The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-18
The ), merchants /, Tax.

for every man 10 deeply IateIestsu an Wv W
cisiou Of this absorbing question. None
would be turtle, than ourselves from inco neon
siderasely ob.ruding their opinions a. ~ Tune
when the learned judges Of this tribunal
have subject under earnest consideration.
We have not the remosest idea that any.
thing we might say could 10 the slig htest
degree affect the opinions Of the upright men
who compose it. But we allude to the sub
jecl more for the purpose OF expressing
some practical views of it than to discuss
the constisutionali,y OF the tax on mer.
chants. We have fully developed our own
views on the subject, giving our reasons for
considering that tax unconstitutional but
on the point Of policy there are reasons
secondary only 70 constitutional considera-
tiops which should decide the Legislature
against disastrous discrimination against
commerce in the levying tax to pay the
expenses OF Government.
We have always contended that q fair and
enlightened view Of agriculture and CON-
,nerce would show that they are sympathetic
and inseparable. You cannot impair the vel
fare Of the one without ipjuring the other.
1t must be remembered that 10 this coun-
try we have number of States legisiating
for themselves, while every citizen OF one
State is entitled to equal privileges in every
other State With the citizens of that State.
The commerce between them is uurestrlct-
ed, and subject to no uufavorable discrim'-
nations against the entrance of trade into any
State from any other.
Therefore, the impostions Of burthens by
State upon the importations from a sister
State would be unconstitutional and real
measure looking to alienation and disunlon.
The merchant Of one State has an eQua
chance, except as he may be affected by dis
lance, with the merchant Of another State IN
trading with the citizens Of that State. SO
the merchants within and without the State
stand on the same footing except so far as
either may be affected by time and distance
involved By transportation. The one cannot
get the advantage over the other except by
an act of the State Legislature; and as
State cannot impose burtbens on the mer- |
chant beyond her borders her power extends
only 10 the ability to damage her own citi'
zens in the matter of their competition With |
those outside her territory.
Now, should State be guilty Of this
Would it not be an act OF very great impoi-
icy? Yet this is what Virginia has done.
She has crippled her own merchants and re-
siralrcd the prosperity Of her own COM
mclce TO the advantage of citizens OF other
States. Her Constitution designed protec-
ton to her commerce in restraining the tax
ing power by providing that all taxation
s hall be equal, but by legislative construc-
ton the provision has been evaded, and the
merchants are required to pay tax on pur-
c bases instead of the amount of capital EN-.
ployed in business. Whether in constitu-
tional sense or not we look at this matter,
we canno. dispassionately and impartially
consider it in any other light than repulsiHe
aud unfair.
Our own merchants become the victims of
a measure. which cripples them in competi'
ton with their rivals in business OF other
States. We are thus helping the adversary
in struggle with our own people, and
driving to other States a commerce which
we should invite and cherish for the pros
perity of our own State.
We do not exaggerate. Ask the first mer'
chant you may meet-ask any and all OF
them and they will tell you that this is lite
rally true. We say that in leading aSficles
of commerce ope.balf of one per cent. will
settle the question of who has the ad.
vantage and where man shall BUY.
Take coffee: A vessel arrives IN Hamp-
ton Roads, and may be ordered by
telegraph to New York, Baltimore, or
Richmond, for the same cost in freight.
Fifty dollars will determine the destination
of the cargo. What chance has Richmond?
You may answer when you learn that the
tax in this city upon an ordinary cargo OF
coffee will amount to more than all charges
attending the sale of the same cargo in either
of the other ports!
Need we call attention to the losses Vir-
GINA has sustained in her commerce? Are
not the facts sufficient to show that loss is
inevitable.
Richmond pays one.eighth OF the entire
revenue of the State, and there are, in add.
ton TO all the counties in the State, Norfolk,
and Portsmouth, and Petersburg, and Lynch.
burg, and Staunton, and Wythevlle, and
Charlottesville, and Alexandria, with whose
revenue that paid BY Richmond is compared.
This is striking fact to show the heavy
burtbens imposed on commerce, and yet
Richmond has only about 10000 population.
Now, as to the interest the farmer has in
cherishipg commerce it Is almost an insult
to explain it. We will say, however, that
had Richmond a population of 200, 900 the
lands in circle of one hundred miles around
her would be worth double as much as they |
are now. The supplies needed for the con-
ST. option of this population would enable
the farmer to increase the number Of
hi crops and protect him from the COM |
PIE disaster which often falls upon him
vile he relies upon one staple crop for his
money. Then, again, the thrift and increased
population that flow from large commerce
wonderfully increase the resources OF the
Site treasury. How much better to tighten
the burtbens upon lands In this way than to
do it by partial and oppressive burthens
through taxation. The one comes from tn
crease in the manner that bestows immense
advantages UPON the country population u