,frou this suhjeet eEceeds half million Of dol
glars. Il il n system OF taxation that ha5 beeI
sresorted to in this Commonwe eslth from tim
Simnenorial- II il syatem by which you re
aquire the party to pay you for tho eSclusiv
sprivilege which you give him t. carry Oh hi
sbusiuesa
3 Mr.. Sae7sE.--l ha7s just Ieoai7ad infor
sna.ior from gentleman who is familiar viii
$th;s subject, End be says that tho amount Q
sre7enue deri7ei frou tlia 6o2r1o exceed
sssoO. COO.
a VI. 3.ssoGz-Tha trsory ot that licen6
a1 is. thc1 you give tho merchant tho exclu
Ss:ye :, .viiese IN bis locality to conduct his bu
,ais.ness. aid you protect hin frcn competition
9 to that extent 1t is oas Of the indirect taxe
Sand ho.ts good ~ far as 1t extends 10 the re
q liei ci 6 psVr of the community.
3 No~, II you adopt thar proposition, wnat il
4 the condition in which you will place Elara
aud the landed property Of tho country Tt
g aConfedersss States Government has imposed
upon them heavy Tux. Tbs State has als
posed heavy taI. FOR Purposon connected
q awish this var, and the necessities OF the Com
3monweal.h ct this session Of the Legislator
Swill comps! you to increase that taZ ioc Com
snonwea!!h purposes. This increase must TAX
ssssplsce, couceding that tie license tax is 10 b
Hast as i; rs, II you strike out thu license taz
Syou Gill ha7s to make Up that $500, 900 hJ
Scs.v direct levy, and the result 'ili be, that o
q tue tins Yor ere done paying ali thjs taI
5w:i! amount &c ABOUT tnToo per cent.
Mr. BaAscH.-I feel it ny duty &c =sy
a;7ord or two "a the subject under considern
Elton.
y The argument seems to ha hers thst ts
ssscsuBe this tex on merchants licnnso Yield
alsree revenue, Therefore it should &c continued
gI Sun really surprised to hear such m argumcn
Apresented, and 20 less &c at hncTing the gen
5i!enan from Ori:epcr (Mr- BAREocs) j0stli,
Ttha Imposition Of Inla enormous tax upon tn
Iground tn i: it giTsa the merchant the exclu
@slve privileges OF carrying on his bu7i1esa, an
acuards him against com petition. Is thst IN
#way you make persons pa7 for theprivilese
on their business: Will NOT thht er
seument spply just cs wei! t. mo agricu tura!
eis1p Why not tax him, aud give bin the e@
Aclusige privilege OF cutivating the soil. Th
sseentleman must see that hia argument doe
sssnot hold good, and arm sure fthcigentleman'
was staked upon the philosophy o
y ina: argument, he would not have made it
laI s.c sure that is l1lstkS NngEGs of tha gen
.gstIcnan's and tha. NJ never intenied td ua
.sssuch ar argument.
s. Sir, 1 go ior aH ad ca'sTsm tax. go 10
sstax;nc Inan according to what he Is worth
abut have DO idea of giving my sanction to
Stax upon a mans go called profits. If my ma
sswill look at the aw as IL stands, he will tin
athat lawyer who makes $50, o0o a year. paJ
sabous one fourth Of the tax that anercnan
apays whose profits ere far below tha: I
ga.s cash Tor hia services; while tn
Smerchant in compelled tc pay tax u2ol
ssmouey due to him which nsy no; hs worth
scspr. do not believe thRt an2 mans labo
Nouch, to be taxed. Why nat tax Tho labor
Htbs farmer as you DO thut Of the merchant
10 this State y"u Impose
s;w;,i be tho consequeRo,f Tho Consequent
e. III DO to deter men froI engaging IN the
Of industry. Why no: tax tue .pa:-
Hsons according 10 their actual capital !: