Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-30
Thc Truc Commercial Policy Of virginia.

Thc True Commercial Policy Of VirGinia.
In two previous articles, under this caption,
we have already indicated our settled convic-
ton that no important progress will bc made
until the capital upon which it must be based,
shall have the assurance Of protection from I'M
equal and indefinite taXation and, further, shall
be at liberty to seek its seturns Of profit IN en-
portation and Importation without the apprc.
hcnsion of loss from the blghting influences Of
legal limitations and restrictions. The simple
doctrines, in our estimate, which will most IA
pidly lead us to the goal of commercial indie
pcndcncc are the now prevalent doctrines OF
free trade. These give the inspiration Of con-
fidcnce, without which men of capital all over
the world hesitate 10 adventure their means in
the uncertainties Of ,rafiice They smooth the
way for the interchange Of products, to and
FROM their natural markets. They afford pro-
lection against the ruluouS elects Of Il shifting
policy, under whose changes the plans OF the
most prudent care and calculation are Liable TO
defeat. In short, they leave the merchant as
free to plough the ocean us the farmer to till
the land, and place him under the same protec-
ton, in return for his allcgiancc thus opening
to every citizen all the avenues to wealth Oh
the same terms This, inevitably, leads to Il
natural distribution of the capital, industry
and energies of the people throughout the va
-, ,n,1.o TN,
resources and power Of the State, instead OF
forcing one at the expense of the other, and to
the detrmenL and weakness of the whole.
The great danger to hc apprrhcndcd from all
the efforts Of special legislation to force trade
suddenly out Of its ordinary track, upon new
and untried fields Of adventure, is forcShadowed
in this view OF the benefits which attend upon
it's freedom We may, in this way, divert il
from some particular current; but this will only
be effected hy diminishing lis life in every
other.
In our present relations with the Northern
States, it is hegeneral and natural wish OF the
people of Virginia to supply, us speedily rs
possible from other sources, the multitude OF
wants, for which they have heretofore been tie
pendent upon Northern commerce and North
ern manufactures. Yet this c0nSummation,
"most dcvoutly to be wished" will scarce
" Ic reached 10y remedies which have the
general effect to weaken us still more in
that very department in which We now
feel our weakness the most. Ne may dimi.
niSh our wants and live economically; wc may
encourage home manufacture lry Il dScriirlna.
ton that applies to our pockets; We may oilcr
premium fer the productions Of foreign coun-
tries; and thus, eventually, convince Northern
hnalici>ll, by bitter experience, of the penalty
of returning evil for good. All this may be
done without injury to ourselves or disturbing
the genera. interests Of Our trade. So we may,
by Il liberal and uniform course Of policy, in
crease the Inducements for Investment in cnln-
ncrcia enterprises ut home; and us capital
flows in, and intelligence and energy arc applied
in this vocation, We daily add 10 our own re-
sources and substract from that dependence
which is the strength Of our foes.
But 4 resort to measures which, while they
aim blow at others, rcco upon ourselves with
greater force, from thcir conflict with the laws
upon which all trade is founded, is only calcu'
lated to strike from our own hands the weapons
on which we must rely for our defence If we
adopt such laws for the purpose Of limiting
trade in one direction, as shall have the effect
to decrease its attractions and dwarf il in all
other directions, when can we hope to rely upon
ourselves, or become commercially independent
of our neighbors. The laws Of trade must be
reversed, or the commercial policy OF Virginia
must be rcmodclcl upon the basis Of equality,
uniformity stability anu free trade, before that
day arrives.
In connection with this subject, we have be-
fore referred to the undivided sentiment Of mcr-
chants throughout our cities upon the results
OF past legisation--and as we regard them best
qualified to judge Of it, practical effects, We
proposed to quote from some of the memorials
in which they have made public representa-
tonS Of it's hearing upon the commercial in
tcrcst.
IN Il 1llclllDTIai plCSCitCIi W wv
by the Richmond Board Of Trade in 1856, We
find the following conclusion
"Wc pray thatfn any future revenue bills,
we NAV be taxed in like manner, in like ratio
! to our means, ascertainel BY the same tests,
with all other citizens OF the Commonwealth.
! 1t is not only the diSproportioncd personal
| tax from which we seek relief, but from the
effect of q policy which seriously tends t"
! dwarf the growth of the cities OF the State.
and from the injustice of 4 discrimination
! which gives to merchants as Il class an tncn-
viablc distinction among the citizens ot Inc
Stale. 4 reference to the largest CONNER
cal emporium of the United States will fur
nish the best and strongest evidence in bc'
half Of a liberal policy in this regard. While
| millions could hc obtained for State purposes
by such tan on the active capital Of New
! York, her merchants arc not Only not subject
ed to any license, but their capital is placed
! upon the same footing with Investments IN real
estate or any other property. The history ol
every comnercal people plainly teaches that
while an onerons rate Of taxation upon active
! rapital may, By various eSprdcntS, avail Tor
TEMPORARY purposes Of revenue, in series OF
wears it defeats its own object hy rcprcSslng
! the increase Of wealth aud population. the only
permancnt sources Of revenue Upon which the
treasury can rely"
We content ourselves. for the present, with
but ono other citation Of this opinion. During
the present session Of the General Assembly
memorial was presented, signed by large
number of the merchants of this city, intended
| 70 convey their sentiments upon the measures
best adapted 10 meet the general desire Tor IT,
lease from dependence Oh the North, and in
two Of the pamphlets offered as part oi that
memorial, this SUBJECT was introduced. In
one of these We find the following language:
r,,,l s.o,,, t l., IN axiom i'm politicS