The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-08
The Merchants Tax.

The Merchants Tax.
II ;s 4 most un,oward event, that OF the
Legislature imposing heavy, doubtful 'aA
unon the merchants. Of course the Jaw
siyers could not have hoped that tax 50
very doubtful at best would be paid WIN"
ont question by the merchants. While tbey
debated il the remonstrances came .foal a''
ouarters. /, was contended By the mef'
chants that the proposed tax upon them was
rot only unconstitutional, but that II GRIP
njed them In their competition with tneir
@.,.ss of men outside Of the State. Iheir
arpnmepts were strong. and deserved tae
resnect Of the legislators; but they did net
receive the respec. to which they were en-
titled. The tax.bill, with its heavy burthens
ON the merchants, was passed, and it has
been resisted by them; and Judge GuiGoN
has decided the tax to be unconstitutional.
The opinion OF Judge GUiGoS we consider
10 be very clear and correct. The case goes
to the Court OF Appeals. 1t is 10 be hoped
that il will receive the earliest consideration
Of tha, body, SO that we may know what the
merchants shall dc.
If there ever was clear case as TO the IN
tcntion of the trainers of Constitution, II
IS that Of the clause relating TO the tax Oh
merchants. Not only the debates of the
Convention show il, but the contemporary
discussions outside of the Convention are
conclusive that at the time Of the considera-
fion of the subject the object was generally
understood to be to place merchants upon
footing with landowners, and imposing just
the same tax upon them that was imposed
t.pon that class of people who represented
The permanent and solid occupations OF
society.
and very rightly. The merchant pursues
n steady. wel-regulated, and honest calling,
ard the means of ascertaining bis pro-
perty are easy. He should, therefore, be
placed on the same platform in the matter
OF paying the expenses Of the Government
that is occupied by other good people fol-
lowing honest and necessary pursuits.
1t will be remembered by ali gentlemen
moderately advanced in life that there had
been long contest over the subject Of rela-
i've taxation between farmers and mer-
chants. Virginia was an agricultural State,
and the agriculturists controlled legislation.
It was contended in those days that the mer.
chant could easily assess the consumer with
all that he had to pay, and that it was con-
yenient mode of raising money to tax one
who could so easily collect money from
Others as could the merchant. So he was
taxed differently from the farmer.
However plausible the idea might have
been then, the speedy and cheap commerce
and intercourse of these days bring the mer-
chant now Immediately into competition
with the merchants out of the State. How
ever questionable the policy was at any time,
ii is now certainly bad, since to put extraYa-
giant burthens upon our own merchants only
depreSses commerce within the State to the
advantage of outside cities. AS only COM
merce within the State helps to increase the
wealth and resources of the State it is the
worst policy to ipjure it to the advantage Of
chat which is outside of the State. Not only
is it injurious to the State, but also to the
people-the farmers. Suppose we had here
a city of 400, 900 population, besides the large
revenue it would pay into the State treasury
It would afford market for an immense area
of country, and the farmer, besides being
enabled to turn his products promptly into
cash, could increase the variety of those pro.
ducts, and thus save himself from the caam-
ity of loss that might follow the destruc-
ton of single CROP. e., a crop in single
staple-by untoward seasons, while he con-
zines himself mainly to that single crop.
Believing that the merchant and the
farmer have harmonious interests, and that
they should work together, we hailed the
feature Of the Constitution which placed
them on the same platform with real salts
faction. We could not, therefore, regard
with anything but regret the law of the last
Legislature which ignored this just prnci-
pie and put the merchant back exactly where
nc was before the Constitution was framed,
and in the very position that the trainers
of the Constitution intended to lift him
out of.
Let us not omit to consider a most i'm
rortant light in which the action of the Lee
sislature is to be regarded. 1t is known
shat large part Of the rural population are
inclined to repudate the State debt on the
ground that they are too poor to pay it. The
cities and towns have been orthodox in
their opinions on the subject of the mainte-
nance Of the credit and honor Of the State.
This question about the relative taxation in
cities and towns comes in most unfortu-
nately. 1t is question how far those in
commercial pursuits may feel that they can
bear the public burthens to maintain the
public credt-at least, it is question as to
what lengths they can, with safety to them.
selves and the State, bear an unequal tax for
that purpose.
We at once see how the State might suffer
sn conflict as to what proportion Of the
burthen to redeem her honor different classes
shall bear. The demoralizing influence of
such a,cophict every man can see.
A Free Country.
According to the kilograms from Alabama