Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-09

Direct Taxation for the sake Of Direct Trade.

Ulrect taxation for the sake OF Direct Trade.
We find in our esteemed contemporary,
the Richmond Enquirer o! the 18th instant. IN
earnest article IN depreciation OF the heavy
tribute which the farmers Of Virginia are
annually called 10 pay for the want OF a ''dI-
rect trade IN cifectlng their commercial ex-
changes. Convinced it would seem, OF the
unthriftiness Of that public economy which.
by destroying or emitting 10 foster Il home
market for our agricultural productions, has
diverted the tides of trade from their ancient
and natural channels, the Enquirer instead
Of applying the axe ut the root of the evil,
proposes 10 eradicate it by u process OF which
We greatly question both the expediency and
the feasibility. The tree-trade doSmaS, rs
inculcated by the Democratic politicians,
have taught the people of Virginia "a rely
exclusively upon the foreign market for the
sale and exchange of their commodities 4
system which has necc>Siated the interNen-
ton of that class Of midIlemen who act rs
the carriers between the respective centres 81
agricultural and manufacturing industry
The policy of protection, on the other hand,
looks to the establishment of II system which
shall bring together, into closer territorial
proximity and business relations. the pro-
ducer and the consrncr, who by tins ar
rangement are enabled 10 reap the fruits Of
( their labor with the least possible tax levied
by the rest Transportation which is great
er or less in proportion t. the distance that
separates the parties.
! Now. the people of Virginia have been IN
structrd for many years, by their trusted
/ political leaders. 10 depend exclusively on
! the foreign market tnr the sale Of their COM
moditrS. and this economy has had ior It's
inevitable effect 10 build up just such r"tr'-
p"iS rs are described by the Enquirer and
whose existence, outside Of Virginia, is de-
plorcd rs Il rulnuuS means ut working rob.
/ berry upon the farmers of the State Our
contemporary therefore proposes to seek Il
remedy for the Evil. in the imposition .! dis
eliminating duties on all goods imported IN
to Virginia, through other channels than by
the medium oI Il direct trade
Now, it strikes Us that with such vivid
and intelligent sense OF the evil it deprecates,
our Democratic contemporary proposes u lay
on the people OF Virginia a very unnecessa-
ry tax rs the price Of their political consis-
tency. If they will bur discard the dognas
of free-trade and build up home market
| Tor the consumption oil their agriculture!
productions, there will no longer be room
for any such artificial arrangements rs now
cumher and clog the exchanges Of commerce,
which, as the Enquirer justly observes. rs
| i'll its natural channels when the producer
deals directly with the consumer" Let the
people of the ancient Commonwealth only
I be brought to admit that it is rs competent
for Congress to levy discriminating duties
for the benefit Of the country 1T large, rs Tor
/ the Legislature of Virginia 10 lay on lis cltl-
zens special tax in excess over the tribute
/ paid in common with the other States Ia the
revenues of the Federal Government, and
the same end will have been reached with
out the imposition OF this exceptional and
unnecessary burden. The route by which
the Enquirer proposes 10 reach It's end Is
ncedlessly circutouS. and, moreover, Of ques-
tionnblc availability, even if lis constitutions
ality could be pronounced ndubtablc. We
would, therefore, venture 10 recommend that
our influential contemporary should JOIN It's
Democratic brethren of Massachusetts, New
.Iersei and syvania, i'll the advocacy
of the Protective System, as atfnrding 10 the
! question in hand Il solution which shall BE-
national rather than local in It's operation. r.
/ NH Int