Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-22

ed direct Importation NAV be gathered from the simple
facts Of the following table, giving the value OF imports
into the two States at different times within recent Pc
Rod
1921. 1853.
Maryland imports, 4o7O,sl2 68SoO78
Virginia do lO7S,49O S99OOi
In word the importation OF Maryland increased over
ffg per cent in % years. while the importation oil llr
guia under the partial aud exacng system OF taxation
alluded to, decreased orer SIXTY per cent on the same IN
terest.
Direct importation is but a branch Of general com
merce, and cannot and ought not if could be encour
aged at the expense Of other and not less necessary de-
parments of trade So also manufactures which are like
wise TO be greatly benefited, hear from this new II
nanCa bous can only flourish under equitable dlstr
button Of the public burtheus What have the restric
tons Virginia trade in the shape Of the onerous taxa
ton of the last % years done for manufactures Is
it a fact notorious it is amenable, that the
manufacturing interests of Virginia have gradually OWN
died away until they are shame and reproach TO U.S.
When under parOXysm OF patriotic feeling sundry wOr-
thy citizens of the Commonwealth with distintngush
ed Senator at their head recently resolved to adopt DO
nestle manufacture for their clothing the best that var
gnil had to offer her sons stuff that had not cross
ed the threshold OF fashionable tailor for hall century
Substantial it and good enough for any, but manifest
" the very hornbOok Of cloth manufacture. Are not our
mills idle working at sacrifice? Who, for example,
expects see dividend declared by local factories
under the existing state of things
IL direct importation IS desirable, DC Just 10 inc iltI
chants who must be the importers. II factories are
needed lay as light a hand you upon the mer-
chants who build the factories supply the raw material
the factories and purchase the products OF the iacto
RES
is impossible to imagine any Just reason for these
persistent efforts to thrust upon trade the whole burdens
of the State. The mercantile community are certainly
not the least patriotic the least liberal not the least
benevolent subjects OF the State If colleges are to be
bulj schools churches, Railroads.&c. benevolent
enterprises TO be nauguraed and carried into com
pietOuif the wasting pcstlence or the deadly blight
sends feeble hands knocking at the door OF chary-t
genius is TO be parouiZed and the labor OF the plOidns
brain Is 10 be encouraged-it the factory needs an I'M
proved loom the field improved pow, and inyer-
ton lacks means perfect is work. il is to the merchant
that the first appeal is made, and from his munlcence
the largest aid is confidently expected.
Surely n class OF men upon whom such drafts are
made aud by whom such drafts literally met, de
generous treatment at the hands OF the lie
gIslature.
From me Alexandria Sentinel.
In addition TO what we have heretofore said upon this
law remark that the Law has holes in il which tend 70
defeat It's ayowed objects unless they can be stopped
For instance tax IS laid on merchants who buy outside
Of our Safe but not on consumers. The merchant will
either aud this tax on the price of his goods, be will
endure himself If he adds IL then the tax becomes,
in It's whole extent actual jBdctBct TO NTgul con-
st1irrs 10 buy outside OF Virginia They would thus
escape the tax which IL they bought of their home meT-
chants they would have to pay.
Nor would any iuducement to Virginia merchants TO
buy Of each ohcrthe retailer Of the wholesiler-be
created Because the tax for dealing outside the State,
would be just the same as the increase Of price inside
The exemption from the tax in the of impOra-
tons and home manufacturers would undoubtedly ope-
rate 10 that extent TO encourage those modes OF supply
But what Is per cent for such purpose? Why, the
advocates of protection to home industry SO they
have called it-hlyc been insisting in all the tariff aud
anttarH contests Of the country on forty fifty, one
hundred per cent total prohibition, iudspcu-
sable 10 the growth OF home manufactures Now, when
Northern manufactures are ryaug those Of Europe in
the markets of the world, to shut them out of
Virginia by tax OF one per cent projections.
would laugh at the idea
Considering the proposed bill a promoter Of impor-
tlons or manufactures, it seems therefore TO fall shor
OF any appreci1ble influence Take 1t simply as tar
JH aud IFS probable effect and comparative merit as
such, and we have another question.
Considered in the latter view, we fad that j; dimn-
-hes the tax on very small dealers but greatly increases
it Oh large dealers All whose annual sales are less than
s 001 will pay from h0o to ftsea dollars less under the
proposed law than under the existing one. But above
that amount OF sales the rises rapidly and enormous
y sales of $4,000 viii be taxed $500 instead of S2r';
and sales OF 100000 would pay 81 900 instead OF SOS
The tendency of such change IS OF course, to il-
crease the number of small dealers and diminish thc
number Of large. This not the way TO encourage that
particular expansion OF business operations out OF which
The capacity import syringe and which 10 rests.
On the contrary, 10 digs 10 up by the roots
Il drives away the merchant of large transactions 10
more friendly communities; and supplies his place with
small dealer; aud it tends to send consumers Of large
needs and critical tastes the low prices and extensive
stocks of outside cities.
To u.s. therefore the law seems to be not only leIec-
tive as IFS objects but absolutely fatal WhetLcrit
will be yopUU among the traders is another thing for
e. dmiuishes taxes persons than those who sui-
fer by iucEclst. I'm city hundred and eighty
viii have their taxes diminished from two TO fifteen dol,
lars each while Gy-niue will each have theirs increased
by various up 20 hundred and h!ty dollars
more a 9rs the question win stand $50 20 - But
as question of justice aud sound policy and the general
good we trust that even tue >D would take enlarged
rather than o selfish vicw while appeal with conf
deuco to the DISTINGUISHED take ground against p5-
cy which fatal Iftha Legislature afford TO
reduce the small dealers let it do II il wish
offer bouaes 10 importers and manufacturers, letit
DO so and by ndirecdon but straight and straight
on. If It wishes 20 coerce home dealing aud home trade,
let It coerce and bind consumers, well merchants