Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-22
To HE EdifDrs of The EagnirtT.

IOifc EdHdfS OF me fsHIhUG.
Genlemen-I am NEST highly gralifed 10
learn from The Enquirer Of yesterday that there
is yet lingering hope That Congress will re-
consider The bill, which has been rejected, iorl lay
ing duty Oh lea and coffee, as war measure,
for The support Of the Government. Under The
present state OF our finance cannot conceive
measure that is more just, or that our present
emergency more imperiously calls for. As
necessary means OF revenue, il is, in my opinion,
both wise and eYpedient. Nor can believe, for
one moment, that such TAX would be unpopu-
lar with The masses.
II we intend 10 prosecute The war with Mexi-
CO with vigor, we must have the means adequate
10 The object. This measure is resisted, howev-
.r upon the ground that would be unjust and op.
pressivet the poor. This is, in my opinion, only
aslratagem, and intended Tor political effect
think, icar or no ,car, these articles ought 10 he
made source Of revenue, especially coffee,
which would bear duty better Than any other ar
licle Though il has advanced little, il is yet
70 low that il is almost dreg in our market. !
well recollect which assert without The lear vi
successful contradiction, that % or 80 years in
review, The article o coffee, by the wholesale,
was from 25 10 30 cents, and the poor had then 10
pay from 80 TO 40 cents pound. But now when
the article can be purchased al III or IL cents
pound, 10 lay moderate duty upon II as means
10 raise revenue to carry on the war, il grinding
The Door into dust and ashes This, in my feeble
Judgment, is mere subterluge, hy which The OPP
position wish 10 persuade the "dear poor" that
they are their especial friends, when, in reality,
they have no more regard for them than FOL The
dirl under their feet This apparent sympathy
is only device, by which they hope 10 Tide INTO
mower again. |, as one of the "dear poor, am
not to lie guled in this manner especially when
their acs. which speak louder han words, 90 10
convince me 10 the contrary. How much sym
palhy ha We they evinced Tor The dear poor" when
they had the poweIl Let their famous IaTld oil
10 answer The question Where was their SYM
patty for The "deaT poor" when laying an oherous
duty 90 salt, iron, &c, which are more lndispen-
sable than either Tea or coDesI But now, when
a proposition is made 10 lax these as war mea-
sure. they are overwhelmed with holy horror
al such Injustice think you will agree with
me. Me.srs Editors, that The tariff principle Of
The Wings is 10 bnild up privileged class, by
a high tariff, which has Tor its object pIolec-
lion more than revenue. | believe il lea
and coffee were The growth OF this county,
(tea. believe, is, 10 very small exienl) they
wenli have been long since amongst The first ar
ticles on The lisl Io be selected, on which heavy
duly-a duty amounting 10 prohibition-would
ha ". been advocated. But because these article,
do not come in competition with articles OF SINH
lar growth oil Ibis country, and lax on them
would rather relard than advance their object,
they clamor against such legislation, as oppres-
sive 10 The poor. | cannot conclude, Messrs
Editors, without cherishing The hope that duty
OF mol less than forty per cent may be laid upon
coffee, and about twenty per cent. upon lea, which
think would be directly within The limits of the
,evenus standard. Such duty would raise some
four or FIVE millions OF revenue, which would be
powerful auxiliary in vigorous prosecution
of The war; and would, | think, be cheerfnly sub
miued 10 by every citizen who wishes 10 see the
national honor sustained. ANXIOUS.
Chesterfield, February 80, lo47.