Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-05-15
The Tax on Louisiana Sugar.

Il
or less interested in the agricultural
and commercial prosperity of the
State, to take into consideration the
high rate of excise duty to which
Sugar raised in Louisiana is now
subjected, and to demonstrate against
the same. A petition was drawn up
numerously signed, and forwarded
to Washington, soliciting Congress to
remove the oppressive tax. We
have not seen what action, if any,
Congress has taken on the subject,
but we can scarcely hope that under
existing political circumstances, such
action will meet with the wishes Of
the petitioners. The St. Louis Re-
publican recommends that The petit
ton from this State be seconded by
others, especially from cities like 81.
Louis, and hatters itself with the idea
that they cannot fail Of a respectful
reception from Congress and will be
likely to bring the relief desired and
bring it speedily. We sincerely
hope that this may turn out 50.
Sugar raised in Louisiana, as the
Republican remarks, now pays an ex
else duty of from Is to rs per cent.
on its gross market value No other
farm products, save cotton, pay any
duty. Against this tax the cutlery,
from all classes in Louisiana, is loud
and universal. They say it is ruin.
Gus, and they state facts enough TO
show the truth of what they affirm.
We believe their assertion, that this
tax will extinguish the sugar culture,
now trying again to rear its head in
Louisiana, under all the discourage
ments growing out of transition
state in the labor market.
That part of Louisiana called the
Delta is suitable for raising sugar,
and not well fitted for the cultivation
of cotton or even corn. Probably
there is no better use to which it
could be put, other things being
equal, than the cultivation of sugar
cane. 1t is probable that, even with
free labor, sugar may be raised there
at profit without any increase of
the tariff The present tariff is high
enough and we should be averse to
raising it higher, for the benefit Of a
home sugar interest, which could not
live without the protection it receives
from the tariff as it stands now. We
presume the Louisiana sugar fields
may be cultivated with some
though no inordinate-proft, with
out additional protection, but the in
ternal tax they cannot stand. If
that is continued, the sugar cultiva-
ton has got to cease. Is this desi-
rable? We may ask, indeed, if the
plain short method of preventing
such a misfortune should not be ap-
piled at once2
In this subject all the men in Lou
isiana, of all shades of opinion, are
agreed. Nobody dissents. They
hope, too. that when the matter is
fairly presented to Congress that
body will act in it as good sense and
prudent regard FOR the interests of
the country, North as well as South,
dictate. 1t is for the interest of the
whole country that sugar should be
grown in large quantities in Louisi-
ana and Texas; and at least no OBJ
stacles should be thrown by Govern
ment in the way of its cultivation.
The less we grow in the United
States, the more we have to bury
abroad and we agree with those
who insist that, for whatever we can
suitably raise on our own soil, under
our own skies, we should be as little
dependent on other countries. The
tax is an exceptional one. tits such
as no other farm product is made to