The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-03-16
The Merchants, TINY.

Wepubiish this morning the proceedings OF
number of our commercial citizens, who met
yesterday to consider the tax of one per
cent upon the sales OF merchants. They were
unanimous in their opposition to the measure
Some were more stringent in their disapproy.
al than others; but all feared injury from it.,
and considered its advantages don btful
We understand that upon two Of the objec-
tionable features alluded to by US yesterday
| viz, the failure to provide a drawback on
| goods sold to purchasers residing outside the
! Commonwealth, and the discrimina ton in
| favor of West India sugars and against Lou
isiana and Texas sugars and molasses-there
| will likely be no difficulty in the way of such
! amendments as will obvia tie them. We should
think that raw cotton and rice should also be
exempted.
With regard, further, to the measure, it is
proper that the reader should fully under
stand that the one per cent. tax on sales is not
70 De incurred second time on the same
goods. Therefore, any country merchant who
may buy his goods in Richmond, or anv other
Virginia city, will pay no tax whatever upon
his business
Inc question is delicate one. What effect
snch measurKwll have, it is impossible to
1oresee The idea is tina, the tax on merchants
VIII DE paid by only one-seyenth of the whole
number-the remainder buying their goods of
TINS one-seventh. The increase of the aeere
gate tax paid by them will be about S1oO 0OO if
the same amount OF American goods are sold
that were sold during the last year. This ore.
seventh OF the merchants will, therefore have
the whole burthen to bear The bur,hens i'm
posed upon these few men will be very heavy.
lhey, indeed, become tax-gaiherers of the
STATE, and guarantors for all from whom they
collect. They pay the cash down, and none
OF the contingencies of business which subject
them to losses reach the State. for whom they
undertake this heavy task. This principle to
some extent prevails, we know, ordinarily
Every man must make his taxes. as well as
his support in his vocation but the magni |
tude of this burthen gives the relation = |
broader and more responsible nature. 1t at |
the same time becomes repulsive and oppres |
slve to the mind, even in authorization. and is |
likely to be exaggerated, burthensome as it is.
We think, therefore, there is good reason to
that we may sustain a loss of CAM.
tai, energy and tact in business under the one.
ration of this new principle of taxation.
That the author and the friends of this tax
are all sincere in their desire to build nm tho |
direct trade and the home manufactures ~
we nave nota doubt. They earnestly
consider this measure as most decidedly cal
sulated to promote these objects We doubt
their measure, however. We fear the work.
rg OF that policy which invades the equality
ma justice OF the maxim, that every tub
should stand on its own bottom Is that NOT |
part OF the freedom OF Republicans The
reedom OF each to stand for himself and bear
Ills own burthens, and nobody else's 7
In the cause OF the commercial inter
'sts of the State we think We may saw. with.
'ut contradiction, that the merchants are as
eady as any class to contribute and make
acrifces. They are men that must give force
ND effect to any scheme for this purpose. and
We trust the Legislature may devise one that |
viii give encouragement to their energies, I
mould they adopt one that did not do this il
you'd most assuredly tail to attain the object
hey have in view.