New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-04

PETERSBURG, VA, April 2, 1872
To the Editor oftte Nec National Era:
On the 10th ult., delegation of colored
men from Petersburg, Va, visited Washing
ton, d. c., and held an interview with the
Committee on Ways and Means. The dele
cation presented to the House, through Hon.
James H. Plat, Jr., M. c., series Of reso-
buttons and petition of over two thousand
signers, citizens of Petersburg, irrespective of
race, or color, or previous condition on ac-
count of servitude. Said petition and reso-
lutions were received by the House and pro-
perly referred. The delegation, resolutions,
and petition ask for a uniformity of tax on
tobacco, not for the benefit of few but for
many persons, aside from the tobacco mer-
chant and manufacturer.
In Virginia the manufacture of plug to-
baccO is carried on extensively. 1t is the
staple business of Richmond, Lynchburg,
Danville, and Petersburg and smaller places.
In each place large number of men, women,
and children are employed in the business.
Upon each operator at least four persons are
dependent. The manufacturer of plug to-
bacco is taxed higher than the manufacturer
of fine cut and chewing tobacco. Hence the
low taxed tobacco monopolizes the market,
and virtually excludes the plug tobacco,
thereby causing much suffering among the
people for the necessaries of life. The high
taxed tobacconist not being able to compete
with the low-taxed tobacconist, for he cannot
sell his tobacco as low as the latter can, and
meet his tax and other requisitese, he is,
therefore, compelled to decrease or suspend
his business. In either case he and many
others suffer loss. In localities where plug
manufacturing is the principal business, mer-
chants, mechanics, tradesmen, marketmen,
farmers, laborers, &C., are dependent upon
the traffic for support.
1t may be said LET the plug manufac-
turer turn his business into the manufacture
ing of fine-cut and smoking tobacco" That
he cannot well do, because he has largely
invested-perhaps his all--in machinery, ETC.,
for plug manufacturing. Why uniformity
of tax on distilled spirits and not on tobacco?
Echo answers why? Throughout this State
all business dependent on plug manufacture
ing is in a paralyzed condition. Thousands
are thrown out of employment-especiall
in that season of the year when employment
is needed for protection against the rigors of
winter. The last two years have witnessed
untold sutferings in the tobacco traffic locali-
ties. The sales of merchants are diminished,
the work of the mechanic is lessened, the
| tradesman finds slack in his business, the
farmer finds no ready sale for his produce !;
lastly, though not least of all, the churches,
the missionary work Of The Gospel, benevolent
operations, and divers work of charity, feel
| the pressure of the closcness of money, all
because the tobacco trade is depressed by a
partial taxation on tobacco.
| In some States and localities one branch
of business is not the principal but many
branches are carried on extensively. The con-
sequence is that when persons have not en-
ployment in one they can resort to another and
thereby keep away from poverty's vale. I'm
fortunately it is not so in this State. For
years tobacco has been and is the principal
business. When it is depressed, they who
are dependent thereon must suffer or emf
CRATE. Many persons have left the State.
In conclusion, we look upon the subject from
political standpoint. Who imposes the
non-uniform tax on tobacco? A REpUB-
LIcAN CONGRESS. Who are the sufferers
from such? La the main they are persons
OF color who adhere to the Republican party.
Deep mutterings can be heard, that if the Re-
publican party legislates away their head and
sustenapce Of life by partial taration, they
will be compelled to seek refuge in some other
party, and give to it their strength. If Con-
gress will Immediately act and remove the
barrier in this case, to peace, happiness, and
domestic tranquility, it will relieve much
suffering in the tobacco raising and manufac-
turing sections of the country.
Yours for humanity,
| II. WILLIAMS