Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-05-22

lot tho bcntnt OF tue thhks t'e" "'pt"etJ
measures will only give them more iaeili-
ties. Tho 81 tax il disgraceiul failure
II was conceived In sin, and begotien Ia
iniquity. and lis life has behtted Us breed
ing. IL should be wiped out absolutely
or reduced TO a rate 30 low a. 10 take
away the enormous profits which support
this gang, and have built up thousands ol
distilleries In places where, but for the
Illicit gains, they would not exist.
The material interests destroyed by this
corrupt system, are the smallest considera-
ton for It's abolition; but they are very
great, vastly greater than are generally
supposed. particularly by those whose
laudablc zeal against drinking ardent
spirit has run TO fanaticism which makes
them iItolerant Of its existence, and oblivi-
GUS to any good use Of IT, All the nu-
merous mechanical and chemical arts and
manufactures, OF which alcohol il ma
terial, are either obliged 10 close business
because in other places the arrangements
with the revenue officers make the material
cheaper, or they are obliged TO risk their
embellishments by entering into the fraud
And at the best, they are liable to have
their establishments seized at any nome Mt,
and themselves ruined in credit. and
brought to bankruptcy, by the arbitrary
power which the law puts in the hands OF
corrupt officers, whom they have neglec-
ted to placate.
The great whisky trade Of Cincinnati
once the principal market in the world
has dwindled to small dimensions. The
manufacturing, which was carried on in .
great grain growing district, OF which this
was the center, has gone to Eastern cities
and to the South. The cost ofthe material
is now Of little consequence, compared
with the revenue arrangements. Aud
thus sugar and molasses are imported to
be distilled, and our own product, corn, is
neglected. Our recti6ers can lay down
whisky bought in Eastern cities, for less
than they can buy il here. Our manuiac.
turers Of varnishes, and oil sorts of chemi-
calls into which alcohol enters, can not now
compete with those Of Eastern cities, un-
less they 90 there to buy the raw ma
terial
They can not even carry on business
without liability 10 seizure and ruin; for,
unless they 90 into market and pay from
80 cents TO 100 cents a gallon more than
is asked, they will have spirits at price
which in the eye Of the law is prima tacie
evidence of fraud aud cause of seizure.
Our commerce and manufactures arc being
robbed to the amount Of millions Of dollars
year by this whisky tax alone. The
public generally have little idea how wide
are the rami6cations Of the trade in dis
titled spirits, and how il concerns every
person.
For example take tho manufacture Of
vinegar. Almost all pure vinegar is now
made from whisky. Cider is chiefly spur
ious. Whisky makes tho best vinegar,
and is the only material abundant enough
for it. This is an article used by every
family. Its manufacture probably reach.
ed 30, 600 barrels year in this city 1t
takes about five gallons Of proof Of whisky
to make barrel of vinegar. A mauufac
turer Of this city informs US that formerly
he made 5000 barrels year, but that
since January his factory has been lying
idle, because vinegar made at Buffalo and
other Eastern cities, by their better facii.
ties for getting whisky, and sold cheaper
in this market than he could make it.
But, as we said, although this has rob-
bed us Of many millions Of dollars Of trade
and has destroyed the investments Of capi
tai in manufactures toa very large amount;
yet these material interests are the lesser
of the reasons for the abolition of this
odious system. Ii has become Infamous
The whole country is disgusted at it. 1t
is destroying all respect for government,
and making men Indifferent to the dis
charge of any obligations to revenue
which is thus abandoned to thieves. Its
continuance will destroy all the revenues,
will bring reputation, and will break
down the Government. It's existence
from one day to another is daily dis
grace. The country will be relieved morally
and pecuniarily by its immediate and total
abolition. But we suppose that certain
rate of tax-at the highest not more than
20 cents-which will not furnish the
means to support this vast corruption, can
be collected, by greatly reduced force,
and with the abolition of the bonding,
warehousivg aud export drawback features;
and that this will pay more than double
the revenue that can be collected by 80
tax by any administration Gazette.