Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-23
Tho Tnr ON Merchants.

lA' 'tt lr mouse OF Nt.tSles, imposing tax on Ier-
chants, a measure for raising revenue We propose
to consider today as measure for rendering us indie.
pendent Of the North. That the South has been too
much eng-ossed and controlled by her agricultural and
planting interests and has TOO much neglected and even
discouraged and thvar.ed the interests OF manufactures
and commerce, Is nov che opinion, we believe Of an
parties But whilst su concur in the opinion that our
dependence on che North should be limited the opinions
which to be entertained Of the facility with which
the object may be effected and Of the means by which
80 is to be accomplished might well provoke our laugh
ser if the attempt 20 carry these opinions into action
did not give just fear that the consequences
may be ruuous the country. II Fayette once said,
with bis characteristic wisdom or oly-as it may be
that for people 20 be free it was only necessary TO viii
TO- And our politicians with like sagacy, seem 70 be-
Geve that is only necessary for the General Assembly
70 say-that Virginia shall be independent Of the North
and s,rasbtvay is done. The simple sentence LET
there be Light and there was light is indeed sublime,
because there is involved In t. a once the idea Of the
authority command, and the power do. But when
Little politicians assume TO command the impossible
they only prove that there is but step from the sub
line 70 the ridiculous.
As this DIN is the oulvmeasure which is row proposed
90 accomplish our independence Of the North the en-
curry is viii 8, accomplish that purpose Aud the FIST
thing that strikes us i- chat the House of Delegates
which bad bug few days before this bin was taken up
Tor consideration, expressed a very decided opinion
against this mode Of establishing our independence OF
the North should bave been induced 70 support IT, As
measure Of finance we trust we have shown rhat 10 is
fure, and certainly, the persons who pressing
% upon the Senate DO not support upon that ground
To come TO "a just conclusion upon the capacity Of
this bill to accomplish che object which its advocates
aim is necessary consider what is present cou-
di,on and determine upon the efficacy OF the
means TO effect the 05-c, without knogedee of what
S. necessary TO De done
OF the Sal, 100000 of merchandise sold 10 Virginia
there are as we stated on Che Dist about SI4o0o0oo
twice sold; and near S-0QJ0I1 were sold TO leave the
State There may -l-yo been 100000 OF Virginia
mangiactures This wtl leave S-iVvHV0' o, mer-
caandzs 90 oe provided annually for Che people of Viz
gl-, beyond and above WIS, manufactured az pre- Pro.
o. tls merchandise i' E stated by the merchants a Ilsr
position 90 tle Senate chat upwards o. one half is not
imported ut5 The country, au. IS exclusively manuile
turei the North OF The other halt the whole except
an iuc0usicr5e fraction TOO small De taken into
s.ierauou in the estimate OF this great question is I'M
ported INTO Northern eHes and Is brought irom thence
hy our merchants 10 then we are 10 stop all commerce
with ile North We a5c 20 provide ourselves with this
sl2Vylull o.. merchandise, no" only manufactured u
che North. either hy manufacturing - ourselves or de-
ing without &c. importing directly from Europe and
f. we are Co iup5r; &, irccd- mus, import DO ad
diaon to tae slzouoUU0 now imported into the North
and brousb, irom ,lelco by our merchants, start
ling proposition and one Of which we suppose that any
man no. deaf TO all the appeals OF reason or common
sense. would SAYS impossible
General Assembly DO not belong to this school and NE
-es,ut the proposition TO their consideration First can
We do without the merchandise. The articles which
make ,9 ths 100000 OF merchandise are no, the
Injuries of the wealthy, or even of those +, moderate
-,.rn.suees They are the common necessities of eve,
,y-,,r ,,,s, and .f4Ii in every walk I'm r.. The,
-s che coarse wooden and cotton Goods the leather the
s5ss tb. t,ts and can, worn by an OF all condition.
10 life the mechanic, tools. the surgeons implements
tbesxss the hammers the spais. tbeb hoes the shovel.
OF the planter and farmer; the locks upon our houses
The buttons on our clothes the busSes upon our har
ness. the pins. the Iucer matches the brushes and
tor,s tts mats and the thousand other things which
,.s-i. tf, daily r.s and constitute the daily neces..
$3.50 I'M. ,s,. n, ID, without them l. tt.r irro..
able
r.,t.rs those GOOD. I'm sufficient al,rti-y
b Virginia Oftbess goods. We probably manufacture
in Virginia 70 the value Of 100000. We TO it,
crease their manufactures at SINCE bound $4,000
O0l Believing tlat the days of miracles are passed and
therefore that ,ls great work Is TO be accomplished
it must be done ia node consistent vi b tie ordinary
motives and modes OF human action, We LOOK for the
means by which it is to be done The work vii require
= large amount Of capital Where is &c q lie obtained
The capital owned by citizens OF Virgins, 70 the amount
OF al least 100000 has been bauiS from the State
by our legi-lauon-egsaiio IN Tea ION TO interest
commercial securities and tN4uou and We perceive no
disposition 10 the General Assembly TO change Tie policy
which has produced this result And We say with sill
elaboration that che passage Of this bin by the House OF
Delegates and the concurrence which has been thereby
expressed ia the views Of the Auditor on the principle
OF taxation have purau obstacle IN the way otrve>menls
Of capital 10 5gmmerc.a and manufacturing pursuits,
which viii uege- be removed until the General Assembly
bv the change Of It's system shall repudate tina; policy