The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-04

For The Union.
Ths Democratic Party and shs Tarsn No. g.
Ans opsfat'os " Tie Iar.t as Tax on Consumption
Inc ,srin consists OF certain duties collected by III,
uncd oates government from those citizens and others
VINO import foreign articles into this country for sale and
consumption.
The rates imposed by the OF 1916 vary from articles
Tree OF duty to those paying 5, to others TO- to others IS
20 25 &c. 40 and 100 per cent upon their value The
average rate OF duty is shown by actual returns for the
year ending June &c. ls40 upon the whole amount OF
Imports 10 have been nearly 20 per cent The imports
were Sl47so7,439 and the revenue from customs S2s
3i0.73s Excluding articles imported free OF duys22
3T,6o5he average rate would be- nearly 22l per cent
upon the whole value We will assume for the present
that The average rate OF duty upon all imported articles
Is ~ per cent upon their value The citizens who impor,
Tor sale and consumption in the United States articles OF
the value OF pay the government 1928 $40
73s These importers sell these articles to retailers with
Their profits added on and the retailers sell 10 the con-
sumers with their profits added Thus il is perfectly
evident mat the annual consumption OF the United States
taxed Tor the government aking the year Is49 as an
average) $2s,si6439 together with the profits of the
importer and retailer Assuming the profits OF the i'm.
porter and retailer TO be just it is evident that that por-
ton made upon the $2S 439 is Justly chargeabe upon
the system OF tariff taxation Say that those profits are six
per cent and that they pass only through the hands of
two persons before they reach the consumer then
twelve per cent upon vas, 430, added 39
is the annual tax upon the consumption Of The United
Staes-equal to $3l,74s,Ol. As wish to address my
argument to Of intelligence and honesty ii will hot
be necessary to take up time in proving deliberately
proposition perfectly seevident as that
above. The who denies must believe that import
ers and retailers annually present TO the consumers the
vast sum OF 1871 900 0o0a suppostion both absurd and
impossible
We will assume, then as the foundation OF the argu-
ment now TO be presented to men sufficiently enlightened
to see truth, and honest enough avow it, that the an
nual consumption of the United States is taxed. on
average, 5000 900 by our government This is a
heavy and large tax for republican government and
now undertake to show that it is UTTERLY UNJUST.
All writer's upon political economy admit that the
same rate Of taxation upon every species Of property is
more onerous upon the poor than ch because il trenches
more closely on the necessary for subsistence
the than the other. When we consider, how
ever, that protection is afforded by government. only
to rights OF property but of person. seems that the
"sAME RATE TAX UPON ALL PROPERTY" may be as
sumed as fair and just rule OF taxation, to which
may compare the one now under consideration.
The just rule of taxation is, the rate upon all
property "and for the purposes OF fair argument will
assume that the tariff lays the rate upon all
sumption although will show hereafter that the same
is applied and that determinations made for
the very purpose OF aggravatng the natural and inherent
injustice of the system
What relation then, does mans annual consumption
bear TO his pToperty' mere glance at society will
suffice show the ncredulous that consumption BY
no means increases dminshes in the same ratio
with property. The necessity OF supporting life i'm
poses upon thousands-nay, milons-in the United
States the necessity of consuming largely every year.
when they have no property beyond present supply
of food and clothing and the athletic limbs which God
Almighty gave them, means OF struggling against
the injustice of the world. The bare enuncation of
the idea OF making mans necessities the foundation of
his taxation by government iHs the mind with horror
healthy laborer with property. consume snnu
ally In this case, any rate however ioU, on bis con-
sumption would be an INFINITELY high rate upon his
property fhe has wife and two children the necessity
Of annual consumption is doubled perhaps quadruped,
and his taxes increased in the proportion. Who
would believe that system 80 full OF iniquiious and
fagran, injustice rests upon the shoulders OF two
great political parties in enlightened age Alas af
ter continued struggles with party who desired by
"specihc duties and minimum valuations" 10 increase
the rate OF taxation upon this unfortunate class OF ct
three four times than the upon the
sumption Of the millionaire, the democratic party have,
only been able TO abolish these OF inequality
Indeed, as yet the struggle continues, and Pres-
dent OF the United States 10 found-l will not say
criminal, bu-IoSoRART enough 10 recommend a re-
turn TO cruel system OF torture and oppression
Even now the OF taxation applied to the
eonsumption OF those without property as to the con-
sumption OF those holding thousands and millions One
man may be equally prudent with auohsrtheir consump
ton OF the rational necessities Of life may be the
and yet their property may be different in any eonceiv-
able ratio. The may be worth hundred dollars
the other may be worth thousands millions: the taxes
upon the consumption OF both are the same How vast
difference 10 the rate OF taxation, when the respective
property OF each is considered
consumes 500 annually, and is worth $1,000
200 10000