Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-29

As the gentleman from Illinois pithily and
truthfully remarks:
Compare these tables and observe the ae-
emulation OF wealth in manufacturing States
like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and it is not diff
icult to comprehend where the benefits OF tariff
bOunties are received"
But even this picture does not fully present
the measure of injustice done the agricultural
labOrer and the great mass of the people, as It
will at once be observed that iron, steel, and
leather, salt and other articles, whose manufac-
turers are equally favored by bounties and PEN
siOns under the name Of protection, are not men
toned. The picture has been grouped by my
friend from Kentucky, Mr.. Re&d.l He says:
,,.7 DIty paid Tar charged by
-a'''O''S' Government MANUFACTURER.
Salt. .........Sl, T6,5Sl 81 s 3,36l,o0O
Iron ana Steel...... H,)JOpOJ % Si,Ol4,oJO
Leather, hides, skins
etc................ 5,2meO 90 36,Om,VOJ
Cotton goods. 10,T75,632 90 G9,IOO 600
wooden gOOds..... .35,559,4io 70 lly,6o',VuO
Total. ............s7l,21 9, sos 80 s315,7li,o5o
''It will be seen by the foregoing table that in
order to get into the Treasury the sum OF SIl29,-
S9j 80 the people have to pay the sum Of $3.50, $685.,
1880; and $751; 1850 of that amount goes into
the Golfers of the manufacturers The heart turns
sick and faint as YOU look upon the scene of
wrong and oppression laid upon the poor labor
ing man and woman OF the country by the panty
in power.
II am sustained in the estimate and calcula-
tons that have made as to the basis upon which
the people pay, and the amount they pay, by eK-
Assistant Treasurer Clark, who a short time
after he went out of office, at the close of John
sons administration, wrote a letter in which ne
SAYS that we paid upon basis of about nine hun
bred million dollars. The following is an eX-
tract from his letter:
" 1t can be clearly demonstrated that frauds
and evaSlOns are praCtiCed TO such an extent that
not more than one-halfOf the amount is collected
that should and would be if the laws were en-
forced with administrative ability and integrity.
e1GN I'll
paying upon a basis Of revenue of about nine
hundred million dollars per annum, while not
more than half Of that sum finds its way into the
Treasury
And now, sir, asyou bear in mind these very
gross and oppressive burdens, imposed by the
tariff upon the labOUing men and labOring women
OF this country, and the great injustice (nvoiY-
ing violation OF the Constitution IN the want
Of uniformity aud equality done TO the great
majority Of the people, who are dOuhly taxed,
first, for revenue, secondly, for the favored class
es, the mOnOpOlistS, l ask you TO look at the
workings Of yOUr internal revenue system, that
great engine Of fraud, robbery and demOraliZa-
ton, which in its OnerOuS burdens rests not
equally upon all sections of the country, is in its
principal features, tO-wit, in its imposition Of
taxes upon spirits and tobacco, OF very doubtful
cOnstitutOnality; il is unequal and wanting in
uniformity: il is in the nature OF an export tax,
and, If really such, not levied as required by the
Constitution. IL is enforced by means and i'll
strumentalities which are atWar with the habits,
thoughts and education OF tree people. Oaths,
the executive agencies by which it is collected
Against these and the tyranny Of the system, as
in all similar and analogous instances in the his
tory Of the human race, force, fraud and peTiu-
~ are employed, the result being demOraliza-
ton When we read the accounts Of ''Whisky
frauds,' whisky and tobacco raids, ''whiSky
rings" and tobacco Steals" do we not re-read
the history of oppressive taxation in all ages?
The amount collected does not compensate for
its cost and this Generalization and gross wrong.
Relieve those who can lily affoTd TO bear this Op-
preston, and whatever loss may be OccasiOned
to the general revenues you may readily com
penSate 10y an assessment upon the creatures Of
your fayOritism, tO-wit, the cOrpOr atiOns Of the
country. l state the revenues now derived nom
tobacco ana spirits, nrOund numbers, to be SlO,-
100000 principally paid by the States Of Ma
ryland, Virginia, Missouri, kentucky, North
Carolina and Tennessee.
Now, if you viii assess upon the manufactJIr-
ing railroad, banking and insurance corporations
OF an the States percentage sufficient to make
up this sum you viii levy the tax upon the wealth
of the country and upon those who are able to pay
it, This tax would fall upon sections alike and in
proportion TO their ability to pay. These cOrpO-
TatOrs enjoying special privileges, favored by the
legislation of the country, enriched by the labor
OF the people, made by the law, subSisted by the
law should sustain the law. But, sir, if l cannot
in the repeal of This tax succeed acting upon the
principle which has governed me heretofore
will take the lowest sum attain8ble, and regard
ing the proposition of the gentleman from Penn
svlvania as being lower than that Of the majority
OF the Committee of Ways and Means l shall in
the firstinstance vote for that, and upon failure
then shall vote for the pending proposition; or i'm
other words, recurring 10 the idea with which
set ont in these brief remarks, am only for that
kind Of tariff which shall he made for revenue
alone aud only for that amount ofreyenue which
shall be necessary for the Government ecOnomi-
cally administered.
What amount Of revenue is thst2 Turning