Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-10

Having done So the morty Of the section having con-
troll Of the government will uuequaly impose the bur
dens of taxation upon the property held BY the minority
Of the section where it exists That they will do so Is
certain as that the laws Of mans nature which con-
sute the condition Of his existence will continue 10
influence bis conduct So parties shall have as
sumed this sectional character, there will Immediately
arise tax paying and Sxconsuming class in the So
eety-the one made up of Ofcehoders and employees,
who are supported by the government and the other Of
those who support the government.
Il is no sufficient reply to this, to say, that the su'
preme Law of the society," in providing for the unformi-
" of taxation throughout the society, esctuay guards
against the evils of urust taxation Is this true The
msorty make the supreme Law. They legslite TO car
~ is provisions into effect Their partisan judges de-
eide upon the consuiionaly of their legislation and
the whole society may be constituted posse eOmttGtUi
to execute their Judgments The majority then, having
this power of constituting their powers may il they
choose nulhy the constitution, nay actually supersede
in the practical administration of the government
they do So where the remedyg The minority, accor-
ding to the theory Of all governments of numerical ma
jority are supreme. There is power to which they
are responsible They claim to be amenable to no earth
" authority and experience teaches that they are lit
tie disposed to regard the laws of higher Power.
But let US suppose that the provision of the funda-
mental law repairing taxation be uniform throughout
the society is honestly and in good faith complied with
lie, US suppose that it will be acted upon by every de-
uartment Of the government according to its true spirit
intent ard meaning and that taxation in fact imposed
according to the principle OF equality upon all property
in every portion Of the society, All this may be with
out any violation of the letter of the Constitution, and
still it is nevertheless true that by the natural operation
OF system of taxation and disbursement the minority
section may be made tributary to the majority section
That section will be tributary to the other section when
il is made pay in taxes more than IL receives in dis
bursmeus To the extent that its exceed what it
receives in DISBURSEMENTS to that amount it becomes
tributary And contra, that section which receives
more in disbursements than h contributes in taxation, will
to the extent Of this excess be the bene6cares Of gov
erament.
The manner in which this result may be accomplished,
is almost too plain for explanation AS the majority i'm
pose the taxes so they dsourse those after they
have been raised They originate bills Of revenue,
aud make appropriations Of that revenue. 1t is for
them to decide what objects objects Of the gen.
era welfare to which they will make appropriations
Their power in this regard is mere discretionary pow
err and that they will exercise this discretion in IA
vor Of their interests at all couversant with hL-
man conduct will doubt; In this way the interests, the
dus.ry and object which, in great degree the
local welfare OF the majority section, may be built up
AID sustained at the expense Of the minority section
In this way the majority may DO enriched and the minor
y cOrrespondngy impoverished BY the fiscal operation
Of the Government 1t is against this power of oppres
o. that the minority entitled to demand protection.
Constitutions made to protect the rights of minor
i,s. Tue msjorty are always able TO protect them
eves 1t il sufficient Tor the minority to know that in
cay given instance the eternal laws of seltinteres inves
tie nj oriy with the iucnl,On and that they have the
-oEsr TO ue and opp.ess them. Against any possible
oppression. le minority have the right to demand the
POSER Of ss'Iyro:eeoH How, and BY Whist checks and
limitations, that o,gL. to Be contained ia hs COHsh!4
oa cf Tryaa, his power might be afforded, may be
the subject OF future article.