Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-05-23
Turpentine and Whiskey.

Turpentine and Whiskey.
In a short time the tax collector will pay
his annual visit to the people and assess from
Their fobs the maternal aid" to keep the
wheels of this blessed government in merry
motion. According to the action of the last
Legislature, those who make money by the
distillation of spirits Of turpentine will have
to solemnly swear as to the amount they
manufacture, and pay a tax to the State for
the privilege. We have no disposition to
bring a railing accusation against the legis-
lative magnates for e~nacting such a law; for
we do not feel personally interested in the
turpentine trade. We shall leave to Others
1.-THE Observer for instance) the task Of hold
ing up the injustice of the act and condemn
ing in appropriate terms the measure. The
only purpose we have in view in this article
is to institute an inquiry into the propriety
of taxing one branch of industry more than
another and we would pointedly Ask
to use the words of an astute lawgiver, why
it is that turpentine distilleries are taxed,
iii WIlIShCy uIStlliSIlCS dIC Su1ci6u " ~
unburthened? Is it because the one is more
dangerous to the community than the other ?
Are tar, pitch and turpentine of such com
bustib.e elements that the general good Of
society demanded they be smothered with a
tax, lest they explode and blow creation to
the moon? Are those engaged in vending
turpentine not men of good moral charac
ter?" Is their vocation dangerous to the
morality, industry, health and happiness o
society? Does the sale of turpentine steer
hearts in bitterness and break the idols ant
affairs of homes? If it is q useful branch O
commerce, why tax the producer any mor'
than the grower of wheat, cotton or corn?-
Why, we would "pointedly ask" tax tn
turpentine distillers of Cumberland, Ney
Hanover and Bladen, while the whiskey dis
tillers of Alamance, Guilford and Davidso
are permitted to make money by fermentin
and boiling corn and rye without the inter
ference Of the sheriff? Where is the justic
of the discrimination? Discrimination i
the taxing power is ~repugnant to the feeling
of freemen. Let freemen scorn it with
freeman's Scorn.
We think we are fully aware of the CT
cumstances prompting, and the spirit enac
ing, this tax on the turpentine distillerie;
When the Revenue bill was before the Legi
lature, the clause proposing a tax Of five p
cent. on all liquors sold in the State was Il
occasion Of a sectional strife between II
members Of the House-the west produc,
liquors and the east consumed them.
struggle was engendered, and when t
amendment finally passed, a motion W;
made, by a member of a whiskey producil
county, to tax turpentine distilleries and
the fury Of an excitement the amendme
was adopted. We need not stop to ir6ni
why a similar tax was not laid~& wb;skt
distilleries. Wniskey- Ro
the products Of Oscillation. The latter u,
! ~ Insgtss, in physic. &c.-the form
l~~IetssuSe of earth's heaviest woes and misel
The useful, c1amped with a tax-the cur
Tree ana untrammelled Illustrious leg
latlVe neutrality-suspicious.
tute iaw-giVers! Whiskey, run and rot'
/ rersus tar, pitch and turpentine We tr
the east will remember at the next sessi
of the Legislature that there are other dis
leries besides turpeutine-which shall co
out head, whiskey or turpentiuea