The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-07

on the eYo Of receiving another upward impetus.
That this is done mere for the purpose Of enrich
ing Northern manufacturers thnn to produce on
ircreaso OF national revenue, car be little consoa-
ton to us. We have m Internal Revenue Bureau
exercising Patcrnal supervision o7or every branch
Of businoss on every product of industry over all
.rts, sciences, trades and professions. Parlor
matches and chow-chow pickles, Brandretit's pills
aud gin cocktails, cotton osnaburgs MonoDgshela,
and Yankee brosans, are all inspected, taxed and
stamped before they are pronounced fit for use.
Then there is an income tax, and e tax on sales,
licenses, patents, and what not all besides. A
thousand ways of evying tribute from the unfor-
t1nate individual who finds himself thrown on
these overtaxsd American shores Quoth the ta1-
nan {always poetical, as we know from expert
enco), "The world iB mino oyster Shell out"
The State tax also, heretofore light, is now very
onerous, md the more so because the bill impos-
ing it was unwisely, ineonsiderately, and hastily
concocted. 1t bears unequally on diferoa4 sec
tions Of the State. The city and its interests are
trested with marked injustice It WAS shane-
fully arrov-rninded and shortsghted policy that
c3alld dictate such tax bill. Since we last wrcte
Oh this subject VIC have been informed that some
Of the ombers Of our city delegation did their ut
most to induce the Legislature to modify some Of
the most Objectionable fentures of the bill, but
failed Of SUCCESS. We still think, hoWorer, that If
these gentlemen had come up to full sense OF
their daty to their constituents ind had kept this
bill clearly in view through the entire session. es-
peciaIly if they had actsa in concert they could
not have thus failed Of success.
We see, in the transactions Of tho Board Of
Trade on Tuesday evening lost, a resolution was
adopted requesting the Committee on Grievances
lot that Society to report what remedy, any,
can bo suggested whereby the merchants may be
| relieved from the onerous and mpoGtc tax Of ten
per cent. upon the sales Of liquors. We under
stand tho resolution was objected to upon the
ground that the Board of Trade had nothing to dc
with tie matter; that the tax was imposed by the
Icgislsture, and the Board not competent to de-
clare the law unconstitutional. Wo cannot see the
force Of this objection. It would seem to us thai
it was within the province of the Board OF Trade
Chamber of Commerce, or any other body OF mer
chants, to take such questions into consideration
They could not do so before the passage Of the Ta7
Lot, because all Witnesses agreo in the statement
4 That the Bill was hurried through tho two Houses
IN such hot haste that it would hayo been impossi
bic even to call special meeting OF the Board o.
Chamber, with q view OF procuring and rendering
i advice to the Committee who had this Bill unde
consideration. Everybody acknowledges the Inn
practicability Of some Of the provisions OF thu
lBiu; yet it is said that the Board of Trade ha'
/ nothing to do with it. The merchants of Charles
ION have right to protest sgainst this law. The!
can refuse payment Of these taxes and stand suit
Il and it would seem to ue that none Of these step
should be taken except upon mature reflection ant
proper consultation A free interchange Of opin
ions between men Of experience, of large dnanca
and commercial knowledge, upon subject Of aucl
universal interest, will not beswithout it's asoa
even though their action cannot reach the Lsgisla
L ture before next winter. ,z,zl.r:tz s.