Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-05
II ITCH Nj ND, VA.
Monday Morning, January 4, Is47.
THE WAR DUTY ON TEA AND COFFEE,


Monday Morning, January 4, Is47.
TIE WAR DUTY on TEA AND COFFEE
We are pleased that the Secretary Of the Trea.
sury has adopted The wise AMI manly policy o
addressing he following frank and emphatic lei
Ter 10 The Chairman Of The Committee Of Way,
and Means:
| Treasury DEPARTMENT Dec 81, 1916
Sir:-Prrmi me most respectfully 10 call your
attention - ,hr views submitted in ms last annu
al ieTori, IN regard IL imposing duties on lea arr
coffee.
These duties were suggested in view OF the ne
| cessily Il Obtaining the loan therein proposed
and his Department feels bound 10 communicate
The opinion entertained is it, that, in the absence
OF these dnies, it will probably be wholly imprac
icable 10 negotiate The loan On SUCH terms as
would be permitted nv Congress.
Nlosl respectfully,
Your oted,enl servant,
Il. J. WALKER,
Secretary Of the Treasury.
lion. JAMES J. Mckay,
Chairman q The Committee
Of Ways and Means.
The country is engaged in war, which 10 brin:
10 speedy and satisfactory issue, it is necessary
10 raise cenain amount. This loan cannot be
effected upon terms honorable 10 the credit OF the
Government, unless the trfing tax proposed Tor
war purposes upon tea ard coffee be laid, so as
10 place The Frances OF The country on 4 finn
basis and 10 give a guarantee 10 the world that
the Government is willing and able 10 meet all
lis responsibilities. Under these circumstances,
il was 10 be hoped hat no impcdiment would be
thrown IN the way OF temporary measure de-
manded by Tie highest motives Of patriotism and
National Interest. But the Wing press has al
ready raised lis voice Of ciamor and complaint
They substantially declare that they will do no.
thing 10 relieve he pressure upon he Treasury;
nothing ID iced and clolle orr gallant volunteers
and army; nothing 10 push on the war 10 a viso-
ruus aud permanent se,t'emenl-uness the tariff
OF 10 be repealed, even b.iofe Irial, and
their own precious banIng Of 1872 be r.
stored in all lis hideous proportions. The
war with Mexico, they say, was produced
by lte Democratic pary-lhat patty has de-
s;rcyei lie tariff Of loi2, aad unless the Wings
they viii irsis! The adoption OF temporary mea-
sure 10 eiiec loan, for the successful conduct Of
The war. But in This, We believe, they misrep-
resent the sentiments Of the great ho;!y If The
Wing party. Il lew days since, We heard one
Of The staunches, and most prominent Wings d.
clare, that Congress ought al once 10 lay the duly
on tea and coffee, 50 as 10 eleya lie credit OF
The Government, ard enable il 10 "a se The money
necessary for the war; That The lax was 50 in
con siderable, and would Iall 50 equally upon al
classes, that The country would cheeriully sup
foH u, especially Al Tine So commercially
prosperous as This. We have every confidence
that Congress viii 10 its duty ard levy hi.
slight and temporary war lax, which is So rca.
sonabe in Itself, ard inc revenue irom which
will al 60 into lie TEE sury, vi ;houl tending,
ike protective duties, 10 swell the enormous
gains ot any ldyo.e,. interest /. is strictly re-
venue duiy and - srch Will bear equally
upon all lie great Interests u the county,
Let The Wings, in lhel whole oI n,ne" POLICY,
hold back if.m ll,sit surpur. u measures 70 raise
mocraiic Congress wiii'i'rsist "a, afrs".
patriotism and their elevated moliges oi duty
The country demands vigorous prosecution 81
the war-lcl mol The representatives 81 tie people
from false fear vi meeting responsibility, ia.ef
in a straightforward, honest and sound coarse Of
action They mistake The American people, IL
they tonbt their Willingness 10 bear this and even
heavier burhens 10 sustain the honor aud per-
maneat welfare OF The nation.
z. S Since writing the above, We have been
mortified 10 see that the House Of REPRESENTATIVES
on Saturday adopted a resolution OF Mr. Went
worth Of Illinois, declaring that j, is incxped,ent
10 levy any lax upon lea and coffee. We cannot
say how the fate oil this proposition may be al
fec,ed BY The subsequent adoption OF the resou-
ton of Mr. Sims OF Mo-, (or which sec proceed
ings)-but we had hoped that The House would
have manluiy met its duty. II is not yet Too late
10 reconsider their action and lake course
which, ia sustaining the credit OF The Government
in time Of war, will, we feel confident, receive
the appreciation OF their constituents.
OF the Virginia delegation, MessFs. johnson
and Mcdowell voted Tor, and Mcssrs. Bayly,
Brown, HUBBARD, Hunter, Lcake and Tiedway
voted against Wcntworlh's resolution.
On the motion 10 lay thc resolution Of Mr.
Sims Of Mo. on the table Messrs. Bay'y, Bedln-
ger. Brosn, Johnson, Lake, Mcdowell, Seldom
and Tfedway oi The Virginia delegation voted in
the negative, and none in lhs affirmative.