Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-04-07
FF0n INe N0TNHHT TUI0TIIEvHVtT'
Taxing the Commerce of HUI
man Affections.

If there be one principle which, moe
than another, distinguishes the poltial
economy of the United States from tint
Of all other countries on the globe it isthn
Il at the indispensable necessaries of hm,n
life are to be held safe and sacred froa tie
gripping pinch of taxation. There arc CO.
tain articles of food which no Administration
in this country would ever dare to tax, wat
ever might be the exigency to which We
were reduced as a nation. Now, there a
precious article on which millions of por
men and women in the United States fed
with an appetite as hungry as was ever sat
isiied with bread. II is that noiseless in,is.
ihe communion with the friends and homes
of their youth IN the Old World. which can
only be sustained by cheap manuscript cor
fespondoncc across the Atlantic. We insist
I that this intercommunion Of these sea-divid
ed families is to them necessary osthe first
urgency; and in the name of religion, jus
tee and humanity, we ask that this necessa
~ may be held ms safe and sacred from tax
alton as the bread which these poor men an
women earn and eat by the sweat of th
brow. And who that has a heart alive
/ the susceptlbilities of our social nature shi 1
say that it is not necessary Not a n
! cossarv Why iherc are hundreds Of pool
decrepid old fathers and mothers in Ireltn
aud Germany who sometimes put themselyt
on a short allowance of bread for nearly
week in order 20 obtain from the postmanl
hands letters from children across the sea-
] Ofall the prohbitory tariffs imposed upol
human productions, that which now presseI
/ like a mountain of ice upon the commqc
Of human affections is the most cruel ~
wanton. II Involves, what the most fo-
/ handed fiscal restriction never did. hay
/ tax upon the export as well as lmpol 4
words Of affections and loving remembrance
And arc these words and thoughts, tht
make up the cheap currency Of familyah
friendly intercourse, such idle luxnries, Who
friends and relatives are separated By II
sea, that their transportation must be chart
ed more per ounce when written on pape
Than the costiliest Jewels that ever shone
Oriental diadcms ? lie, us contemplate Il
n moment taxes analogous to the preser
postal charges on the commerce of huma
affections, and see how they would seem d
The eye and sound to the ear. For instance
now an ercise duty on prayer! How proI
fame and abhorreut would such propostin
sound IN our ears. A revenue tax for TIL
support of armies and uavies, laid upon TIL
voceless upbrcaihings of penitent heart d
tie God OF all grace for mercy and saliva
zion How does that sound An excise du
~ upon the silent thoughts th4t climb hea
yonward from the soul 10 its hottest hours o
meditation How do you like that? 4
postal tariff on the communing sympathie
ilat seek 10 fellowship with God and sainlei
spirits in Heaven Think of that. A tran
So, charge on the flight of faith across In
aea that divides the home and haven of IL
love from Thu; inclcment island of terrestrial
existence What Government would evel
b dare to name one Of these prolane projects
, though it came within its capacity to enforc
, &c: But next to such tax as this would b.
ia cruelty and wrong is the present heav
tax imposed upon the intercourse of humai
} b arts divided by the Atlantic next to tn
: s that crushing excise duty levied upon tia
, Widows dying message to her son across tn
ocean Next to this is the postal tariff q
the transit Of wish. a word of loving re
membrancc, from brother to sister. fromwlf
10 husband from friend to friend, between
whom roll thousand boisterous leagues d
/ of sea. f. Is.