Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-01-28
The Tea and Coffee Duty.


The resolution adopted the other day by the House
of Representatives the effect that it is inexpedient
to lay duty tee and coffee, does not appear TO us
as conclusive to he fate of that measure in Con-
gress 1t certans indicates that the House is not yet
ready TO lay the duty that at present advised IT Is
disincned to t-but it indicates in our opinion no.
thing That Discrimination will give way to any
reasonable argument in favor Of the necessity of such
duty TO raise revenue TO sustain the credit vi
the government
This may be fairly inferred we think from the ex-
PLANTATION which Mr.. Thompson, Of Pennsylvania,
gave of his vote the next morning. He had voted,
ne said for the resolution, but he still willing to
vote for the duty, if it could be made TO appear that
it important the credit of the government that
il should be laid. 1t would be paying bad compli
ment to the House TO suppose that does not contain
many members reasonable Mr.. Thompson
The inference may also be fairly drawnfrom the
circumstances under which the resolution was passed
1t was passed without reconciliation, without cons
deraton, without discussion. Ii is Of those
tempore proceedings of dellberative body which Is
proper subject of reconsideration: one OF those
steps which such body never thinks 1t unbecomlng
its dignity to retrace one of those crude and casual
expressions of opinion concerning question not yet
examined to which it does not consider itself bound
by any pride of consistency to adhere.
The argument against the duty on tea and coffee,
understand it, is that these articles not at
all used by the slaves, who form large part OF
pOpulatlOn OF Sout1, ana therefore
~ their Importation would be paid mostly by the
people of the north and west. There is mistake
in the premises here. 1t is not fact that tea and
coffee not consumed by the slave population. The
house slaves of the south them aud waste them:
the field slaves although they do not receive them
part of their daily allowance, procure them by their
casual earnings just as the men among them procure
tobacco and the women their ribbons and other fnery
in which they haunt on Sundays.
This view of the matter places the duty on tea and
coffee upon precisely the same footing with the duty
levied long list of other commoditles-the
duty sugar and molaSses-the duties a vast va
riety of productions which form the food of man, or
its condiments on a thousand fabrics which are made
into garments, and thousand articles which minister
10 the convenience and comfort of life. The field
slaves of the south have their allowance Of food in the
products OF the plantation, and clothed in the
coarSest and cheapest cOttons and woolenS. If we
to regulate tariff exempt from taxation
what they do not consume, shall strike from the
list Of duable articles the greater part of the mer-
chandise imported Books and stationary must be
admitted free for stronger than and coffee,
for q slave Reuer reads book nor drives quill
The duty silks must be taken off without delay
the duty on foreign fruits, both dried and fresh,
be repealed. Let him who attaches any weight to the
argument that duty on tea and coffee would bear
unequally the north and the because the plan
Ter Of the south does not issue them in rations to his
slaves take the tariff in his hands, review the list Of
objection lies, and see TO what beggarly list of
commodities he will reduce the sources of revenue
from the customs.
We have imposed tax on salt, an article of inds-
pensabe necessity, and of absolutely universal con-
sumption; we tax sugar, commodity of more gene
raj use than tea and coffee, and the immoderate
sumption Of which cannot, as that of tea and coffee
sometimes does, degenerate into vice; iron,
the great necessary of civilization, in all its forms
we tax cloths of wooden and cotton though lndSpen-
sable to life; tax fuel, though support
existence without it. We think 1t eXpedient to tax
all these on many Of them we lay the impost with
out discussing the question of putting them on
the free list The tax these things of vital
sty, essential to the simplest form of civilized life.
and of them to the very continuance of life itself
in our climate, is borne without complaints but the
moment we talk of laying moderate lmpost on a
narcotic leef from China, and narcotic bean from
the Arabian peninsula and the isles of the tropics
indulgences of luxurious and efeminate age-the
representatives of the people rise up almost to man,
and declare the measure inexpedient; as if of all
articles of general consumption these alone too
sacred TO be subjected the contribution to the
treasury This is a kind of superstition that
fess we do not understand.
The country is in condition in which it is impor-
tant to sustain its credit. How this be done if
the government refuses to avail itself of those resou
ces which are most easy, obvious and productive!
To satisfy the public creditor that his debt is sae he
must see that none or those means that make II 50
are neglected. There IS no tax which more cast
y be levied Ethan the duty tea and coffee, none on
which the amount of revenue may be more certainly
calculated, none the burden of which would be less
felt by the people TO increase the duty the articles
already taxed would probably lessen the amount of
revenue by discouraging Importation. By laying a
duty on tea and coffee, large addition would nevi
tally be made to revenue. To reject proposition
for such duty is the same thing rejecting the
means of placing the credit Of the nation on the
irmest possible basis.-N Y. Ere. Posi-!
The new Constitution of Wisconsin provides for
the security of the wfes separate property: also,
that the homestead, not exceeding in value thou
sand dollars, shall not be sold on execution Banking
is prohibited; also the circulation of bank under
the denomination of ten dollars; and after lS49 un-
der the denomination of twenty dollars. The ques-
ton of negro suffrage is to be submitted to direct