But of the injustice of that partial legislation which would
discriminate against the property of one class of citizens, to destroy
its value, by proposing the confiscation of its increase, or excluding
it from the State,--this is oppression. It may be submitted to, but it
is unjust, partial legislation, and an arbitrary act of tyranny, and
if persisted in will, some day, lead to war. Besides, it does not
effect the purpose intended. It does not diminish slavery, but only
changes its locality. What would be said if it were attempted to
invalidate any other species of property, by the confiscation of its
increase, or an attempt to legislate it out of the State? To declare
by legislation a forfeiture of rents of houses or lands, after a
specified period, or the increase of any species of stocks, or other
property? What is this but agrarianism? what but the first blow of the
_levelers_? And if this is done with impunity, how long before some
other species of property, in the shape of fancied _superfluous_
individual wealth, will also be confiscated? There is no safety in
establishing such a precedent.