The Torch Light And Public Advertiser from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 1

Ihe Torch Light Public Advertiser. VOL. IX. TVK8DAV, FKBHVJRr 18, 1823. PRINTED ANO PUBLISHED WvVlVam D.

door to Ifattfc, fend nearly opposite the (ilvbe Tarerit, IIAGEKS-TOWN, MARYLAND. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. The "TORCH LIGHT" will be piibliilnJ ertry TUBS- PAY, uf 'I'wo Dtllart nml TmntyjAe Centt per minimi, if pn'ul witlun tin; year; if not. Italia-1 will be Mwirinify No will bf rrci ivt'd for niijiiilic. (MijH'r (lisruntiiiucd until ill arrearages ixi kl url A0VEU riSEMKNTS Noi rxcfnlinj; OIM squire, intertill thrw wevki fur One Dollar longtT oms in (M siine proportion--uiid twenty-five ccntt fur wiry iiiwr'ioiii Prices Current.

WKBKLY. Flour, Wheat, Bye, Corn, Potatoes, Apples, Beef, Pork, Veal, Butter, bbl. bus. Ib. 6 25 22 60 60 37 62 4 5 20 62 65 40 00 75 6 6 6 25 Sheriff's Sales.

WILL be sold, for cash, on tbe premises, on WEDNESDAY the 5th of March, all the right, interest and estate of Frederick Worster, in to, a Part of a Tract of Laud, called The Rcsurvey Hager's Fancy," nearllagers-town, containing 3 and of an acre taken to satisfy an execution at the suit of Peter Ulr-ch. ALSO-Will be sold, for cash, at tbe Big Spring, on THURSDAY the 6th of jMurcIi, all the right, interest and estate of J'ord-, in and to, a Part of a Tract of Land, called "Horse Shoe jVeek', "containing 2 0 0 A lying in Washington county by virtue of sundry writs of Venditioni Ex- ponas, issued out of Washington county Court. ALSO-Will be sold, for cash, at the same time place, all the undivided right, interest and estate of Klie Pralhcr, in and to, A Piece of Land, lying on the Potomac River, adjoining the lands of Ford and Simpson containing about A S. Also, all his undivided interest and estate, in and to, A Piece of Land, lying on the Potomac River, adjoining the lands of Geo. Lowe Ford's heirs, containing Also, all the undivided interest estate of James and to, the same "Parcels by virtue of sundry Avrits of Yendi- tioni Kxponas Fieri Facias, issued out of Washington county Court.

ALSO-Will be sold, for cash, at the same time oc place, all the right, interest estate of William Simpson, in to, A PARCEL OF LAND, lying in Washington county, on which he lives adjoining the land of Jos. Ford, containing bout 150 AcTes by virtue of a writ of Venditioni Ex- ponas, issued out of Washington county Court. ALSO-Will be sold, for cash, on THURSDAY the 6th of March, at the house of Jeremiah Mason, all the right, interest and estate of George Bra-go- nicr, in and to, a Part of the Tract of Land, called "Lane's Fields," adjoining Jacob Dick, containing Also, a part of the same tract, adjoining Jeremiah Mason, containing About AcTes taken to satisfy an execution at the suit of -Gco. Gehr Daniel Miller. ALSO-W ill be sold, for cash, in Hancock, on FRIDAY ihc 7th of March, all the right, interest ft estate of Christian Hartman, in to, the TRACT OF IM'J), on which now lives, containing ABOUT 62 A by virtue of sundry writs of Vendi- tioni Exponas, issued out of Washington county Court.

--ALSO-Will be sold, for cash, on SATURDAY the Rth of March, on the all the right, interest and estate of Henry Lewis, in and to, A o1! Ground in Hagers-town, distinguished on the general plan of said town, by the No. y8 taken by virtue of a writ of Fieri the suit of Henry Kealhofer, assignee of Dan'l Ac Jacob Bovey. --ALSO-Will be sold, for cash, at my office in Hagers-town, on SATURDAY the 8th day of March next, all the right, interest estate of Elizabeth Whetstone, in and to Acres iqv. SO OF Lying in Washington county, near Philip Binkley's--being a part of a tract of land called Gleanings, and a part of a tract called Bald Barrens: taken by virtue of an Execution, at the suit of Jacob Kessiuger, use oi Fiuley Co. --ALSO-Will be sold, for cash, at the Bell Tavern, in Williams-Port, on SATURDAY the 8th of March, all the right, interest and estate of (Seorgc Cost, in and to, Part of the tract of called "Lot No.

6," whereon he now lives by virtue of a writ of Vendi- tioni Exponas, at the suit of Caspai Moudv. --ALSO-Will be sold, for cash, by virtue of sundry writs of Venditioni Exponas, at the house of William O.prigg, on MONDAY the 10th day of March next, a number of HOGS, SHEEP, CATTLE, HORSES, NEGROES of different ages and sexes, a Wagon, Carriage and Horses, some Farming Utensils. Sales to commence at 11 o'clock. J. V.

SWEARIXGEN, Sh'ff. Sheriff's Office, 1 Feb. 10, 1823. 15--3v. DEliATE In the House of Delegates, on the TAX BILL.

From the Maryland if February The bill to increase the tax laid upon the different counties of this slate, by the loan of the last session, came before the house of delegates, on Wednesday, Feb. 5. This bill proposed to increase the tax, thirty thousand dollars, to be levied on the several counties in the same proportions as was specified by the act of the last session. Mr. Kennedy of Baltimore, was opposed to the passage of the bill in its present shape, and contended that the amount laid upon Baltimore city and county, was more than (heir fair proportion, and said that among others, Washington county, where there was so much valuable land, was rated too low, and suggested that it would be belter to recommit the bill so that it might be brought before a committee of the whole house, that each county might be fairly rated, in support of which he spoke, and then moved to strike out the proportion of tax to be paid by Baltimore county, for the purpose of inserting sixteen thousand.

Mr. Kennedy, of Washington, opposed this motion, and warned the house not to depart from the principles of the bill in any instance--that if they did, they would find themselves at sea without any land mark whatsoever that the assessment made in the several counties could not be relied on as a guide--that some valuations had taken place in 1813, some in 1820; and that the assessment made by the United States, during the war was what guided the legislature at the last session, and would now be found the best; that as to Washington county, it was true that there was some of the best land in the state, in that valley but there was also with that a large quantity of poor mountain land that it was a ell known fact, lands had a few years past been much higher in Washington than in Baltimore, and that lands for which one hundred and twenty dollars per acre, 'iad been refused, could now be got! Cor fifty dollars, that during the Wellington county paid more than her fair proportion and paid it 1 out a murmur, and by the present bill she will pay her full share that the present tax Mas but trilling, it was absolutely necessary, in order to meet the current cxpence of government that the last legislature had been found fault with, both in out of this house, for not ordering this very sum to be raised last year; that during the war, the state paid in one year, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, direct tax to the United States, and in ano- i ther year three hundred three thousand--that, the state last year only asked one hundred dollars, where one thousand had formerly been laid, as ould appear by a statement which he read. Mr. Purcj'ance, of Baltimore opposed the bill, contending that it was unequal in its operations towards Balmore, and asked if it was right or proper that Baltimore should pay ten times as much as Charles county. Mi-, Edclen.

of Charles county, advocated the bill and said that if three thousand dollars was taken from the proportion of the tax to be paid by i Baltimore, it must be laid on the other counties, and asked what counties were to pay it, and if property had depreciated in Baltimore, so it had in every county in the state and that the plan proposed by the bill was the only fair and equitable plan that could at present, be resorted to. Mr. 8emme.fi, of Prince George's, spoke in favor of the bill, and said that after the able support given to it by his friends from Washington Charles, he would not detain the house but a very short time, he hoped the motion of the genmrnin frorfr'Baltimore would not prevail, thai we should meet the question boldly and fearlessly; the situation of the state demanded it--as for himself he had determined conscientiously (o discharge his duty and trust to the good sens.c and intelligence constituents Baltimore shouW be the last to complain, the 7-alio of taxation adopted by the bill was peculiarly favorable to her 5 by the great, increase of buildings and improvements in that city, together with the influx of persons moving and settling there, her population resources had been constantly increasing whilst many of the counties, particularly the lower counties in consequence of the continued emigration to the south and west-were decreased both in wealth and population; the session was now drawing to a close, and the ways means for the support of government must he provided if we abandon the plan now proposed we shall do nothing as the one proposed hy the gentleman from Baltimore is wholly impracticable. Mr. Semmes regretted that the gentleman from Baltimore (Mr.

J. P. Kennedy,) had not acted on the leave he obtained early in the session for a general assessment law, because Baltimore would then have had to pay her full proportion of the tax which was not the ease at present; but inasmuch as he had not done so, we must adopt the plan proposed by the bill on the table, for now there is no other alternative. The motion to strike from the proportion to be paid by Baltimore was negatived by a large inajo- Gen. Stansbury then moved that the further consideration of the bill be referred to the next general assembly.

Mr. Hughes remarked that he was surprised at the opposition to the bill, but much the more surprised at the unexpected quarter from whence it came. It was well known to the gentlemen both from the city and county of Baltimore, that, the house had last year encountered the very same difficulty, that no better plan could then be devised by the legislature, to equalize the tax, than that of adopting the valuation made by the United States; it was the last general assessment we had had, that was not subject, to the difficulties which gentlemen themselves had stated to the our county assessments, different rates of valuation as well as different periods of assessment prevailed. The house were entirely aware that the present might not be precisely an equal manner of laying he tax but unlit a new general assessment, we could not get a better means of distributing it. The gentleman who first moved to make an inovation in tuc system, was himself Che lirst to ask leave this session, to report such a bill; he had been called upon repeatedly by gentlemen from different counties, from our county particularly, for the bill, but it had not yet been reported, and it is now evident it cannot if reported, be acted upon in time for the exigencies of the states for the ensuing year we are left therefore precisely us we were last year, and our wisest policy will be to steer the same course we then took; he called upon gentlemen, who had heretofore gone so spiritedly with the state, in providing ways and means not now to desert her substitute will gentlemen offer us, refer this bill and by what means will yon meet the ex- pences of government by loans by resorting again to the capital of the state, which the same gentlemen but a few days ago so eloquently plead for us to provide ways and means for replenishing This motion was also determined in the negative, 54 against it, 14 for it.

Mr. J. P. Kennedy then moved to strike out the words on Somerset county the sum of two thousand, and sixteen dollars," which was also determined in the negative. Mr.

Cosde-n, of to strike out, the words "on Cecil county the sum of two thousand three hundred dollars." Determined in the negative. Mr. JWrm, of Harford, moved to strike out the wojL'ds Mtwo thousand" relative toIlarfoVd county and insert "one thousand." Determined in the negative. On motion by Mr.Gerry of word "three" Mas stricken ont and "one" inserted which limits the bill to one year, from and -after the h'rst day of April next. Mr.

Teackle, of Somerset, moved a verbal amendment, which was adopted- moved that the further of the bill be postponed. Determined in the negative. The question was put, Shall the bill pass Determined in the affirmative. Ayes M---Noes 26. REMARKS.

Of Mr. Conflict, in the House of Representatives of the U. States, on a proposition to increase the duly on imported liquors, and to impose, a duty or excise on dementic Monday, February 3-After stating briefly the leading objects in the Mi-inorial-- Mr. CONOICT proceeded to remark, that it was similar to some others for- un'My presented by him, and which, on his iiioiioit, had been referred to a Committee of the whole House on the state (if the Union. Upon further consideration, said Mr.

C. I am induced to ask (he House, give another direc'ion to a particular paragraph of tlif Memorial, wliicli suggests an increased on imported spirituous liquors, and an internal duty, or excise, upon domestic spirit. I have lung entertained ihc opinion, said Mr. C. that it would comport with sound policy, the best interests our country, levy and collect a much Imger portion of its liquors consumed home.

And 'thing prevented from calling ttic a'teiiMon of to ihh imuor- Unf suhject during the. session, but the extreme ir.lfictauce wiiicli 1 fi-lt, and which many of my friends here haveexpressi-d, to appointment so many as woulti be required to carry a system of ex- eisii into ftft'cr. In the Committee of Manufactures, which 1 am a member, sonn- conversation was had on this iuhject but, considering it to be a question of revenue principally, it thought uy us to belong to another Committee, and is not embraced in the bill, which now under examination before this bi-cly. But, inasmuch an (ho subject is distinctly presented to us in ihia memorial, by a class of men, VfuomJ to none for i re.spectabiiily in society, their intelligence, (heir morals and drvotimi to their country, I deem it to be rnj duty, to solicit the serious attention of the House, and to give to the subject that deliberate examination, which it It is important in a financial, but much more so in a view. I hare not bTore me, nt this moinp.tt,' any documents, shewing the a i consumed annually, nor is it of any im- nwHanci 1 for the purpose of niy argument to ascertain, precisely, the ber of gallons.

A duty of 25 cents per gallon, on the ftpit itunus liquor's consumed in the U. States, would yield tu the Treasury an annuah'tve- nue, say, of 6 or 8 millions of dollars. A sum which, if faithfully applied, wuuhi rapidly extinguish the national debt or which would IK sufficient, in a few years if economically applied Internal Improvement, to connect, the various sections of tbif extensive empire, by navigable canals, and good roads. And upon whom would this tax fall) Invariably upon tbe contumer of the liquor. He could never carry the bowl to his mouth, without first "casting his mite into the Treasury." Should it be objected, that the imposition uf sued A duty would lessen the consumption of the article, and that the Treasury would derive but a limited sum from this source--I reply, God grant it may be the case, and I would then double tbe duty.

What is I be crying sin, the besetting and the besotting sin of our which sinks us in our own estimation, and the estimation of the civilized world What is it that degrades oc debases man, below tbe level of brute--that unfits him for the duties of social and domestic life ia it that carries strife and contention into every neighborhood What invades the domestic circle, banishing conjugal affection, sundering every lie of endearment? What entails poverty and wretchedness, and infamy, upon the innocent, literally "visiting the iniquities of ihc fathers upon the children) unto the third and fourth generation What is it that wrings The tear from the eye uf disconsolate beauty, and reddens its cheeks with blushes? What is that which draws forth the midnight sigh, from the lonely and broken-hearted mother, as she) strives to cover her shivering infant, with her scanty rags, or stifle the criea of hunger, by the charities of her neighbor? What inflicts disease, in its most painful and loathsome shape? What bloats and deforms the human countenance, and effaces the imago uf the, Creator from his creature is it that sweeps, "as with the) bosom of destruction," more human victims to an untimely grave, than and pestilence combined a fills your poor-house with paupers, and your hospital i What crowds your jails with criminals, and gives employment to the hangman It is Intemperance in the use uf spirituous liquors. And, if it be in the of government to restrain this deluge of moral evil, and diminish the sum of a misery if, by lev ing a lax, you snatch one victim fin in ruin, and rescue his helpless family from the depths of degradation, will you not exer the power And, Mr. C. asked, what measure could so effectually aid (he productive) industry, and ptoiuoie the real prosperity of Ihe country, as rhat whicli shall lessen tie consumption of ardent spirit And who are the consumers? They are either Ihe wine-bibbers, the men of wealth, who indulge in riot mid luxury, and who cao afford to pay, or, they are those miserable wretches, whom nakedness cannot shame whose filth renders the kennel in whicli ihey wallow more filthy, the voluntary outcasts from society, has a right to extort this pittance, as Ihe only punishment which can reach them for Uie outrages they have committed. There is no country where the means of intoxication are so abundant and so cheap as in our own, and Ihe consequences are daily mure apparent and more and alarming.

Tiie rich bounties of Heaven, our precious bread stuffs and our delicious are converted into this fatal poison, disguised in a thousand forms to allure us to destruction. It enters into every door, and the cuj) is presented to every lip. Whilst you a the tea, the coffee, molasses, the sugar, and ttw suit, used by every member of every poor family. usifflfrrtiiewMsfay, iIK: and the brandy of country, in her desolating progress, to blight its fairest prospects, "as with, blasting and mildew." In every view whicli he could tak6 of this question, Mr. C.

said, he was led to this conclusion that there is no fairer, or more legitimate object of taxation, than spirituous liquors rtiitt sound policy, good morals, and the public happiness, require (lut tho arm of (lie government should be in a tax upon consumption of this article. And fur the purpose of asking serious attention of tbe Houso to so important a topic, he submitted this motion, viz 11 That much of tho New Jersey Memorials, as relates to an additional du(y upon imported liquors, and an excise upon domes'ic spirit, referred to the C-'inmittee of Ways and Moans, i i instructions to irquirt and report on the of measure.".