Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-05


take our place among the sovereign nations of the world
fIarmed with IN the elements OF national strength and
power 10 punish insult or aggression, enforce security
for our persons and property and sacred observance ot
our laws So that whatever may be the influence OF the
tumutuary emotions which now peryade the bosoms of
our people in urging this subject at this time, upon their
y-maker, the attainment OF great object should
become vital and everactive part of the public policy
of the State and of the South and should be pursued
with earnest enlightened and systematic assiduity.
is not 10 be denied concealed that the most pru-
dent manner of accomplishing the end in view is mat
ter of difficulty and doubt and demands careful and de-
liberate consideration. Established channels of COM
merce cannot suddenly be changed without large and
varied detrment to the community; for the laws of trade
are but secondary laws of nature, being the reciprocal
forces of demand and supply. And what with the dis
tbutOn of rich agricultural resources and slave labor
on the one hand and manufacturing facilities and white
labor on the other and the unequal action of partial leg
islaton by the Federal Government, building up
ton of the country at the expense of the other, the
course of trade among the Northern and Southern States
has been long and has become so lrmly established
that great interests and ramfed business and social
aons have grown up in and between the two sections
so that sudden and violent disruption of the existing
system would entail manifold evils on all parties con-
cerned.
But no great object can be accomplished in the life
either Of individuals Of States without wise effort and
some sacrifice and in proportion TO the magnitude of the
object and the decacy and difficulty OF its achievement
should be circumspectOn and rreachng agacity the
one hand and concentrated energy and dauntess devo
ton on the other Sacrifices certainly we shall have to
make at first and it may be for long time but sacrh
ces must and viii be made and craven and accursed be
he who shrinks from the obligations of duty and honor
Meanwhile the gradual results of success will prove alike
Gratifying and profitable and the final conSummation
Will be full of consolation aud triumph, of independence
and power
well ordered system of legislation, with hearty CO.
.I oC tha is ba-
Ieyed, will safely and ultimately achieve the end
Your memori.lsts would begin with relieving
foreign commerce far possible, from the burdens
and restrictions by which is encnbered BY the acts
of Congress import duties are imposed on nearly all
Goods imported into this country, and by the statute OF
Virginia every vessel bringing cargo from abroad is
compelled to pay tax for ploage, which amounts, on
4 VOYAGE TO and from Richmond TO about one hundred
and fity dollars The duties imports the Legislature
of Virginia cannot alter or affect but the tax for pilot
age It can and ought 10 diminish and revise. IL = well
known that in the pilots are unnecdcd aud
often never come on board the vessel except receive
their fees or Communication thereof in consideration Of
dispensing with their services The present useless and
pernicous restrictions in this respect on onr foreign
trade should be modified removed anu whle all law
nil incumbrunces should be continued and increased on
Northern vessels trading coaswie ndcious discrmina
lions might be made in favor Of virginia and Southern
bottoms trading TO aud from any part OF the world
Such would gladden. the hearts OF our import
ing merchants and greatly stimulate and foster the ncp
lent enterprise and activity oi our shipping interests ahd
foreign marine
Auxiliary 10 this judcous bountes prudenty discrim
mating in favor of such articles most need aud can
most easily get from abroad should be given 10 goods
of direct foreign importation. At the period OF the Rev
oluon the foreign trade of Virginia was greater than
that OF New York. Since that time until within the few
wears has suffered not only immense relative but
even positive decline. Various causes have combined
to produce this result but the singular circumstance de-
serves special notice that from the times OF the Nonlu-
tercourse and Embargo laws until the wear 1856 Nrgi
Mn has actually Disseminated against her foreign com
erce By unconstitutional legislation. BY act of 2Sd
January, l799 Ed. Laws, lSO@, P. 1867 all persons
selling merchandise OF foreign growth, or manufacture,
by wholesal, and retail" compelled to pay heavy
license tax under severe penalties, while no license was
necessary sell other goods. This law was substantial
y reenacted year after year, not only throughout the
war OF 1872 but down to 1928 when licenses were for
the first time required 20 sell all kinds OF merchandise
whether of foreign or domestic growth manufacture
See Ed. J.. lSO$ p. Ala. Ed, l.. 1905 pp s., Al
III. l.. 1872 PIP. -, - b. ~, l1 Aets O lhl, loIf
1915 L. H. Is D. l. Rev q. p. 1 Sup K. &. @26 -
The act OF s2S was yearly reenacted until lSS9, when
what was called the scale on licences was introduced
which was tax the amount OF sales. In lbi9, the
present system Of taxation adopted being tax on
license and tax the amount OF sales. IL Is curious
fact that in the existing taXaw-paSSed IN lS55-a pro-
vision was for the first time inserted exempung foreign
mportations from taxation on sales by the importer
See Acts ls394O p. 1. Acts S4g p. l. Acts 1886, PIP
II, 49,
In respect to goods of foreign importation, sold in
bulk package by the importer the Supreme Court o
the United States decided in the case OF Brown rs the
State of MARYLAND ~ Wheat 1876, that any State tax
i unconstitutional IL thus appears that the state OF
Virginia from 1899 TO lS5G-more than half century
kept upon her statute-book unconstitutional law
discriminating against her foreign trade, by imposing up
on it unjust and illegal burdens BY the act OF 1885, the
Il. =. Iaslra raFTGFa from fhl
amount Of sales on which he pays license tax equal to
the amount of import duties paid by him and tue value
of goods which such duties paid-such value TO
be xed by the appraisement at the Cusomliouse TINS
provision not, may at first SEEM release oil tax
alton on imported goods and reimbursement TO the I'M
porter of the amount of duties paid thereon. But 1t Is
in effect release by the State OF the sub ects OF taxa
ton under the license law to extent equivalent to the
tax on the value of the goods imported and the duties
paid on the This indeed, was move in the right
direction and the gratifying results already realized JUS
fy liberal extension OF the and nohler policy thus
naugurated. How far, and on what articles, the import
duties paid the Federal Government by the direct I'M
porter should be reimbursed by the State and how TAR
and on what articles State taxation should be relnqush
ed on goods of direct foreign importation in the hands oi
retail dcaers-purchasers the direct importersare
matters of detail which need not be entered into in tins
memorial but which an appropriate committee-that
perhaps of Finance-upon full inquiry and lnvestga-
ton might well ascertain and udlcousy present Tor the
consideration Of the Legislature Certain it is, that in
this manner most efficient encouragement could be con-
stitutonay aud wisely given to direct trade with foreign
countries.
Your memoriasts cannot omit here to state, with
proud satisfaction that especially in one department our
direct foreign trade within the last few years has been
greatly vivihed and enlarged. The expectation OF flour
to South America and the importation in return OF col
fee and other tropical products have literally rewarded
mercantile enterprise and forecast, and have greatly
stimulated enlightened zeal and adventure i'll other de-
partments of foreign commerce with other ports of the
world auspicOus of solid and gratifying results.
Securing by the means above indicated the largest
practicable positive encouragement to direct mporatons
your memoriass would suggest the incidental and pow
erfu stimulus TO our foreign trade which must come from
the imposition of excise taxes by the State upon all goods
and merchandise the product manufacture OF the in
imca nonslaveholding States. Should such an excise
law be passed il is easy to that fabrics from those
States would be placed under most discourgng burdens
We might them by degrees, heavily and more heav-
ly as occasion required justified until il deemed ne
ccssary or proper xeses amounting prohibition might
he imposed.
should this measure be regarded unwise or impracti
cable your memOralsts would pray that other
means NAV be adopted if possible to accomplish the
same end If the existing system of taxation be consid
cred right and proper taxes might be laid on the sales
of Northern goods amounting eventually to prohibition
A third scheme has been suggested which may deserve
consideration 1t is the plan OF heavy license taxes
our merchants with the tender of bond in the nature
of defeasance conditioned with approved security, that
the merchant shall buy or sell goods Of Northern
manufacture under penalties imposed
Your memoriasts would not assume the province Of
deciding which of these would he most in
cordance with the fundamental law OF the land or the
spirit and ohargcter of our institutions and people, or
which would best accomplish the object in view But
your memorasts would most earnestly urge the adop-
ton of stringent and effective measure to discourage