Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-03-27

PREPARING FOR DISUNIoN, AT RICHMOND
Nothing can be more langhably absurd than
some of The FESTIVE and restless contrivances
with which some OF the abstractionized disor-
ganizers at Richmond, such to get up sensa-
ton.
y case in hand we findin the Senate proceed
ings by yesterdays mails. Mr.. Thomas offered
u joint resolution,
Requiring merchants in the State to give COM
miss1oners of the revenue a list of their goods,
stating which are of the growth of Virginia,
which are grown out of the State, aud which in
foreign countries-the furnishing of this stale
meut to be one of the conditions of obtaining;
the license.
And then Mr.. Thomas proceeded to say,
That it became the General Assembly at this
jun.ture of affairs with the North, to look into
the revenue of the State and her trade. He
said the Auditor OF the Commonwealth, who
was likely to know, had endorsed the practica-
ability Of the measure, and he hardly supposed
any Senator would doubt its practicabity and
utility.
And then, after Mr.. Thomas, Mr. Amber went
on to tell how that
There was high purpose at the bottom of
these resolutions. 1t was the first step in pre-
pairing Virginia for the position into which she
was being forced by the North. The resolu-
withdraw from our enemies at the North the
tribute which they are using to our own de-
struction. lie hoped the patriotism of the
Commissioners of Revenue would incitc them
to the prosecution of this part of their duty.
Thus so much was said in favor Of the scheme.
Now what, we ask, would practical man he
apt to say looking at the matter? Here we
have a scheme introduced on the principle of
cutting off ones nose to spite the face. Mr..
Thomas proposes to set up system of dis
elimination against imports from the other
States-snch as the Federal Government already
enforces against foreign countries. In other
words, Mr.. Thomas proposes to have what is
known as a ridiculous non sequitur in Political
Economy viz, n government within govern
ment, entitled to exercise analogous fuuctions.-
It would, for instance, work this way Say
the Government is already protecting branch
of industry in our neighboring States of Ohio
and Pennsylvania TO do this she discrimin-
ates in their favor by duty upon the same
class OF articles imported from abroad, which
discrimination we, as consumers, indirectly pay
In addition to this, the bill of Mr. Thomas pro
poses to make our people here in Virginia, pay
a second duty, for, Of course, the increased duty
Isn't this pleasing scheme for u taxed people
to contemplate:
Because we as State, do not manufacture
certain articles, we will tax our people for get
ing them elsewhere.
Thisis for all the world like the egislations of
these impracticable abstractionists for years
They are curse to the State.
We are glad to notice that Mr.. Senator White
rose in his seat and rebuked the ''high purpose"
of the resolution by saying that
He did not believe empty and high-sounding
resolutions will be of any benefit TO us. Every
people will buy where they can buy the cheap
est, and sell where they can get the best price,
Resolutions will never build up direct trade
for the South.
We also notice with pleasure, that Senator
Caldwell contributed to vote down the resolu-
ton.
We recommend to Mr.. Thomas before he goes
any further, to carefully study the spirit of that
section of the Constitution of the United States
which reads that
No State shall, without the consent of Con-
gress, lay any imposts, duties on imports or
exports, except what may be absolutely ncccs-
sary for executing its inspection laws, &C., dc.
osA.----------