Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-05
THE DELINQUENT-TAx LAW.
Discussed ut Length from a Constr
tutiOnaI Standpoint.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
II it were asked, "What single act mot
Lawn has brought most anxiety and
misery to the poor people Of Eastern
virginia since the days Of the ReVolu'
tion?" II would be at once answered
.9rhe land-grabbers' act''-an act leYelled
no the classes against the masses an
40, NOT justified by the laws Il God, and
6nding no justification or SANCTION IN the
ta,o ereat fundamental charters known
az the "Bulwarks OF American LiDerlcs'
which govern the United States ana the
state of Virginia, for the graobers' act
A. clearly without sanction OF law
To show that this is SO. let US urn 20
,bat Great article Of civil liberty, the
S,onatiintion OF the United States. we
read first. Article l., section 10 % Inat
M ex most factO law shall be passed, ana
who can doubt that the IL. u. act 10
ex most facto, as it seeks 10 puhlsh 'he
delinauent owner for the offence OF ue-
linauency long years after the 0ehn-
ouency has occurred, ana consequently -
NV Jaw imperative and VOID. -,
Article ", section 2 CD says the Gnu
,ons ~ each state shall be entitled 20 all
nrt,,iIeges and immunities OF citizens oil
The several States" Now, as there are
no states i'm the Union which have avs
allowing the rich man to take the poor
nnan's home unless the latter pays MS
rcb oppressor s. for refrainlng from rod
hing him. the poor man mas Hshl u
Immunity In Virginia. l use the leinS
"rich man" and poor man Tor the ied'
sop that the taxes are owing aihios.
wholly by poor men and WIDOWS anu
orphans. and 1t Is the moneyed po"eis
u,ho have been authorized 10 opp' %
them. Poor men can't nave any ~.
mart I'm it-they have no MONEY VIZ
which TO avail themselves OF the fusa"
taee. travel in NUMBER OF o1"..
Ststes and know Of none that seeks 10
oonascate the land OF its, poor cluISHs
Co.. ono. 2,0th part OF it's value tas dscei-
.atred NV its own officers) for one year
taxes or compel him 10 pay ms rlcn ep-
,ressor s. to let up on MN. Dee, '.'so'
Article VI. section 2: "Ihe provisions
- the Constitution are law IN every
State the law Of any State 10 the con-
trary Notwithstanding ,s s...os
Tba amendment 70 the Unlteu states
,,1,s,,,nfIon mage n OF Code OF virginia.
.IaS~ ~ alludes 10 THE right OF the
me 90 be secure In their houses
pofnst unreasonable seizures. NOW
III, anv one say that the seizure Oh
noor mans house Tor the -yV." PN.t "a 80
49,, 49, IL not an unreasonable seizure or
'e 49, and could poor men be secure 10
,ss,r homes il they were not made so by
law? . .,,ardrnepts 10 the
,,nt,ed Sizes Constitution says; mo
narson shall be deprived OF property
lv,,cout due process OF law; nor SHAH
"dSs,e property be taken for public
w without Just compensation" (see
- ceustltution OF Virginia, section ~
=, caonot be denied that taxes are levied
"a collected for public uses. There are
locally but two uses public and pri-
ss,s-and no one viii assert that they
,,,.leeted for private use in the face
:, The fact that several years ago one
- ,hA state officers appropriated about
nss 600 OF the tax funds 10 his private
80 ana hs MAS convicted and sentenced
M the penitentiary. lie got on very
,eht' n IL true. but then he was a eiti-
zen Of Richmond and "a mighty good
slIer" Ii Is clear tina, the tax Is levied
,r hubble uses and therefore, II Is equal
| lv true that land cannot be taken 10 pay
I without just compensation being al
| lowed. and will any one say that Que xotf