Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-10-09
EXTRACT
FROM A SPEECH MR.. MEDILL.
OF OHIO, ON THE TAX BILL.

upon lea and coffee, the solaCe OF the poor
upon coarse wool and linens, hitherto free
and upon blankets under the val ue of II
cents al the place whence exported arti,
Giles which supply warmth and clothing rt
the laborlng man and his family while
amber, annlseed, and tamariuds, turs of al
kinds undrcssed, epauIets and wings Of
gold or silver, iustic, and India rubber are
admitted free! Ii continues 10 impose a
duty OF two and half cents pa. pound on
brown Sugar, ten cents per bushel upon
salt, and five cents per gallon upon mo-
asses, while pearls OF all kinds not set
gems and precious stones, burr.stones un.
wrought, busls of marble, bronze, alabas,
ter, and plaster of Paris, dyewood, speci,
mems Of natural history, plants, trees, and
strings for musical instruments, are re.
qnired to pay nothing at the custom house,
Knitting needles are made TO pay a duty
Of twenty-five per cent, at the same time
that ivory, haif pencils, and tortoise shells
are admitted without charge. The black,
smith is required to pay two and a half
cents a pound upon his hammers and
sIedges the farmer 80 per cent, Gd ralo.
rem upon his scythes, cutting knives, rea-
ping hooks, spades, and sickes while
gold and silver and other watches and
parts of watches, gold and silver lace,
embroidery, jewelry, and all articles com.
posed wholly or chiefly Of gold or silver,
are continued at the moderate rate of
twelve and half per cent. Thus, while
such articles, some Of which can scarcely
be called luxures even, but objects of
pride and vanity, and which are almost
exclusively employed by the rich and
fashionable, are left at low rate OF en-
tlrely free of duty-the necessary com.
forts Of life, which are consumed by the
people at large, and are essential, at least,
to their comfort and well being, are taxed
at the eXorbiiant rate Of one fifth to one
half their cost. Is this your much vaun.
ted reform? Is this the relief that was
promised the people' Is this the 'enter.
talnment to which we were inyitedr Sir
my CONSTITUENTS, viii wnu REJECT such en-
ertai6tIdIHn. rhh~inls be not 'rasplng the
marrowless bones OF famine for tribute II
is at least grinding the faces of the poor,
and taking from the mouth OF labor, the
bread which it has earned
But let us scrutin!Ze some of these
items more cosey-how the qualification
Of the rich has been studied al the expense
Of the comforts Of the poor. The rich
man decks his halls with busts of marble,
home or alabasler; these are free. Their
grounds are ornamented with exotic trees
ana shrubs these too are free. While
the poor man pays tax OF one-hIth upon
coffee, tea, linens, coarse wool and blank
cts consumed by himself, his wife and bis
children. The miller obtains the materl'
al for his burr-stones free, while the black
smith pays two and half cents pound
upon his sledgean hammer. Is there no
injustice 10 exemplng India rubber which
is worn by the few as a covering ano
shield against the rain; while blankets
coarse wool and linen are so heavily
Itaxed9 Some of these determinations
would be amusing, if they would not be
harsh aud odous. Strings for musical
instruments are free by this bill. To what
do they owe this exemption? Isitin hon
or Of the Tlppecanoe songs and hard cider
melodies, to the effect Of which they con-
tributed during the late musical canvass
Why should preference be given to tid-
dlestrings, over tea and coffee, linens
coarse wool and blankets? Is fiddler
more worthy Of government bounty thar
a farmer or laborer?
You will pardon we, hope, Mr.
Chairman, for harping a moment upor
these iddIestriDgs; but it does seem SC
inefIabIy absurd, as well as unjust to ex'
empt such accessories olllfe from taxation
while those Injuries, tea, coffee, linens
coarse wool aud blankets, are to be clipped
and taxed to a fifth of their value, that
cannot repress mingled feeling OF rid
cule and indignation.
Let me illustrate the operation OF this
bill by familiar example. A fine lady
rides out in her splendid coach, pIaltec
with gold and silver, (Which latter mate
rails were imported free OF duty adorllet
with gems of various kinds, enjoying
similar exemption, and enveloped in costly
lurs-worn for show, not warmth--whicf
r have also paid nothing at the custom house
f she condescends, in curiosity or kin !
: ness, TO visit the cabin OF the laborin(
! man, where she sees his wife preparing
: the simple clothing of her family from
5 materials which have been taxed twenty
! per cent; while sick child, perhaps, re-
poses upon blanket which has beer
/ taxed to the same amount; and the goo'
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