Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-20
The Tax on Merchants, sales.

The Tax on Merchants sales.
Proofs of the deep and general reprobaOn with which
this proposed law meets continue pour in on u.s.
largely attended meeting of merchants was held in Alex
andria Saturday evening" at which the following re'Ou-
tons, reported by a committee adopted
Whereas The House of Delegates have passed the so
called tax bill" which is calculated to effect radical
change in the settled policy OF the State, and which i'm
poses heavy taxation class OF merchants whilst
excludes from similar burdens another class and beev-
ing that is but Just and equitable that all classes OF per-
sons and property should bear equally the burdens of the
government the price Of its protectonand believing
that many of the provisions Of said bill will seriously af
feet the interests of large number Of the merchants,
whilst they may confer special and exclusive benefits on
! a few, therefore,
Resolred That we heartily concur with the views
pressed by the merchants of Richmond this subj in
their memorial the Senate of Virginia and trust that
those views may prevail with the branch of the Legisla-
ture TO which they are addressed.
RtSoiJsd, That we rely with confidence on the con-
scryatsm Of the Senate Of Virginia to the radical
changes proposed to be nauguraed into our State poll
cy and prevent by their action the imposition OF heavy
burdens upon one class to the exclusion Of another.
Resolrsd That it is more than idle to attempt to re-
strict control trade by legislative enactmonts and that
experience demonstrates the fact that Mercantile and
Commercial interests surely promoted by lcav
ing the private enterprise of the citizens untrammeed by
| legislative acts or legal impedimcnts
ed to the Senator Of this district expressive of the
views of the merchants OF Alexandria.
On the day, meeting of merchants was held in
the city of Petersburg, of whose proceedings the ES-
press gives the following report
The meeting was called to order by D'Arcy Paul ESQ,
and A. G. Mcllwane Esq elected 10 the Chair X.
A. Hamilton ESQ, appointed Secretary.
The object of the meeting was explained, and con-
else view of facts connected with the new bill
cl sy-fam nl
greatly Cypress and cripple the mercantile interests of the
State drive away capital to other portions OF the Union,
and eventually if persisted in ruin both the credit and
the progress Of the State at large A
Ii was shown that there were 6N4 merchants
taxed in the State upon the gross amount Of their sales
which is Sil15iO0O the sum of S3l59d. This is about
one-ffth of the OF taxes that is paid into the
State treasury by the entire population Under the new
law the taxation of merchants will amount to Stl 900.
This extra tax must be borne first by the wholesale
merchants who ara compelled to buy from other States
in the Union to keep up the supply and who are some
COO in NUMBER and they IN turn must make 1t out OF the
six thousand and odd small merchants who OF necessity,
must make up for their losses out OF the people This OF
course will have tendency to drive both capital and
population places where Jordan not exactly such
| hard road 10 travel
Since the first of 1852 a million and half of capital
has been driven of the three cities OF Petersburg,
Richmond and Norfolk, by the already oppressive system
| Of taxation.
There is one feature in the bill, which is good one.
That is the direct importation exemption. But 1t so
bappens that many of the important articles
sumed by Virginia cannot be imported from elsewhere
than the North and it will take many years before they
can be produced within her limits. The heavy wooden
goods and shoes for instance, and many other articles
/ which any merchant may enumeratc.
Il was stated also in the meeting that prominent firm
in Richmond Kent Paine x Co. t is said doing busi-
ness 10 the amouut of 81 oO0O 0O will be compelled 10
remove their capital from the State in case of the sue
cess Of the bill This of will be followed up by
IL. l. ID al
arteries OF commercial independence well as de-
populating the State.
ANDREW Ksyau, Esq, made some very forcible
marks u exposition Of The inevitable result OF this OPP
pres.ye law If law t soud become, and adyertcd,
illustration the simple article OF guano. The entire
trade in this article which is very urge in Virginia
would Doe lost because matter of course the farm
er would be driven directly TO purchase where they could
procure guauo cheaper.
Darcy Paul ESQ. delivered a sound sensible and ef
ecve series Of remarks upon the subject, and moved
that the sentiments of the merchants OF the city be
bodied n memorial 20 be presented 10 the Legislature.
lie showed that hy this oGous bi the disparity between
the merchant in Baltimore and the merchant Peters
burg each doing business say the extent OF 100000
would Doe that the Baltimore merchant would be paving
only 5000 taxes while the Petersburg merchant would be
having s. OOOi thereby rendering Baltimore infinitely
preferable because her merchants could afford to sell
| cheaper than any market in the State OF Virginia.
Tie true basis OF taxation, in his opinion upon
what a man ia worth. BY present taxation and the
inviting facilities of other cities, more than one halt OF the
people oCthe State led TO markets outside OF the state
What then be the consequence OF this additional
and most odious expressions IT, be continued he had
employed his capital in the city OF New FORK instead OF
| Petersburg he could have realized five times much
from il: but he chose here 10 help build mp the
State IN COMMON with Others 20 centre interests alice
tons every thing here, "a his fellow merchants had done
and uowSto be with such oppressive legislation,
sufficient 10 raise his Indignation aud that Of every true
/ citizen Of the Commonwealth.
That direct trade would be brought about by such
! legislation he said was a glazing lllacy We can have
and multiply our d.rec, trade, much may and
should do but ClnuOt receive stimulus 10y first crip
ping our resources and driving trade from the State.
| j. Arthur Johnson, ESD submitted some iorcible re-
marks uniting with the gentleman who had preceded
him. adding further nyiucible testimony to what they
had said and entering his protest against tile passage oil
/ the bin.
Thomas Branch, Esq alluded to the fact Of the vast
openings for fraud which would be brought about by
the bl drawing parallel with the liquor lass imposl-
ton, which almost as ubiquitous. lie alluded TO
the room for oversight and negligence which would pre-
vent the general effectiveness Of the law aud also poke
OF the serious effect upon the Petersburg merchants who
received wheat and toaaccO from North Carolina TO sell
ON commission or otherwise. He said cmphaicllly that
he would openly and boldly ia the broad light OF the
day evada the mpo-itious the b If IL should become
a law He would evadc 10 lcgitimatey, and that without
fear conjunction, for he would be doing right and
! opposing wrong.
On motion Of Mr. Johnston committee Of FIVE was
appointed to draft memorial, to be presented to the
Legislature through Senator DR.. J. II. Claiborne,
embodyug the sentiments and protesting against the
passage of the bill.
The sentiment, not only of the merchants but of the
community as a unit opposed 10 the passage o! this
bill and our citizens only attribute its favor in the
Legislature to a culpabe blindness the part OF the
representatives who sustain it, utter disregard OF
the vital interests of the Commonwealth the moonshine
Of promoting irec trade thereby being the only wretch
| ed bulwark 20 which they retreat.
Judge John \. Meredith.
It will be seen 10y the communication published in
rr rnlrn of nnr rannr fhnt tho BAR Of 1hc CITY Of