The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-23
To the legislature.

To the Legislature.
Editors of the Register: - .-Sl,2 - ,s,., y
| do not wish, unnecessarily, to trouble
YOU, or needlessly to embarrass the raising
Of money by county taxation to pay soldiers
bornties. But we have no one to look to
for protection in such matters, but you. I
respectfully, therefore. request your atten-
tion to the inquiries here made.
1t is affirmed by many citizens and per
ons familiar with the subject, that county
taxation, as practical question, stands on
the same basis particularly in Ohio county,
and in other counties which have SPECIAL
laws in regard to the subjects Of County
burdens, or laws) that it stood before the
creation Of tie NeW State. How is this? p
Few Of us have yet access to your laws,
owing to the difficulty the Public Printer
has experienced in procuring wcrkmen to
promptly publish in bound volumes or pam
phlet form, the Laws. But gentlemen Of
intelligence and fairness do say, that as the
law now is, the Supervisors have no larger,
or materially larger field of taxation for
County purposes than tbs County Courts
previously possessed-especially in Ohio
County and in counties possessing like local
legislation; and that heretofore our County
Courts, if they were desirous to raise q
given sum of money for some purpose res
cognized by law, could not tax Tavern or
Saloon or Drinking House Licenses or the
capital engaged in the business, or Mer-
chants and Merchants Licenses or capital
engaged in merchs ndising, or capital en-
gagged in buying and selling produce, or in
the Commission business, however large it
might be, or Stocks, such as Bank Stocks,
Insurance Company Stocks, Savings Insti-
tutions and Banks or Gas Company
Stocks or other Stock or Capital in other
moneyed Stock Companies. !
Now it is certain that all this kind of pro.
perty ought to pay its share of all public
burdens, whether county or State, and the
more certainly when these burdens come in
the shape of bounties to the men who vol
unteer or enlist as soldiers, or for the sup
port of their families.
And let it be remembered, that the Con
stitution of our new State declares, that
Taxation shall be equal, and all property,
both real and personal, shall be taxed in
proportion to its value "
am aware, gentlemen, that your labors
are complex and perplexing, and often dith-
cult and distractlng, tut our country Is In
trouble and it is the duty Of US all to do our
part according to our places and Offices in
this new State, and the fact that it is new
only laws upon US all the heavier obhga
tions to see that our new Constitution is,
in its very commencement, fairly, justly,
and according to it's requirements, executed,
and that in matters of public burdens on
the people that equal justice is done to all,
and that, according to the very words and
spirit of our organic bond-tbe Constitu
tion.
Let US not, on our part, int1ict that da
Justice we complained Old Virginia inflicted
upon us.
Would it not be well to pass general
law to the following effect? towit:
That the Supervisors of the respective
counties SHALL whenever they make levy
for their several counties and townships,
ly the same equally, on all subjects or
things which are taxed by the State, wheth
er such be persons, licenses, stocks, debts,
credits, or any kind of property or right,
or other matter or thing whatever; and that
by an equal per cent. or proportion on the
amount of the State tax than last laid or
enacted, always excepting taxes on legal
process and national protests and seals, and
other seals, and public shows and exhibi-
tions
respectfully suggest that such general
to make it plain to the people and Super
visors what are the subjects which are liza
ble to county and township taxation.
A CITIZEN.