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Foreign News
August 9, 1823
Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia issued a decree on May 30, 1823, in Bogota, imposing a one-time subsidy on property and incomes to raise immediate funds for the treasury, enabling payments to foreign creditors and covering expenses, while suspending regular direct contributions for six months.
Merged-components note: The table lists the tax rates as part of the Colombian Congress decree described in the foreign_news component; merging due to sequential reading order and contextual integration.
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Full Text
COLOMBIA.
We are indebted to the editors of the American for the Caracas Colombian of the 16th July, from which we extract the following act of Congress. It is important, particularly to several merchants in the United States, who have claims on the Colombian government, for three reasons:—It will have the immediate effect of filling the national treasury with hard cash—it will enable the government to pay off a portion of the demands which foreigners have upon it—whilst it also meets the current expenses of the public service, leaving the regular taxation of the following year unincumbered, to cover the ordinary expenditure of the state, and to pay the interest of the large loan now in progress of negotiation, and with which we understand it is intended to pay off all the existing creditors of the Republic—the surplus to be appropriated to internal improvement, and to measures best calculated to give strength to the country and stability to her free institutions,—
REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA.
DECREE OF CONGRESS.
The Congress has issued the following decree:
The Senate and Chamber of Representatives of the Republic of Colombia united in Congress, having taken into consideration;
I—That the exigencies of the state require immediate resources.
2—That these will be inconveniently delayed, if rendered dependent on the regulations for the conduct of the exchequer, about to be made by the present legislature.
3—That in the mean time it becomes necessary to provide some subsidies for the use of the Executive.
DO DECREE.
Art. 1—The collection of the direct contribution for the following six months, from June next, shall be suspended. There shall be collected throughout the Republic, on this one occasion, (in the mode hereafter to be specified) with the proviso, that such as have paid the direct contribution, shall be credited the amount thereof in the collection about to be made.
All persons, who, on a fair calculation, are found to possess in landed property, furniture, money, or other capital, the sum of
On all capital above the sum of 50,000 shall be paid indiscriminately, the sum of 180 dollars.
3—All persons who are liable for "censos," or incumbrances on their properties on which they pay interest, shall likewise subscribe to the subsidy on the terms laid down in the foregoing article; but the portion of the subsidy contributed by them, in virtue of such "censos," must be credited them again by the Lords of the Censos, out of the rents accruing therefrom to the latter. Those must likewise pay at the rate expressed in the foregoing article, who hold in rent or possess in any shape, houses, mines, or other property, as specified in the said article, and the amount thus paid must be carried to their credit by the proprietors of the property.
4—Indians who possess properties, and administer them, are liable to pay on the principle laid down in article 2.
5—Those employed in the civil and military departments, whose pay does not amount to 150 dollars per annum, shall be exempt from payment. On pay exceeding this sum, and within 1000 dollars, they shall pay two per cent.; for 1000 to 2000, three per cent.; and from 3000 and upwards, five per cent. The per centage on such part of the above salaries as they actually receive, must be paid in cash, and a proportionate charge will be made by government on such part as is withheld. All military men in the field are exempt from this tax.
6—The most Rev. Archbishops and Bishops will contribute agreeably to the dictates of their patriotism; and they, in conjunction with the Vicar Generals, shall arrange the distribution and collection of such sums as are to be paid by prebendaries, parish priests, and the clergy in general, on the principle laid down in the former article.
7—The heads of all religious establishments are comprehended in the scale laid down in article.
8—Barristers and physicians who are in practice, shall pay eight dollars.
9—Surgeons and Chemists shall pay eight dollars.
10—Lawyers shall pay eight dollars.
11—All Proctors shall pay four dollars.
12—Those persons who are comprehended in articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, shall, moreover, contribute their proportions on the principles laid down in articles 2 and 3, on all properties which they may possess as enumerated in these last articles.
13—The collectors of this subsidy are not to exact from the parties a sworn declaration of their properties, but will proceed on a prudent and accurate calculation. But they may avail themselves of the estimates that have already been made for the collection of the direct contribution; and, for this purpose, may seek an inspection of them from the political judges.
14—The subsidy shall be collected within thirty days from the publication of this decree.
15—The Executive will adopt the necessary measures to carry this decree into exact effect.
Bogota, May 30, 1823.
President of the Senate, Geronimo Torres; Vice President of the Chamber, Juan Josef Osio: Secretary of the Senate, Antonio Jose Caro; Deputy Secretary, Pedro de Herrera.
We are indebted to the editors of the American for the Caracas Colombian of the 16th July, from which we extract the following act of Congress. It is important, particularly to several merchants in the United States, who have claims on the Colombian government, for three reasons:—It will have the immediate effect of filling the national treasury with hard cash—it will enable the government to pay off a portion of the demands which foreigners have upon it—whilst it also meets the current expenses of the public service, leaving the regular taxation of the following year unincumbered, to cover the ordinary expenditure of the state, and to pay the interest of the large loan now in progress of negotiation, and with which we understand it is intended to pay off all the existing creditors of the Republic—the surplus to be appropriated to internal improvement, and to measures best calculated to give strength to the country and stability to her free institutions,—
REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA.
DECREE OF CONGRESS.
The Congress has issued the following decree:
The Senate and Chamber of Representatives of the Republic of Colombia united in Congress, having taken into consideration;
I—That the exigencies of the state require immediate resources.
2—That these will be inconveniently delayed, if rendered dependent on the regulations for the conduct of the exchequer, about to be made by the present legislature.
3—That in the mean time it becomes necessary to provide some subsidies for the use of the Executive.
DO DECREE.
Art. 1—The collection of the direct contribution for the following six months, from June next, shall be suspended. There shall be collected throughout the Republic, on this one occasion, (in the mode hereafter to be specified) with the proviso, that such as have paid the direct contribution, shall be credited the amount thereof in the collection about to be made.
All persons, who, on a fair calculation, are found to possess in landed property, furniture, money, or other capital, the sum of
On all capital above the sum of 50,000 shall be paid indiscriminately, the sum of 180 dollars.
3—All persons who are liable for "censos," or incumbrances on their properties on which they pay interest, shall likewise subscribe to the subsidy on the terms laid down in the foregoing article; but the portion of the subsidy contributed by them, in virtue of such "censos," must be credited them again by the Lords of the Censos, out of the rents accruing therefrom to the latter. Those must likewise pay at the rate expressed in the foregoing article, who hold in rent or possess in any shape, houses, mines, or other property, as specified in the said article, and the amount thus paid must be carried to their credit by the proprietors of the property.
4—Indians who possess properties, and administer them, are liable to pay on the principle laid down in article 2.
5—Those employed in the civil and military departments, whose pay does not amount to 150 dollars per annum, shall be exempt from payment. On pay exceeding this sum, and within 1000 dollars, they shall pay two per cent.; for 1000 to 2000, three per cent.; and from 3000 and upwards, five per cent. The per centage on such part of the above salaries as they actually receive, must be paid in cash, and a proportionate charge will be made by government on such part as is withheld. All military men in the field are exempt from this tax.
6—The most Rev. Archbishops and Bishops will contribute agreeably to the dictates of their patriotism; and they, in conjunction with the Vicar Generals, shall arrange the distribution and collection of such sums as are to be paid by prebendaries, parish priests, and the clergy in general, on the principle laid down in the former article.
7—The heads of all religious establishments are comprehended in the scale laid down in article.
8—Barristers and physicians who are in practice, shall pay eight dollars.
9—Surgeons and Chemists shall pay eight dollars.
10—Lawyers shall pay eight dollars.
11—All Proctors shall pay four dollars.
12—Those persons who are comprehended in articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, shall, moreover, contribute their proportions on the principles laid down in articles 2 and 3, on all properties which they may possess as enumerated in these last articles.
13—The collectors of this subsidy are not to exact from the parties a sworn declaration of their properties, but will proceed on a prudent and accurate calculation. But they may avail themselves of the estimates that have already been made for the collection of the direct contribution; and, for this purpose, may seek an inspection of them from the political judges.
14—The subsidy shall be collected within thirty days from the publication of this decree.
15—The Executive will adopt the necessary measures to carry this decree into exact effect.
Bogota, May 30, 1823.
President of the Senate, Geronimo Torres; Vice President of the Chamber, Juan Josef Osio: Secretary of the Senate, Antonio Jose Caro; Deputy Secretary, Pedro de Herrera.
| D | 100 | shall | pay | D.1 |
| 200 | to | 500 | do | 2 |
| 500 | to | 1000 | do | 5 |
| 1000 | to | 3000 | do | 10 |
| 3000 | to | 6000 | do | 20 |
| 6000 | to | 12000 | do | 40 |
| 12000 | to | 25000 | do | 80 |
| 25000 | to | 50000 | do | 150 |
What sub-type of article is it?
Political
Economic
What keywords are associated?
Colombia Congress Decree
Tax Subsidy
Bogota 1823
National Treasury
Foreign Creditors
Property Tax
What entities or persons were involved?
Geronimo Torres
Juan Josef Osio
Antonio Jose Caro
Pedro De Herrera
Where did it happen?
Bogota, Colombia
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Bogota, Colombia
Event Date
May 30, 1823
Key Persons
Geronimo Torres
Juan Josef Osio
Antonio Jose Caro
Pedro De Herrera
Outcome
the decree suspends direct contributions for six months and imposes a one-time subsidy on properties, incomes, and professions to fill the national treasury, pay foreign creditors, cover public expenses, and support a loan negotiation for remaining debts and internal improvements.
Event Details
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia decreed a special subsidy collection throughout the republic, based on capital thresholds (with a table specifying payments from 1 to 180 dollars), exemptions for low-paid civil/military personnel and field soldiers, contributions from clergy and professionals at fixed rates, and collection within 30 days without sworn declarations, using prior estimates.