Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-11-13

the calf, the lamb, and the pig that is no
ten days old must be taxed, though IL pu
in the market at the time, they would brinl
nothing. Again, ask would that bi
equal? would that be just2 Again, carry
out this doctrine, and II will compel tht
mechanic and manufacturer, after they arr
assessed on all their stocks, machinery
&c, then under the rule that is attempted
here to be inaugurated, the very labor auC
skill Of the mechanic is to be taxed before
the things or articles manufactured are put
into the market. Suppose, for illustration,
that the material to be manufactured, the
stock Of the mechanic, were all purchased
at the very high prices which everything
now brings, and all this increased valua-
ton put down by the assessor, then in al :
dition to all this, assess the increased val
ue Of the article manufactured, because OF
the mechanical skill and labor bestowed
on it, aud the article not yet thrown into
market, would that not be taxing labor !?
II looks that way to me. Suppose, still
further, that before the manufactured Arti-
Gle was, or could be thrown into market,
aud the stock out OF which they were
manufactured, should take a sudden fall in
price, so that the article manufac-
tured would not bring as much
as the raw material cost, and they
being assessed with both the material aud
labor put on them, would that not be pay
ing q tax on labor, the benefits of which
not yet realized aud perhaps never will be.
Again ask, would that be "equ1l taxa
toni" would that bessiust3 Can it he pos
sible that there are Senators upon this floor
who are willing, after they have taxed the
Substance OF all that the farmer aud me-
chanic has, are still not satisfied but must
10 IL 111n Ln-
never been accustomed to such a system Of
derstood the Constitution when they voted
for it. Aud must confess, Mr.. President,
that notwithstanding done all that l could
to get the new State of West Virginia, and
have been made to rejoice in my very
soul, to think that the men of the
of West Virginia are made
frse, and that the iron bands that
once bound us to our aristOcratic task
Of East Virginia are severed for
seer, and from that unequal taxation and
which always kept our peo
Pile down, pray Senators not to do iha;
which would bring similar calamity upon
rs. Yes sir, done all that could to in.
tuence the people TO vote for the Constitu-
hon. But sir, had known that the Legis.
ature Of West Virginia would have SO con
itrued the Constitution as to virtually crush |
he last hope ofthe farmer aud the mechanic |
Who are the bone and siuew of our country, |
md rivet such unjust and unequal taxa |
ion as would be the inevitable effects OF |
he proposition now before the Senate, that |
should have hesitated long before voted |
or it. But, Mr.. President, cannot, do
Tot, believe that such is the meaning or
pirit Of the constitution, nor that the
rAmeFs of IL themselves 40 undafstOo1 il
Sir, have more confidence in the wisdom
# Senators than to believe that majority
will vote for the proposition. l teeI, cir,
hat mach more could be said, but surely
Point6d7Rpd very EaPEF rrr1n.ts T
r the Senator from Hampshire, aud the
argument of the Senator
rom Wood. nothing more that could say
'Ould add to the judgment Of the Senate.
lat, 10 conclusion, let me say TO Senators
rho vote for striking out the exemption
bat they will not end it to be "bte- ID cast
pom the waters" though they may see it
fter many days, but it may be to their
oFroW.