The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-24
State Debt-Taxation.

State Debt-Taxation.
People do not like to be taxed. Iney re-
siss taxation In its highest forms. 10 osnef
DAYS an advance from six cents to Ten ceh's
upon the hundred dollars value Oh pro
perty created quite storm in the country
and when the rate was finally advanced TO
Charter of a dollar upon the one hundred
storm was raised which swept from the ie
c;slstive balls large portion of The Doos
tina. imposed the increased tax. INC lux.
test. indeed, exhibits the strength o, ,"'
bias OF opinion occasioned by persona IN
seres,. The best of causes arc a'"",s
donser when they depend on 'aNA''0' 70
Mems Patriotism ovzes away III 90,
,ax.bi,l and that courage "he" 'i'ee
~ ,hc battlefield" sinks into 'alIehe'' W.
>. 49,, nv the collector Of the means 70
$780, -, war. This is amusingiy lIiustfaIeo
=. ,ie Revolutionary anecdose OF the earnest
ia zca,ous dis,ller who was fred by the
motto Give me liberty, or give me oeatn'
-rd ,e. when it was proposed to tax Stills
declared that since it had come 10 that, he
,honrht !, would abe better to AK paroon
,,6 ,I,oo IT," And taxation has been ahrmed
70 be 90 certain that it is classed win oea'n
for its :neyi:ability.
The prcaeness TO resist taxation 'sas sie"'
row a. ever; and the question has come
upon &c people Of Virginia as to the COM
narrative strength Of their public DEVOTION
ard their hostility TO taxes.
The State must continue to fall oeh'ho'
hand. and ultimately to be inextricaby en-
bar.asscd With load of debt, or she must III
crease the volume cf her annua! revenue
from taxation. The question is, Shall the
S,ate be di,honored and her credit destroyed,
~ vii, her citizens make determined effort
"a maintain both? The motives when
,houl. govern them are very elevated and
!cyal: they arc also practical. ltisaserlous
reflection upon any community that they
fail 10 provide for the public obligations; 1t
is a serious injury to the physical welfare
and prosperity of any State that Its puble
obligations are not met. The people OF that
state suffer morally and physically. 1t is
stain upon their public character, draw
back TO their individualand collective wealth,
that the public honor and credit are not re-
s2ected. The people cannot separate them
selves frou. their State. They must share its
di,crcdi: and dishonor. They will suffer in
an tie economy of life, until, like the people
0! Illinois, they will be driven to cry alout
fortaxation to purge themselves from the In
t,crablc consequences of public di>honor.
Il tue the situation of Virginia is pc.
culiar. Recently out Of devastating Wsr
bv the termination Of which she lost at least
tnree-ftths of her property, all the circum'
stances surrounding her condition, together
with the disruption of her boundaries by
force Of the bay onet, were prolific Of reasons
for forbearance on the part of her creditors
These considerations still offer apology for
her delinquency; but they cannot ultimately
relieve her from the dreadful consequences
Of dishoEor.
Moreover, Virginia's own acts are bar to
her pleading those considerations against the
ultimate redemption of her obligations.
Among Der first acts after the war was the
sckroe 9, Judgement of those obligations in
full. 10 appeal for abatement or reduction
f,r reason was made to her creditors. The
bold ADD independent spirit she assumed at
the .;.s; meeting of her Legislature has been
!::aCe maintained, ard the pledge for the
iinal Fay ent of all her debts has been re-
affirmed steadily and repeatedly.
There seems now no recourse left but to
fulfil this pledge.
The Legislature now in session has given
the sui .iect earnest attention. Its tentacles
live been put forth in various directions in
search OF new subjects Of taxation, but wher-
,,i iiicy have touched they have met win
! .cs,.ii.y. The real-estatc owners are IN the
n j;ority. and they will not bear any increase
g: taxes. Indeed, their embarras.ments are
.,.st. and their burthens are heavy. Ii Is
,:.ia tia. the Increased revenue must come
!.o.n otto. sources. Turn, however, when
war the Legislature may, it meets WIN OBJ
,,OSltiOn ana VUuctuCbo iheA
And yet the revenue must be had or the
j;shono- and discredit- the stain Oil puonc
and private character and the injury TO the
,.na,4l interests of the State-of unre'
deemed public pledges must become the en-
during scandal of Virgins, once the peer OF
The nob.est and best of States.
The question is, How far will the people
70 In opposing IN increase Of revenue
Are they not willing to make some sacrifice
in ORDER to lift up the State OF Virginia &c
her former proud eninence of equality with
the most honorable of States? The test has
- be raade and to be met. We appeal to
the people to consider with true Virginia
public spirit hop the burthea is TO be met,
not ho,o 1t is to De resisted.
immigration.