Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-21


production among these, We are informed, are sugar
moisses cotton, rice, tobacco wheat, four corn, aud
We suppose, lumber and behring's
We are considering this bill as revenue measure
and if these amendments are adopted they certainly
should be, if this bin to become law, the effect upon
the revenue viii be TO diminish the tax upon licenses to
MERCHANTS, amount which NAV well startle those
who are seeking TO al the Treasury We say they should
De adopted because is mWse to let IN foreign
sugar aud moases, are compelled 20 DO under the
Constitution of the United States and to burthen the
sugar and molasses Of Louisiana with heavy tax, and
this especially manufacturers Of machinery are
doing profitable and increasing business with the sugar
planters Of that State. We have already built the Dismal
Swamp canal and four railroads reaching to North Caro-
lima aud Tennessee for the purpose Of drawing the pro
ducous Of those states and North Alabama to our Dor
derS and we have Wilmington and Charleston, iormida
pie competitors for this trade It would therefore evnee
most reckless waste Of money! the extreme oil faulty
TO drive away by our legislation the veryprze for which
our labor and money have been so layishy expended
The bin, then, may believe, will be amended as
proposed and the effect Of it will be to put an end to
the upon all the 'ales of the exempted articles, which
may be made in Virginia. and of the tax upon the COM
ALL If the on the sales Of agricultural products of
other States and on the commissions for the sale of them,
is abolished take it for granted that our plant
and farmers will be subjected to burthens from
which others are exempted and therefore, that the bill
the subject has or viii be made to exempt the sales
aud commissions the sales Of our agricultural pro-
ducts from taxation.
It these exemptions are made certainly our commits
sion merchants viii have no cause to complain Of the
bur,hc1s imposed upon them by the tax bill; as such,
they viii pay taxes. The most ofour grOcers, too will
be much relieved by this exemption. Dealing in salt,
which is now imported directly from abroad; in plaster,
which comes directly from the British Provinces in fish,
Which come from the same Provinces, from our own
waters or from North Carolina; in common coffee and
sugar and rice and mosses which will be exempt from
tax it viii only be the better quality of coffee Java
and Mocha tea refined sugar spices Northern cheese
and butter, soap, OIL candles, and iron, upon which
Che heavy burthen of this tax will fall Guano too will
have 10 bear the burthen aud from the frequent COM
plants which we hear from our planters aud farmers of
he high price OF this article we would infer that an add
lion Of one per cent to that price will not be very ac
cepabe 10 them. But just to the extent that the gro
GERS and commission merchants are relieved by the
smpuons which are proposed, VIII the revenue be diam
shed Tue extent Of that reduction, we have not the
means TO ascertain accurately but that it will exceed
$4,000, We suppose there can be no doubt.
But these exemptions leave the tax to bear with all its
oppressive weight upon the sellers of dry goods bard
ware, drugs, and those groceys who deal in articles
v5,h can only be procuredtr from the North The extent
Of this barheu has been stated by the merchants in their
JcGlou But what we have 70 consider now IS whether
10 will produce revenue. and we believe will not Such
tax. SO unjust unequal and oppressive, can carry with
t no moral sanctions, however it may be clothed with all
le forms of law Every will feel that he has the
right deliver himself from its oppression if i; be
done legally and without fraud Some, we do not doubt
will stop OF rerench those branches OF their business up
on which the tax win operate; some fear, coming to
Le conclusion thar there Is no security in the justice or
ae wisdom of the General Assembly for capital employ
ei a commerce, VII. remove from The State. Others