The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-05
Taxation Of Commerce.

81 Taxation Of Commerce
A short time since we offered some views
on this subject which,we thought entitled 20
the serious consideration Of those VINO TX
the taxes that the people shall pay. we We, as.
suued that the State Constitution whether
we consider It's language alone, and the more
I clearly when ne consider the motives OF 'pe
trainers Of the instrument-plsin'y meant 70
declare that taxes, with q few specified ex-
ceptions. should be uniform according 10
valuation. We assumed that agriculture ano
commerce were friends, and it was injurious
, TO 10th to impair the prosperity Of either one
or The other; and that the imposition OF OPP
pressiye burthens upon commerce oy un-
equally taxing it would be not only, IN our
opinion, In violation of the Constitution, out
seriously injurious both 10 the farmers ana 10
the State. .-.- .,r
The State has q heavy debt to pay. TO at
> tempt to raise the revenue to pay that debt
by imposing unequal burtbens on commerce
will cause commerce to decay, and thus d.
minish that source of revenue, diminish the
demand for the products OF agriculture, and
increase the prostration of home industry.
Weassnmed that the great change wrought
By the improved modes OF transportation
brought ab5u. competition among cities
that reduced the margin Of prolific the low
est poin;-so low, indeed, that a half per
cent. in the price Of goods, or even IN
freights, turned the course of trade. II l.
easy to see how by heavy taxation the mer'
chants of one State may be crippled aud
placed TO ruinous disadvantage in eompeti-
ton with the merchants Of all adjoining
State where q different policy relieves them
from such burthens. ,,
Does not every Intelligent man see that
under the circumstances it would be better
for the commercial world il the taxes on
merchants were uniform throughout the
Union? We have no idea Of proposing that
the power Of taxation shall be by the States
surrendered to the General Government.
But we mean TO ask would it not be wise for
q State committee framing a bill imposing
taxes to have before them the tax-bills at
beast of leading commercial States and of ad-
Joining States, that they might recommend
such taxes as should at any rate do no injury
to their State commerce if they did not pro.
tect il? We think this points out plain
and patriotic duty of every fiuancial states
man. We suppose that they all want the
local commerce to prosper. They should
by no means do what would ipjure it.
The State ought TO pay all it. can but IN
raising revenue to pay with it would be sui
eide to make one class the bearer Of inordi-
mute burthens. We suppose every State
wants flourishipg commerce, because that
makes large consuming populations, to the
great ben, fit of the producing classes; and
the true statesman will endeavor to foster so
great an element Of wealth and general be.
neicence.
In considering the condition OF commerce
among the States the intelligent observer
cannot fail to see that more than ever are the
States required to egslate with full under
standing of the laws, regulations, and even
customs of other States. More than ever is
there necessity for endeavoring to promote
The harmony Of intercourse amongst the
people and the States. Take interest on
money, for example. A vast deal Of disturb
ance of commerce would be avoided
if that were uniform throughout the
country. No State can safely disre-
gard the condition in other States
in this matter. There is necessity for the
protection of all that there should be uni
formity-equality 1t is indispensable for
contentment that that equality should in
cude the domestic pursuits Of commerce and
manufactures, and the public burthens Of the
citizen as well as the political equality OF
States 10 their treatment by the General
Government.
We say again that the States may, by wise
legislation, based upon knowledge Of the
laws OF other States, establish such an APP
.proach to uniformity as to protect their cti
zens from comparatively disadyantageous
.burthens. One would think that State
ought to favor its own citizens; urquestiona-
bly, the State should not cripple them in their
competition with citizens of other States.
We complain loudly Of the Federal taxa
ton wLich falls SO heavily upon the staple
product of Virginia. That is complaint
against Partially. If the industry of all the
States was subjected to the same hesyy bur-
then we should not feel it 50 sharply. Equal
lily of burthens llghtens them in SO much as
1t gives no advantage to one community over
another.
We repeat, the intimate commercial rela-
tons between the States require that each
State should legislate with respect to the
commercial Ia VS. Of other States, and not run
the risk Of iDjuring its own citizens by legis-
Iatipg without regard to those laws.
Republican Propagandism.
4 enrious turn of things has placed PreSi-