Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-02-27
WHISKY AND TOBACCO.
A Tennessee Congressman's Protest
Against Additional Taxation.

- -- ,1'ai- i.sl.sl
On the 18th inst, while the tax and
tariff was under consideration in the
House, Hon. John NJ. Bright made
the following remarks, which we End
reported in the Congressional Record
Mr.. Brighten. Chairman, as a
matter of course, it would be imposi-
BILE IN the five minutes of time which
-! have, through the kindDess of my
distinguished friend from Indiana.
(Mr. Niblack, to discuss the grave
questions which arise out of this bill.
L rise merely to enter my protest
against Its passage and only to make a
few suggestions in regard toit.
The hrst suggestion is that this bill
IS unnecessary. Sir, when we look at
the expenditures of this government
since 1865, amounting up to the grand
aggregate of nearly 81, 400 600, 900. it
becomes matter of Importance to the
House and the country to inquire into
the extravagants expenditures of the
administration of the government.
why, SIR, the country is bleeding to
death with taxation and still we are
called upon for additional taxation in
stead of applying the pruning-knife to
extravaganees and pairing them down.
We see the mouths of our tax wounds
sluicing the government with revenues
and yet we are called upon to enlarge
the orifces that We may have a still
further depletion of the people. For
one L will never give my consent to
such a policy. As the government
breaches economy to the people, lei
the government set the example.
Another suggestion as to the tax on
whisky. The honor of the country is
involved in that tax. Much of that
whisky is now in bond under contracts
with the Government. Yet, like the
miller that has received the grain
after once tolling it, you propose tc
toll 1t again to The lasting dishonor Of
the Government. Whatever NAV be
the moral questions involved, either
IN the manufacture or in the use Of
ardent spirits 1t is a matter of com.
mereial traffic: and, so far as the
traffic is concerned, it is recognized b,
the Government, and those who engage
In the traffic are entitled to the fan
dealing of the Government. | nevel
will put IN peril nor temporize will
the honor of the Government in rela
ton to it.
Another suggestion in relation t.
the tobacco tax. My voice has beer
heard heretofore in relation to thi.
matter. | have denounced it as un
constitutional. Tobacco and eottor
are the first crude productions of thu
soil which have ever been taxed b,
any Congress since the existence O
the Government. This tax can fine
no sanctuary either under the appor
tIonment or uniformity rule of taxa
ton. It is not pretended that it fall
under the apportionment rule. Itcan
not fall under the uniformity rule, for
we can easily enact the uniformity O
the climates and soils as the uniform
ity of the tobacco tax. The sever
tobacco States pay 400 per cent
more of this tax than all the othel
sections of the United States. 1t il
unnecessary for US to discuss the ust
VI lOudCCU. II 10 Ouc VI the great az
ricultural productions, and it meets
with all the other productions at the
money point. 1t is converted into the
bread and meat and clothing of sil
hundred thousand laborers who are
this day engaged in its production.
! We should remember that a tax on
tobacco operates as tax on the land
the labor, and expenses employed il
the production. Increase the press.
ure of taxation and it may not be Ions
before there is an exodus of laborer.
from the tobacco fields.
In behalf Of the Constitution o.
the United States in behalf of SIX
hundred thousand laborers; in behalf
of the labor and resources of the tax.
burdened States; in behalf of the
harmony of all our industries, pro-
test against the passage of this bill.
[ protest against the Government
installing itself landlord of all the to.
baccO fields to exact rent charge
from the toiling labOrer.