Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-03-23


pii.slfp, they have nemblingly approached the
question. as one only less terrific than The viola.
llon qi The plighird faith of she commonveallh,
-the lmms1eni danger az hich has been alone
powerful enrugh 10 stimulate them 10 The dis
charge Of this painful SUI paramount duty Yet,
although The entire amount 0f he increased lax
proposed BY lhe bill how before lac Lrgislatute.
Is comparatively insieni6cant. appIehensions ate
expressed, and not without reason, that is up.
pEessise effects will excite HE muFmurs u an
Impoverished people. But lei US suppose, for a
moment, thatthe Federal Government, enamored
Of the theory Of frts trade should, III spirit Of
more than Christian meekness. meet he FessIic-
tive policy 81 foreign cd1nFies, BY general in
vilaiion 10 them 70 enter al our ports exempt
fromtnty alike upon ship and cargo. -anh, with
less shan Christian fidelity % the most imperative
OF il$ obligations, The protection OF the interests
OF our great national family should tax the cap
t'ai and The industry OF lis own people, in order
to supply is Treasury with annual revenue
what would be The c0njiI0n Of the great mas
Of the people--alIeady stripped, as many %
Them are, 81 the scanty surplus saved from their
annual incomes. BY denying themselves even the
neeessaTies Of lie, 10 be prepared for the State
tax-eaiheFeE's annual visit 1. is Necessary, in
order To give even a faint idea Of The extent of
the oppression which would fall, particularly.
upon the poorer classes Of the community. 10
slate The probable quota which Virginia would be
required 70 contribute, BY direct tax, 10 the
Federal Treasury. That would of course de-
pend upon the ANIMAL expenditures Of The Gene
raj Government III those expenditures should
amount 70 S2S 600 600, per annum, The quota
which Virginia would be called upon 20 pay
would be aboni one million sepen hundred thousand
dOiidrs: Ii, however, lis expenditures should, BY
. more econog ical administration Of lis affairs
than the history Of the last fourteen years has
laugh. us 10 hppe for, be reduced SO low as s2l :
! 100000, then lhe annual demand npon The. peo-
pie of Virginia, 70 be collected 81 Federal
MaIshals, would amount 10 one million three
hun5red taossand dsllass- The smaller sum be-
ing nearly double The amount Of the State tax |
Are the people or Virginia allie to bear this adj
diti9nal burdeni Would they be willing 10 do
Sol Would they not be FESTIVE under this double
machinery Of Stale and Federal tax gasherers.
following in each others footsteps the last
cleaning what the first had left | That sagA-
rious Statesman, John Randolph, Of Roanoke,
drew picture not less graphic and true, than APP
palIiDg, Of the effects Of system OF direct tax
alton, which, 10 addition to its intrinsic odious-
mesa and oppression. would scatter government
stipendisries over the whole face Or the conn-
tFy, and invest the Federal Executive, BY this
new and powerful addition 10 bis siready over
grown patronage. with an almost isresis.iole in
auence over public opinion.
But Il may be said that. the Federal Govern
ment is not supported by taxation as well as the
] State Governments; and that The only difference
| Is ihst lis revenue is drawn from The people by
an indirect tax upon consumption, instead Of a
direct tax upon production. Even If This propo-
sitcn were suiclly true. this difference would be
vital 70 the first place, The payment Of an indi-
rect tax is voluntary, on the parrot The contTib.
utof-a1d il generally falls upon chose who are
able, as well as willing to bear i-fDf, long as
the absolute nsesssaries Of NE are exempt from do,
Ties, tits not in The compass Of possibility model
Tariff Law as we may, that any one VI our fel.
low citizens can be compelled to pay any portion
fof The revenue, aeains. his own inclinaiien.--
Many Of them do NOT pay faIIhing; and there
are thousands. 10 whgm Fortune has doled out
its gifts with nigsaTd hand, whose contributions
l are 50 small thai .hey are unconscious of their
abstraction even from their scanty means. YeI
such persons could not escape their equal proper
ton Of 4, direcI tax The great bulk OF thai
small portion Of the tax which is paid under a
Tariff law, by our own citizens, is drawn from
The pockets Of the weallhier classes. who can best
laford 10 beafthe buflhen. but who. 10 whatso-
ever extent they do SO, assume it'of their own
free will, and pay il, moi; only without difficulty,
butin Ilssfnl ignorance thai they pay il al all
! Bu', in the secondNplaee, we confidently express
the opinion that Large portion Of the revenue
derived by the federak government from duties
on imports is paid By The foreign producers
duty upon woollens and, cutlery and silks being
feIt as sensibly al Leeds, al Sheffield, and a
Manchester, as AZ any point, however grea
the consumption OF eli hsr of all OF those articles
on this side Of The Atlantic This assertion nigh
be :nsained and illustrated byNa number Of fact
and argumenis--hut lis absolutely demonstrated
BY onI observation Of the effect Of all the iarii
laws thai have been enacted, from 1876 10 1874:
I--showing conclusiscly that The prizes ofdciiab'
commodities have mol only net been enhanced L
the American consumer 10 the amduEt Il ths
duty Imposed. hut in truth haves not beef
augmented al all IN many instances, and hav,
been actually reduced in many oihersA Thi
fact IS confirmed by the tables Of prices within
any series Of years, and is avUuched By lthe re
cords Of the Treasury Department, as well as ;.
The experience and observation OF all men tn,
existing tariff, which, though imposing more mo
derase duties on many Of The principal articles
imported even than The tariff Of 1924. and "a
more moderate Than that Of 1928. furnishes dali
evidence Of this lfuih--evidence which is palpa
ole To- The mind Of every man who purchases
dollars value Of the productions thus suiject i
duty. While, therefore, directIax upon lands
negroes, and other property is a positive sub
slTaciion from every Individuals actual resoBr
ces.--an indirect tar, levied upon foreign capits
and labor, is, 10 great extent, paid, not By III
: consumer. bat blythe producer Of The articles up
on which the dulles are imposed.
II is concele that the principle Of indirec
taxation. il carried TOO far, may have contrar
tendency and hence, the Wing party do not gus
tain lie policy Of pfohibitOsg diiss; or e ui;ss 70
protection as Fsimary etjsct The position. the
assume is, fhstlhe laIIH system Should lie adjust
ed with an eye primarily 70 rsresine, but 50 di,
crminaiing among the articles upon whisb ihe duiis
are imposed Is Il gord incidental protection 70 ID
NESTLE industry II. Indeed, we were influence
J BY reiaistOIyl spirit iowatds foreign nations
which burihen american productions with exoE
biiani taxes, wemighl, in The spirit Of Mr.. Jefel
sons injunction. be disposed 10 inject high dnie
Z with high dHtie&, and prohibition with prohb
. llion.n But We are willing 10 dsencumbef com
merce, as rat may be conssienl with asouad an
liudicious policy. 10 References 10 al the great in
leresls Of Inc Uaion. Of those shackles with whic
1.-The regulations nf European gevernmehis hav
lfeliered t. Tolhis VIE go--n0 farther. Tier
! may be 10 The Wig ranks. as there are anon
) heir opponents individuals who would push u
) fR7incfple Of Protection 10 dangerous extent
/ baf he great body Of The party, and hein whom
, iikey recognize their Distinguished leader, hfs
Il lone ego defined their position 1pon tins qpes
lion. in language 50 precise and definite, ihal
! I;utelligeui mind enn misunderstood 4.
D. Il nav b adfsd. ihats while some Of he mos
( nromibcnt men,bers or me Democratic part
/ have openly ardned their hostility 10 theentir
! | Custom Mouse system, and have inscribed III
I,rr;no.,s ,rords = Direct TfE.n upon their ban