polite consideration and believe me to be with respect Dear Sir
Yr Ob Servt.
His Excellency William H. Harrison,
Vincennes
W W Clain [perhaps the carrier]
Petition for Power to Lay a Tax
To the Honorable The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress Assembled,
That your Memorialist, being authorized thereto by a Resolution of the Governor and Judges[1]of the Indiana Territory, in their legislative Capacity, a Copy of which is hereunto annexed, has the honor to represent to Congress;
That much Inconvenience has arisen, and does daily arise to the Citizens, from the Want of Money in the territorial Treasury to answer the Exigencies of the Government, which is unable to command a sufficient sum, even for the Apprehension and prosecution of the most notorious offenders against the laws.
Every object which would bear a Tax, and for [which] legal precedent could be found, has been sufficiently burthened to raise County Levies for the Erection of Jails, Court Houses &c. And after the most mature Consideration, it was evident to the Governor and Judges, that no Way of raising the sum, which the Circumstances of the Territory required, was so eligible as by imposing a small Tax upon the Indian Traders. No Tax could be collected with so much facility, or paid with so much Ease; and none can be more equitable, as all the other Traders in the Country contribute fifteen Dollars yearly towards the Support of County Establishments.
- ↑ This petition was read in the House of Representatives Jan. 2, 1804. referred
to a committee — John W. Eppes of Va., Henry W. Livingston of N. Y. and Ebenezer
Elmer of N. J. On the 10th of January this committee made an adverse Report.
Annals of Congress
