The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-01-13
Party Clap-Trap.


han that reached by the indicator last week,
under the caption, 'sWhy Virginia cannot get |
on her feet" we cannot imagine it. Stung by |
the truth of the condition OF Virginia under |
the administration of the Conservative party,
that paper seeks to shift tine responsibility from
where it properly belongs, and place it upon
the National Government. 10 do this it reit- |
crates the deception that the Federal tax COL
lected in Virginia is Seven million OF dollars,
without one word Of explanation as to the
nature of this tax, or why it was imposed 1t
Is not necessary to more than state the fact to
Intelligent minds, for them to readily under
stand the reason of 1t. iii the struggle for the
inaintainance of the Nations life, which lasted
over four years and cost the lives of million
If people, the debt accumulated by the Fetler-
al authorities reached over $2,oea 0oo, GEO.
war, or examining history to locate the re-
sponsbity therefore, it is sufficient to say that
the unity OF the nation was preserved at the
immense sum we have named, which had to be
paid. 1t is as ESSENTIAL to the honor and
character Of our government that the financial
obligations of the coidntry should be respected
and met, as it was to crush armed resistance
to constituted authority. A system of internal
taxes had to be levied to accomplish this object.
The laws to effect it were devised in spirit of
national differentiation, operatiRg uniformly
upon all the States alike and designed to i'm
pose upon the South or Virginia no unequal
burthen. On the pretense that the Confeder-
ate Government was distinct autonomy, wa
ging war under she sanction OF the laws of ma
tons, subject to their penalties and amenable
TO their operation, the successful section of the
Cson could have demanded of the conquered
States indemnity fef the Losses of the war just
as this country did in the case of Mexico, and
Prussia did of France. But this was not done.
Not only so. but the Northern States bear the
same proportion OF the taxes necessary to meet
the demands occasioned by the war that the
seeding States do. and in ftlrtherance of
purpose to deal fairly and humanely. the citi-
zens who hal taken up arms to dismembcr the
Union and subvert national authority, have
been restored to the privileges they had for
feted. with eighty odd Confederate soldiers
now in the halls of Congress making. laws for
the very government they had sought to de-
stroy.
But let us examine the figures the Tindica-
tor adduces to show that Virginia and Vir-
gnia people are ground to the earth by FEEDER
al taxes, and that by reason of this, their ina
bility to pay their own debts is made apparent.
We assume that there is not one word of sub
stantial truth l., the assumption applied as our
contemporary would have it applied The In
$ernaI ravan,,a to or ,,.id Tx, V;rrn;a n ro ox;od
anainly or tobacco and wfiskey. Who pays
this f? The consumer. 1t is true the manilfac-
turers of these articles directly pay it, but it is
<liffused to those who consume tobacco and
'xhiskey, and Virginia only pays in proportion
to the number of her citizens who choose to in
-dulge in these Injuries. Every state in the
Union and even foreign countries pay in the
same ratio. The manufacturers fix their pri-
-ees to meet the tax the government imposes,
and leave them profit to justify their opera
aions. They sell at their own rates, and wller
ever whiskey is drank or tobacco used there
ahc real burtlen is located-self-inf1eted. The
State, in her organized capacity, pays nothing.
Abe consumers ct tobacco and whiskey do pay,
and ought to pay, not only the amount now
fixed, but larger per cent. il it is necessary
TO relieve honest industry, from the obi cations
to meet the demands of the war debt of the
mation.
With this analysis OF the operation of the
anternal revenue tax, what becomes of the asser
aion of the Vindicator that Federal taxation has
simply become unbearable- Literally o.for if the
people Of Virginia were the most willing tax
payers in the world they are not able to stand
It," There is not i schodl-boy in Staunton, who
'Gas gone through his mental arithmetic, who
would not pronounce the assumption an un
blusliing piece Of tffrontery insulting to common
intelligence, and designed alone for political cap
ital and deception. Not citizen of Virginia
pays one cent Of this tax, except what he vol
unfairly assumes to pay, to crafty his appe-i
lite, injurious alike to pocket and health. Not.
afarmer or laborer is called upon for one cop
per of the results of his industry, except what
he deliberately determines to appropriate to
accommodate habits, that are neither essential
10 his well being morally, physically, or inan-
cialy. The taxes they really are compelled to
pay are ground out of them by their proaigate
State administration, governed and operated
ny the Conservative party, and not by the Re-
publican party.
The Republican party, under the administra-
ton of President Grant, has reduced the ma
tional debt, accumulated by reason of the Sc
cession of the Southern States, four hundred
million dollars. The per cent. of decrease OF
taxation during thattime. while this diminuiton
of the national debt was going on, has been
greater than the ratio OF decrease in the aggre-
gate of the public obligations.
The history of the world does not present
parallel Of magnanimity. humane sympathy,
and forgetfulness of wrongs perpetrated against
the integrity OF nation, and devotion to the
interests of the people and Republican Institu-
tons, that have signalized the records of the
Republican party of the Union. 1t has been
brave in war, wise in council and generous in
I'll the agencies and appliances of peace. 1t
rescued the government from the very jaws of
destruction, revived and preserved the credit
of the country, adjusted the vast difficulties re-
sulting from the upheaval of the social, indus,
trial and political relations of a whole section,
and brought the Earring and discorl ant ele
Inents under the benign influence and in sub
frt L.,