The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-03-12

/ "NVAbp" LUt Us lo'hal INV Wv WV
gordian knot" land thus at one stroke
--ochieve our ever fondIy, desired free.
dom. Bat we must pass on,
As will be noticed, our new Gonstilu.
ton does not contemplate any license
except for houses Of entertainment, con-
sequently, under its operation, we en-
erge from under that dc7d ueig4. As
our necessities, however, will require
but Ha'e money, We can spare oil thence
derived, beailea again reducing ogr
property tag.
! Ifany have taken so superficial a view
OF this license taxation, as to conclude it
falls only upon The person taking GU. IL
censo let him know, that the tax is Ad.
ded to the previous price or cost and is
thus chiefly drawn, though indirectly,
from tic ma,ses. For instance; Q mer'
chant pays $3.50 tax on license; he con
siders that as part 81 bis necessary out.
lay in business, and adds, the price Of
this tax, to his selling price, and, there
fore, all buying goods of him, have to
pay part Of that $3.50 tax Your dry
goods and groceries are higher by the
amount Of this tax Let US, then, rid
ourselves, now and forever, Of this indi.
rect taxation, imposed in tho interest Of
our oligarchical masters, to enrich them.
selves and impoverish US, Ratify the
Constitution ofWest Virginia, and this
tyranny dies with our birlh os State.
You see by the article quoted of our
new Constitution, that tho new Legis.
lalure is inhibited from granting "the
credit Of the State &C.; SO that lis i'm.
possible to run the Stata in debt, except
10 repel Invasion, &c. and the Oonstilu.
ton conlomplates speedy liquidation
of any such contingent debt. Under
our old Constitution, by various shifts,
and deyices--as guaranteeing the pay
mcnt Of the bonds of divers corporations,
and leaning the State credit-a State
debt, was run up to $40, $4,000.
IT'S true, San equitable proportion of
the State debt, prior to the first Of Jaru-
airy 1861" is incumbent upon US to pay
in our Gnal adjustment with tl,s Com
monweolth of Virginia, bul,a long as that
goFd equitable remains lherc, We need
have Nc unaaaipsss of onOrous taxation
from contributing our par! Of That hesvy
debt. Let US i'll ustrate.
Equity demands. eitAer, that all tho
money paid by US into the general cof
fers should be credited to Us, and then
we be charged with what We have le-
ceiyed, and strike the balance; or, after
thus crediting us with our contributions
to the general fund, that the public
works and every species of public prop,
crty in each State be fairly valued al what
it would have commanded before the
war; and, at tho same time, estimate all
oher expenses Of each section, and then
strike The balance. In event Of either
computation, it is considered by those
capable Of judging who have made the
calculation, that tour equitable proper.
lion" will be less than-aotstng, AT
the most, it can be but a trife; and we
certainly, will checrFully pay whatever
equity demands; live would not we
wop'd be usrorthy to be .freemcn, On
the other hand, you should rgfu's to
ratify your new Constitution, YOU surely
then would be compelled to pay, not ian
equitable proportion" Of the State debt,
but, according to your relative wealth
and population. How much, you
shrewd, oaviliog ,aithmoticiOn, will East
Virginia be able to pay, when the war
ends ? With smouldering ruins where
once stood flourishiug towns and cities,
with one vast common where there
were enclosed and highly cultivated
farms, with her wealthy citizens in rags,
her ntggers non est, her railroads, DC, in
ruins, how much, you deceptive, thick
skulled prattler against the New State
Imoyemeat would Fast Yi1giaia be
able to pays" answer us,ohreturn 10 the
study Of The fundamental rules Of arith-
metic, and lot men discuss the question,
] ~ -