The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-24
WAR DUTIES ON FREE ARTICLES.

WAR DUTIES ON FREE ARTICLES.
We regret to perceive that the proposition to raise
revenue temporarily to carry on the war; by levy
ing duty on certain articles (as tea and Coffee now
imported Free has excited some opposition in the
House of Representatives. II was perhaps to be
expected that such opposition should be mad, by
gentlemen who oppose the war; and by those who
uphold the present tariff, But they must be very
strong reasons, we should imagine, which could
induce any democrat who holds that the war should
be urged with vlgor to its close, and who at the
same time favors the reform of the tariff, to take
stand against temporary duty upon the articles we
have named
Considered merely as Sarces OF reyenue-sure,
certain of estimate, and productive up to any rea-
sonable limt--tea and coffee appear To be two of
the most eligible articles that could be selected for
such taxation. Can there be any doubt that the
people, looking to just revenue system hereafter,
would prefer small temporary war tax on these
articles, to an onerons war debt
1t is said that such tax will fall on the poor
man. Is this correct Is it true, in the first place,
that and coffee tax would press with any peeu-
liar severity on the poorer casses' But even II
this objection were in some respects true, as is
stated, we answer unhesitatingy that the masses OF
laborng men throughout the country would will
lingy bear Il FOR SHORT TIME in the vIndicaton,
and for the vindication, Of their countrys rights.
The class of men here referred to- yields TO no other
class in Is constituencies to national wrong, and in
its patriotic ardor for redress. This ia the class of
men which is distinguished even amid the general
IL. oh ali fnrfh
to arms at the call Of the country. The labor
ing men of this nation now fighting voluntarily,
and are anxious to fight battles against Mexico.
The man who hazards his life the battlefield is
surely not the to quarrel with petty and tenn
porary tax upon his tea or coffee, when that tax
may be needed to sustain the war. Such an idea is
an imputation-to be resented-on the patriotism Of
the poor man. This cry of mo tax on the com.
forts of life to sustain the war" too much the
watchword of the federal party in 1879. The peO-
pie rep.lling such appeals tUith Indignation, hare
msmbsrsd their advocates since 1t is the popular
sentiment which sustans our war, and will pounlser
war tax on tea readily as it volunteers the ser
vice of the camp or Of the battlefield.
But after all, it will be found that the burden of
any such tax tea and coffee as has been pro-
posed, or as will be proposed, even for brief pc
Rod and to raise for the war, has been in
some quarters greatly exaggerated. One thing at
least is certain, that such a burden will bear no
comparison to the tax now sustained in the tariff Of
l842 Be it remembered, too, that this war tax is
proposed avowedly in view Of a reform of the tariff
which shall relieve the country from Il, prsssn.
nous tarGtion. The proposition is in fact only a
Substitution of small revenue tax on and coffee
which shall help to defray the war expenses and so
relieve us from a war debt, in place Of an enormous
tax at present levied on articles Of equally prime
necessity, not for revenue but for the exclusive ben
eft of overgrown and long -pampered manufacturing
interests. In this view commend to attention
the following well-timed suggestions from the New
York Evening Post
'It is true, that if there were duty on tea and
coffee after this oppressive pattern, duty of fifty
| sixty, hundred or two hundred per cent, it
would materially increase the price to the consumer
No intention, however is entertained of committing
any such extravaganza. A moderate duty, a low
DUTY an mpos which would be scarcely felt to the
consumer, and which yet, divided as this slight bur
den would be among so large a population, would
bring large return to the treasury, is al we be-
lieve, that is thought of in any quarter. Against
such duty we cannot see why there should be any
prejudice. The of tea and coffee is not so uni
versa as that of cotton and wooen cloth, on which
we submit to pay at present a high duty, and on
which nobody, not even the most extreme reform
err proposes to levy duty Of less than twenty per
cent.
"if the duty, for example, on tea and coffee were
ten per cent there Is not householder in the land
who at the end of the year, would be able to per.
ceive the difference it made in his expenses. A
duty of twenty per cent. might make, perhaps,
difference of one cen, pound in the price OF coffee.
There is of the indirect taxes which could be
| levied with more convenience to the government,
and less inconvenience to the people, than the i'm
post on tea and coffee For this reason we are con-
6dent that it would be very contentedly borne-as
| all burdens are OF which not aware; and we
think that those representatives of the people who
| shrink from voting for tiff any such there be-on
account of its supposed unpopularity, labor under
very grievous error. If they can answer to their
constituents for putting duty Of thirty per cent on
iron, it will require but few words to justify them
selves for laying duty of twenty per cent. on tea
and coffee.
awe are glad to see the members Of Congress
| slow to impose any burden their constituents.
| The dislike of high duties is very well; we only
wish that it may take reasonable direction and be
in some measure proportional to the enornity of the
| tax. It's hardly worthy Of the dignity of a men,
Der of Congress to express alarm at the idea of lay
ing duty ten or twenty per cent. upon tea and
coffee when he has acquiesced for years in the high
duties upon cotton goods, which, by the help Of the
| trick called a minimum, an invention Of the eastern
manufacturers, too subtle to find name in hon
Get vernacuar, are made to amount, some goods,
to hundred or hundred and fifty per cent. He
| who can consent to a duty coa-a prime necos.
sary Of e-will hardly obtain credit for sincerity
if he insists upon exemptpg from duty, on account
of their universal use, articles which merely supply
| a luxurious beverage"
ERRORS EXCEPTED.