The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-14
Stale Finances-wniskey Tax.

Editors Of The Dispatch:
AT no time in the history Of Virginia has
the condition of the finances and of the
credit of the State caused greater anxiety
than at this moment.
This session of the Legislature is almost
ended, and we can point to no adequate pro.
vision made by it for meeting our just debts
or even the necessary expenditures Of the
| Government.
It is quite remarkable that a body of gen.
tlemen who, Individually and personally, are
so intelligent, so honest, so capable as the
vast majority of our legislators are, should,
when assembled for the high objects of their
duty, become so int thclent.
| Early in the session most important and
liberal proposition was made to the State OF
Virginia by her creditors 10 Eugsnd. The
acceptance of that proposition would have
relieved Virginia Of an immediate charge OF
several hundred thousand dollars. 1t would
have probably led to an early conversion of
the whole debt Of The State from hands lear
ing six per cent. interest TO hands bearing
the low rate proposed by the English
bondholders thereby diminishing still fur.
| Their our interest account. But finally, and
above all, it would have placed the credit of
The State upon such high ground that every
interest within her borders would have
bounded under the indu oDce impaired by
decreased taxation and national credit.
Up to this time no response whatever has
been made to this proposition.
AS it is difficult to estimate adequately the
immediate and the consequential benefits
which would have resulted from the prompt
and earnest consideration Of this liberal con.
cession offered by our English friends, so i;
| is equally difficult 10 account for the SEEM
ing apathy with which it has been received.
So marked is the indifference on this sub
| iect of our lawmakers and Of our people as
| 10 create vague apprehension in the minds
| of some, who do not understand Us, perhaps,
| that the reason why we hesitate 10 renew
our obligations to pay these English gentle
men three per cent when we owe them six
Der cent, is that we do not intend to psy
them anything at all.
This suspicion must do great injustice to
people who have so noble reputation as
the Virginians have fairly won, and who are
| so conscious of all the rights and benefits it
couters.
No man who understands our character
believes that this people of Virginia will
ever deliberately perpetrate the crime and
folly of reputation.
! But so long as any man Is left in doubt on
this point, so long does the credit of the
State suffer, so long do all of our values re-
main depressed, so long will immigration
pass around our borders, and 80 long will
our lands 60 to waste.
! Some of the ablest men in the State have
long appreciated the critical condition we are
| In, and amongst other measures for our relief
have proposed to raise revenue by levyiDg a
tax upon those rho drink Uhiskey.
Such men hinder progress everywhere
and now we hear from them that "this tax
is UNCONSTITUTIONAL" and that ait is not prac-
ticable to collect it" &c.
That 1t is unconstitutional is very doubt
full; but if it be, Of what practical force is
that objection? Who will ever be found 10
test the constitutionaity OF his paying eleven
cents for bis drink when he only paid ten
cents last year? And for the practicability
of the collection of the tax we urge that the
United States Government has been able to
collect very great revenue from such lax
right here amongst us, and against our will !;
and that we can do better than the General
Government in carrying out the law, be-.
aided by the hearty goodwill of the greater
portion o: the best people of the State.
| It is for the "Iive men" 10 the Legislature
10 uisIeBaIu suCu Cuiluei lcaiduu IeShni w
jections, and to enact the law promptly. The
object to be accomplished is too great for US
not to make an earnest effort at once to se-
cure it.
Let Us noU have the best law that can be
devised with the lights before u.s. If it Tails
to accomplish all that we hope for this year,
we will amend the law next year and try it
again by the light of the experience we shall
have gained. But it is all important to do
all we can nou to rescue the credit of our
State from the damage of further delay.
-. SPeTSYLvANlA.