South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-04-18
Speech of Col. Monroe.

lature upon the assessment bill:
During the discussion of the Asscss-
ment B.ll. Mr. MJnroe moved IN s,r;Lo
out portion of section cxemp,in, Ger.
tain property. In support OF this he
made the following speech: When
made the motion to strike out. was
not aware mat was striking against a
I'VE hornets nes'. Tut, Eope. if can
/ get The attention of the House, to hive
some OF them; neither Iii | EXPECT for
moment TO lind opposition coming
/ from Tie farmers. | looked for il from
another quarter. Mr. Speaker, we are
now acting upol the most delicate AMI
/ sensitive subject that Legislature can
touch. subject that the people are
more lntereste in than any other upon
which we are called To act, one at which
they vince. and tremhlc as though on
were touching the apple OF their eve
4 All trNa,ion Is species Of tyranny, and
can only he tolerated or justified when
demanded by the absolute necessities or
The State and the good Of the people.
Hence every duty dcyolving upoE us
aimonlalies Us to lie careful, TO impose
the hurthen equally AMI fairly between
all classes OF our citizens
lhe provisions propose 10 strike out
/ are clearly IN violation Of the 10Th arti-
Gle OF the Constitution, which says that
! taxation shall he equal and uniform, that
al property shall he taxed. Every cit
zen OF the State shall bear his equal
! portion OF the hurtheus Of the State i'm
! proportion TO the property he has. If
this bill was constitutional would on
pose IL because its effects are unequal
aud unjust. Mr.. Speaker. do not pro.
pose To play the demagogue, but | will
say without the fear of successful con-
/ tradiction. that there is no class tina, is
taxed rs the farmers are they have To
hear the brunt Of all taxation. for the
land cannot dodge. AMI am sorry TO
say that While the farmers deserve all
the protection that can be afforded. IL
appears that every species Of leuisla.
I ton is resorted TO TO cypress him. Where
are the boosted c'ansmcn of the sons of
toll who profess TO stand here. like Pc.
olphidas and Epaminondas. with their
/ shields locked in d, Tense ofticirrirltso
Look at tho inequality, If YOU please.
! between the tci!iug farmer tile mon
ey loancr. The farmer, in many instan.
ces. is taxed for y hat he hasn't got. aud
twice for all nc has. The farmer may
owe for his land aud he paying intcrc-,
on his debts, still he is taxed for lie
i land and cannot escape it. while the
money lender h"s many chances TO
lo"gc, and Only required to pay tax ON
his surplus. above his liabilities
Nh, f,r,.,..r ,.,,.,t,.,,, IL. I.,l
r,r IN rn,,,,,, s,,..l, =. ''''''' ~
vc,r that Lc ..r,,,.s ana rodI' ~ t"
/ .,,i, ,,,,.s.,., =. ,,l,,,,'..i I
stock for cvcrv s,,n.,, ~ ,r,.s ,rJ 49,,
ry Grain Of corn tb., Inv. o..o,, nj,
hardy ,yo.Isu,,p ,,b, Ln,s lal a..,'
IlloJ for s3pa ZOO. ;ntn tL. $500. ,..,.i
wr.stI,.s Min tln ,;,nt oaJ., .i'.,'.. 8.
hi. I,.,I o,..,,, 49,, All
81 900 III. v,.y rnvt ,n,r IT,, i, %'1' - -.
taxed. at SD nm orr, tbrrc,,, t,v;,,', IL;
sweat anal isl. th,.,-,,.,, ,v. -, ,T.;i.
he fclls the trees is taxed, ave. and even
the rags chat covers his little ones and
the mortar in which he pound. his corn.
arc taxed. | know that this thing of
, taxation Is the most difficult problem
( that we can undertake; know that there
are inequalities aud hardships which We
cannot remedy, but for heavens sake
/ don't let Us impose additional ones let
,,i"4l appearances. tell yon, Mr..
aad "r I ;'' ',', ~ S'al'' lh' "t"nt'
ton adds to the tax Of IN. land ~
takes certain amount Of revenue ro de-.
fray the necessary expenses of the Gov
eminent ,,,., mo whenever one species Of
Jnfrit nm w. ,n,I. m o''' Ia ''A'5,Gn 'ae
some other Oar SAT- t,v :. on -. 80