Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-07-12

be the law, then the sooner that law
is abrogated the better.
The Revenue system, as It now
exists, is one of the most effective |
engines of corruption that could be
devised. The developments now
going on in regard to Federal Off
cials in Western North Carolina
sufficiently show this tendency as /
to them. But it corrupts the people |
also. For years past many of the
subordinates III this service have
Systematically held out promises OF
immunity in violating the law to
those who would vote the Radical
ticket; while such Democrats as had
beer detected in minor irregulari
ties were threatened with prosecu.
tions and thus intimidated into Join
ing the Radicals or remaining
neutral-some of them also COM
PEELED, it IS said, to pay 6Locknaait
to officers to escape punishment
There are a number Of shining
lights in the Radical party in Wes.
tern North Carolina whose CONVEX
sion TO that faith dates from the
time OF their becoming involved in
Revenue difficulties. In the several
political campaigns waged by my
self, this Internal Revenue enginery
has been the most formidable
adversary in the field.
In the present method of collect
ing this revenue the people are
treated as dishonest. There is no
appeal to their sense of honor and
integrity. 1t is system of spies,
! informers and detectives. Tins
T watched and dragooned, many per-
!, sons draw the natural inference
) that to dodge the spies ard "run
the block" is all fair, if they are not
caught at if.
: If the whiskey tax were reduced
to twenty-five cents gallon, and
} the distiller required to list his pro
ducts for taxation to scme official
sitting at the courthouse of his
: county, at certain stated periods for
: this business, swearing to his state
e ment, made liable for perjury fol
' falsely swearing in regard to it, and
f for double fax for not listing, The
: treasury would receive vastly
J greater revenue from all those dis
C tricts where the business is carried
+ on as in North Carolina, by numer
e Gus small dlstilleries, and the peo-
pie would not be oppressed no
y harrassed as now, nor trained II
g loose moral notions on the sub &c
:, by being dealt with as suspected
thieves. The present plan of havin!
It resident officers at the few large
50 distilleries in the United State
= might be continued. An amend
Ie ment OF this general purport ough
'r TO &c made, if the system is no
/ totally abandoned. The State act
r upon this plan in levying and col
lc lecting her taxes, and her relianc
II upon the common honesty of tn
st citizens is not found to be foolish.
s. The tax on tobacco falls mos
1, heavily on the few States in Ehic
s, this is a staple, and thus is impose
is very unequal burden upon thel
as compared with the others. Fc
v the theory that such tax is pai
to by the consumer is a speciuus deli
er sion, The planter in selling his lei
m to the manufacturer receives a muc
II, lower price for it because Il
y manufacturer must pay anotl,'
er price in the form of tax befol
or marketing it. 1t is no doubt TIT
an that planter, manufacturer and co
ce sumer each contribute part OF IL
ne tax; but the two former bear tt
We most OF it, aud both live in II
,ct planting States, for tobacco is MS
so ally manufactured neal the place
n its growth.
he The tax on whiskey, brandy al
'ct tobacco, the chief subjects of Int
to nal Revenue, is all an inpost up'
the products of the Garth, burd
m upon the tiller of the soil. Th
it the agricultural interest of
as country is loaded down with tax
to ton, besides being oppressed by
ng vast indirect burden through t
it protection tariff devised for t
he benefit of the iron aud colt
g a manufacturers. No wonder
vii husbandman labors and has nothr
EN- No wonder the agricultural Sta
OF remain poor.
Much more might be added,
ses the subject is fruitful. But t
Sc. communication is too long now.
in You ask me about a remedy for
his evils of this system. The RENE
we Is TO ABOLISH IT. Palliatives mig
the be found in amending the law, a
rth in an honest administration of it.
try But cure can only be had by
age stroying it utterly. l shall be rep
var for time aid trouble IN writing t
r'y article, if what | have said sl'