Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-03-14
From the Montgomery (Ala.) Mail.
Taxation and Revenue---Numbe1

Taxation and Observation-Disclosures l.
Editors MGl:-We have entered upon
the real question involved in the second
American Revolution. The question OF
taxation is the question Of government.-
The manner in which we handle it will de-
eide, 70 great extent, our future position
among nations. The policy we adopt will
in the main form that basis upon which the
confidence of foreign capital will rest; and
the action of the Provisional Government,
on the matter of revenue, embraces the ls-
sue of peace, of money and of recognition.
The peaceful entry of the cotton Confede.
racy among the family Of nations, the i'm
mediate command of money and the early
recognition of our Government, are indeed
things which no statesmen can ignore
And all these are now trembling in the
balance. Free trade will give US all these
Free trade is in direct antagonism with
duty on imports. Direct taxation is not
necessarily involved in free trade. Because
free trade is strictly consistent with duty
upon exports, and duty upon exports
throws the heavier weight of Government
upon capital and property.
We will assume in the first instance that
we resort to duties upon imports Let us
see how it effects the three great questions
of peace, money and recognition. Looking
to the policy of the Northern Confederacy,
we observe that duty on imports, on our
part, is death blow to their industrial in.
terests. The Northern States must bleed
to death, or they must conquer US, in order
to'regain their markets. We thus add the
element of cupidity and the primary law of
self-prese rvation to the forces which the
Black Republican party will strive to con-
centrate against US. We declare, of neces-
sity, long line of territory over which
smuggling will be carried on, unless defen.
ded BY chain of expensive custom.house
stations, and an innumerable number Of
non-producing tax consumers. The for
eign importer will be subjected to two du-
ties, or the risk of two duties-one levied
by the North on the high seas, the other
by the South in our own ports. Or we
must support navy strong enough to break
up the blockade, or we must rely upon for
eign assistance.
Looking abroad We offer to foreign ma
tions conditional or qualified inducement,
which may not be sufficient to decide them
speedily in our favor. We establish prin-
ciple of taxation which, in the nature of
things, inevitably leads to protection and
wasteful expenditure. In England we
produce result which must of necessity
diminish our influence in Europe, because
France is gravitating towards free trade,
and her financial policy is now in accord
ance with the views of London capitalists.
IF, however, we establish the policy Of
duty on exports, we turn the cupidity and
self interest of the North against the war
measures of the Black Republican party.
Because under such policy the North
may still supply us with many useful arti-
cles in exchange for our cotton and other
products. To that extent we devide our
enemies and strengthen our friends. We
can collect our duties on exports in our
own ports, safely and without unnecessary
expense. We throw upon foreign powers
the onus of preventing the property of
their citizens or subjects from being taxed
on the high seas. Our language to Eng
land and France is 'syour goods shall come
to us free of duty. The Northern Coufede
racy has no right to stop your ships and
levy imposts upon the property of your peo
pie. If you think fit to allow it, that is
your affair and not ours" 1t needs no
great amount of foresight to anticipate the
answer of England and France. They
would very properly side with their own
people and protect their own interests,
which, of course, guarantees the recogni-
ton of our Government.
Now, the certain anticipation of such re-
coguition by the great powers of Europe,
would still more unite our own people,
Nor would it be without powerful moral
influence at the North. The certainty of
our recognition, combined with the other
causes to which have alluded, would CON-
pletely paralyze the arm now uplifted a.
gainst US. The certainty of our recogni-
tion is the guarantee of peace. Because
the North would have not only to invade
our soil, which is an impossibility, but
maintain a naval conflict with England,
France, Holland and Belgium. And her
declaration of war against US, would at
once exclude her from the free trade ad.
vantages enjoyed by other nations. AS
war measure, or rather as peace measure,
the policy of free trade and duty on ex-
ports must commend itself to the good
sense even of those who, under other cir,
cumstances, differ with me upon the alb
stract question of revenue and taxation.
have said that free trade will command
the confidence Of European capitalists.-
The assertion is made, because it may be
safely assumed, that London governs the
money market of the world. Now, what is
the position of England at this time p
Why, sir, she is confronted with two evils
of such magnitude, that there is really no
choice between them, for either will prove
fatal to her. Her cotton industry and her
cotton trade, based upon this imperial in
dustry, makes it absolutely necessary that
she should have her ordinary and regular
and permanent supply of American cotton
She must pay for this cotton. To pay for
it in specie, will break every bank in the
nnited kinodom. To lose her specie would