Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-12-01
ro..l number. e.esi
sil.ia.ep

Total number cGst ,iIIsIOoo
In this table have endeavored to present the per
eenage on the various sales In tho strongest light the
facts will admit against the position have assumed
The merchant who pays a of $40 may sell goods to
the amount Of 81 81 000 and the license will be the
samethen It Is but reasonable to infer that his sales
the between the two extremes, which would make
him pay four instead Of two per cent shown the
It will appear from this table that there are Gs4 mcr
chants Of all classes in this STATE and that the total
amount IF their sales from these data fory-one mil
lion. one hundred and my four thousand dollars from
which the State collects the of SSl3976 81 or n
per centage of about Hreeoiks of one Der cent for
che privilege of selling this amount goods wares and
merchandise IL will further appear that thousand
six h"ndred persons too cent least their
sales, whilst hundred aud teipe persons who sell In
the aggregate sl2 $4,000 pay less than Jo,h of
one per cent on their sales This argues aud think es-
abshe an injustice TO the small and feeble trader which
demands relief IL may be very readily and udiciolsly
avoided, by simply attaching the per centage
on all sides, as the basis of taxation. This is In
accordance with the principles of constitution and
In accordance with the acknowledged theory of
IL Is not just to allow opuent merchant who carries
on his business in large sell goods anything
less upon his sales than the small merchant has to pay
on his sales nor is 1t any part of the duty the state in
granting license, TO enquire whether ono merchant
makes larger per cent preft than another. 1t Oh
uous that by charging certain per centage all sales
and attaching the condition that article shall be taxed
more than once upon its SALE taken in connection with
the total abolition OF all state direct foreign inn
portAions, now existing, powerful impetus would be
given own import trade aud since the positive
evidence Is before the hostility Of the northern peo
Pile to our instituonswhen acts of treason and
murder have been perpetrated by them SOIL with
scarcely candid admoniton proceeding ON auy pub
lie uneuonary or even from any newspaper and with
out single honest rebuke from any portion of the north
ern people, publicly given enquiry extent to
winch our laws on merchants licenses may be used tn
indicate our rights certainly demanded every con-
sideration of sound policy.
The laws respecting merchants licenses are all based
upon the principle OF considering tie selling the priv
iege which should be paid for not in view of the
iact that more than forty millions of dollars in value are
sold in Virginia derived from States enquire wheth
er license may not be demanded from merchants
and traders for the privilege of buying goods wares and
merchandise In any State whose laws or people oyerr
ding the laws have manifested hostility the inslitu
ton Of slavery y
If it should be determided to adopt the same Der
centage on the sales OF all merchants and levy the
TAX only once 1t would be prudent provide for an in
creased per cenage for each year. keep up the
revenue from this The subject il now a very
large one; yet il is obvious that it will diminish AZ a
means OF revenue foreign direct mpOi taon takes the
place OF such goods as now into the State indi-
rectly.
The reform intended by the legislature in the MASSAGE
OF the act of the 18th of March 1856 exemp,n from
taxation all importatons from abroad did not with a
surgeons skill probe to the bottom OF the wound II at
the same time bill imposing al yalorem tax on the
sales of goods other than those imported from abroad
or manufactured within the State had been passed we
would not now be called upon TO depore compare
tive feeble import trade Yet this bill has had the effect
TO Improve 1t, and shows what BILL directed to
that end, may do.
For the year ending LIST July 1888 there was impor,
into Richmond $500 bags of coffee For the year end
ing LIST July 1882 the quantity imported had reached
1858 bags In 1858 the registered vessels owned in
Richmond was only four with l,4O7 tonnage In 1859
there thirteen vessels with Il9 tonnage The.
satisfactory results must justify the opinion that by suit
BILE legislation shall nearly all the foreign
goods we consume brought to seaport towns
directly.
Considering the immense area of fertile lands now open
70 our lines OF improvement and dscardiDg the idea of
any other policy than that which looks the speedy
completion OF the great road designed to connect
our seaooard with the Mississippi valley we must feel
dependence about be broken that we are en-
terng upon a career Of more enduring prosperity
The advantages TO Richmond and Norfolk to be deriv
ed from direct foreign trade aud the completion of the
Covington aud Ohio Rail Road necessary in part for its
support, are to my mind incalculable The Covington
and Ohio Road alone must be to Richmond what the
baltimore and Ohio road has been TO the city of
baltimore, in 1898, when the Baltimore aud Ohio Rail
road was commenced, contained a population of 900
Inhabitants She now contains population OF 900
In 1928 the value OF real in the city of Baltimore
was assessed at s26Ol5S6s, and IL is assessed
$l2S, 5s,5SS.
Many reasons might be adduced to prove the adyon,a
ges OF commercial independence Virginia but t is
sufficient for my purpose show the great inequality Of
our tar law and the positive tendency make 'moun
tans OF wealth and valleys Of poverty which
and The great rjusce il nicts the most numerous
Ola highly intelligent class of our fellow citizens"
MEKrISG OF MERcHASrs--DIREcr TRADE WITH EuRoPE
I'D "WHERE TnEEE's WILL THEREs wAYp-Pursuant
to notice, meeting Of the merchants Of this CITY enr,
ged or interested in the importation sale of foreign
Of the Merchants Insurance Office The designation In
yesterdays Wing of Mechanics Hall "a the plaee az
meeting was an error into which we're led through
the lnadyertance OF one OF the orgnatos of the move
ment The meeting was largely attended by the import
ers OF the city and Others interested in the enlargement
OF our direct trade with Europe.
On motion of Mr.. George J. sumner Mr.. HoRAcg L.
KIM, was appointed Chairman, and Mr. b. K Pulen re.
quested TO act as Secretary.
Mr. Sumner then offered the following preamble and
resolutions:
Whereas in the opinion Of this meeting the time has
arrived when the merchants Of this city should as far as
practicable, become their own importers aud that those
now engaged In the importation Of foreign goods shall
unite together for the purpose Of direct trade and where
as Il known that large proportion Of the goods nov
imported by our merchants landed ut some of the
Northern ports and feeling that in order to effect this
change, Is necessary to act in concert therefore
Rsiofred lst That In future, so lar capital aud
facilities will enable TO do owe will import our ON n
goods Of foreign growth manufacture direct this
port.
And. That those Of us who now have order. IN tho
hands Of agents manufacturers awaiting execution for
the spring trade, pledge ourselves our best efforts
TO have the goods shipped James river even At an adj
yanced rate OF freight and that from and after the LIT
day OF january next, bind ourselves to give an
order Tor foreign goods to any party without an under
standing that such goods shall be shipped to James river
when practicable.
Sd. That committee Of three be appointed 10 dr.r
an agreement in accordance with the above resolutions
and TO procure the signature Of every merchant la Ibis
city engaged in the importation OF foreign merchandise
aud that said paper be deposited with the Secretary OF
the Board Of Trade Of this city and furthermore In or
der 20 facilitate the object we have ia view We hereby
pledge ourselves 10 unite upon or more rcspo
sible shipping agent At Liverpool.
NJ Sumner urged the adoption Of the resolutions In
Few pertinent remarks.
Mr. Clarkson suggested modification Of one Of the
resolutions and after assigning bis reasons for the prop
osition,
Nc !. W. Glarcbrook moved tina, the resolutions 10
referred 70 committee OF seven IIo said that his oh
jet was 70 secure unanimity Of action
M. jas H. Ferguson seconded the notion and pro-
ceedcd 70 state his objections 10 the second resolution
10 The meantime the resolution was modified by gene.
raj assent IN accordance with Mr. Carksons views and
was accordingly made 70 read NJ above reported
Remarks were made by Messrs A. X Parker samuel
Price and VIM q. Paine, IN favor Of the policy of the
resolutions and against the proposed reference 10 s,
mittee
Hcssrs. @. W. Smith and W. O. Crenshsw. advocated
The reference, believing that the resolutions d not 90
far enough. %
The motion 20 refer was finally neeatiyed
Aiter further discussion Of the preamble and rcso
hons-somo OF the speakers taking the ground that they
contemplated 100 much while others regarded them AZ
Tho vofa -.