The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-04
Merchants and Farmers.

Merchants and Farmers.
Our correspondent Rus" returns to bis
subject. His second communication appears
In this mornings Dispatch. He discla'ms
the intention of saying in his last that the
merchants tax was assessed upon h'spropts'
and declares that he only intended to say
that the merchant paid his tax out OF mas
profits. A horse of very different color.
1t is, then, only a conjecture, and one that
may be made with reference to the tax pald
BY anybody else as we'll as merchant. IL Is
presumable that all men who pay taxes pay
them out of money acquired by labor or
trade. but such a conf ecture is not pertinent
to the question of taxes.
| There is no new ground presented oy
"Rus" to justify continuation OF ting dls'
cusston between US. We repeat our points
rs inst and incontroyertible: that our State
commerce should not be taxed to the degree
of giving that Of neighboripg States the ad-
vantage over it; that taxes should be levied
fairly and equally, and the community should
have public spirit and patriotism enough TO
bear the burthens necessary TO redeem the
faith and honor of the State.
We have the warmest sympathy for the
farming community, and in no sense meant
to 1e unkiad to them when We suggested
that It was question for every man to con-
slider for himself how long he could pay
taxes on idle land. That was a point that
will hardly be questioned. So was 1t equally
true that the State could not make exceptions
of land that was not cultivated or that did
not yield profit. The tax must be levied
upon the value of land, and that value IS as
sessed by the farming community itself.
Surely nothing could be fairer.
How much the advantage this gives the
farmev over the merchant, who Is taxed on
every sale he makes. His money Is his land,
and every time he ploughs 1t or turns II
oyer,-s,ill the same capital as the land is The
same and-or, as "Rus" says, "rtinvests"
it-he has to pay tax on it. The basis Of
taxation between the two Is partial-in Ia
The Government, however, is sustained
by the Supreme Court in its discriminating
tax; but, nevertheless, it will be Injurious
to the State, and emnently so to the farmer,
so to tax Virginia commerce as to weaken II
In competition with the comm cree of other
States. Commerce is the life-blood of agri.
culture. Nothing so much enhances the
thrift of farming as large bodies of con-
sumers. as near the farmers as they c1n be.
They cause the country to flourish, and en-
rich farmers both by the increase of their
thrift and tho rapid enhancement OF the
value Of their property.
"RUs" presses his views concerning tho
heavy local freights. He wants the farmer
to get credit for paying them. How! We
know not. The best thing for him would
be to have them reduced. On roads leading
to Richmond she would be as much bene-
flied by the abolition Of odious discrimina-
tions as would be the farming community.
As time passes, we hope for valuable altera-
tions in freights. We must all be patient
until such changes can be made. At present
the competition on through freights forces
those who carry them to put their freights
low. Railroad companies have to keep up
their roads, and they must make the means
for doing so out of their business. So the
local freights, which are not protected by
competition, are burthened in great many
cases most harshly, and in good part most
anwisely. Experience aud the clamors Of
the people will in time greatly improve
them. f..ys, ...=
Nevertheless, it must be remembered that
the through freights generally enable the
railroads to reduce the charges on local
freights. In some instances railroads could
not exist if compelled to rely exclusively
upon local freights. The question is not
one.sided. 1t must be considered literally,
It won't do to denounce railroad simply
because 1t won't carry all freights at the
same rate per ton per mile. 1t is impossible
to do so. All It can do is to be as just as
fair-dealing and practical wisdom may enable
1t to be.