The Hillsborough recorder., 1878-12-11
TOBACCO OTAx.
10 The HOnorulLe the Senais and Hoase
=, Of representatives Of hs.CQngress u
the IIaifei States: ..., f.. ~

10 Tie HUnmuiiie tie Senats and Hoase
i, Of Representatives gf hssCmgress u
/ the United Staes:,sae 1.FF 4i#....|
!. Your meuIoriaiIsis, citizens of Lnuisa
coIny. Na ehguged, ip The cultivation Of
the soi., or III trades and occupations depen-
dent iui0n ITS products. respectfully but
earn, stl, pray Jour bonorable budies 70 re.
peal the present internal reyenne tax on
manufactured ipbaeyo d. .Thsy respectfully
show ihai the porfl.n, ,oi the Sla'e, ~ which
they rsside--knuwn ny Midland Virginia,
i specinlly adapted in roll and climate 70
the culIiyaiiou Of leaf tobacco. uscd almost
exclusively in the manufacture Of chewing
tobacco ior the marke,s OF This country.
This is. in iact, the only reliable moneys
crop Se can grow, aud IL the, main depen-
dence ol our people. bptb White and color
ed, for ihslr living. Il. has been the sta
pie crop OF cur srctiu,, Of the State from
C"louisi times. aud experisnce has demon
strsted that In otLer eau be probably sub:
siiiuied for il asa money crop. Your me
Inoiislls,s respectfully claim that the argu.
rneni 81 persis:ently urged by tile govern
menta that The cossnmer fsays he h,c'' Is
NOT true The planter bias learned by sad
experience that he bears the he West share
Of il in the steadily diminishing Price ef his
product. which is INV. and has been fIr
some tame i,as.. lar LrLrw the cost of nro
duciion. Tie rifrct cf this puervns tax j.
not unly sren in the fact just stated. but III
the euorinous decrease in, the, Dnmber oi
manufacturers and dealers. in the exclusion
Of men Of limited means from its business.
aud is concentration 10 the hands If lsrg'
capitalists e l'nief its operation the trade
in tobacco has practically hecome q monop,
oily. Before the tax was imposed. aud for
q short time afterwards. there we're mum
Ter OF factories IN ,his county. affurding a
market at home for our staple, aud giving
elnploym to many Of the colnred people.
The TAX has desIrrsed item oil, and this l.
the experience Of the Whole tobacco growing
section Of the State. This taS not only de.
priyrs y"nr msmorialists Of fair compen-
ssii"n iol their laior. but it operates as a
ruiu"is tax upon their lands. Land j. va,
liable in proportion To what il produces and
the market value Of such prUtlure. Such
has berome the depression in all the tobac-
co counties of Virginia that lanls have ceas
ed 10 have market value. Il is our deli
brrate opinion that If this burden is coniin.
ued, many puitiphs Of tue tobacco regiUn
once the faiIest aud wealthiesl portion oi
our State. will become 4 wilderness. Thai
this state Of things results frUm the tax j.
obvious from the fact that in utber PARTON
of the State. uor adapted TO the cultivaiio,
Uf tobacco. lands have not rereded from.
but in many localities have advanced o.
an,e-hsllum prices.
Your memorialists feel that the tax upui
tobacco is sn unjust discrimination agaips
them su6 their section Of The Union; iha
il violates tue ;.rTisioa Of the Constitution
winch provides that tsxation shall be uni
form. aud imposes an un-qual aud grieyou
LurGrn upon them. which. in ikelr impo
yerished coudi, on, they are hot able 4
bear. They have not been silent on thi
subject becsu.e Of indifference. Unacrus
toned 20 c"np.ain. they have paiienti
waited and bnrne this fearful burden unit
rain siares them ~ the face. They not
avail illrni.e;yes Nf the OIL y means left ther
sml humbly but earnestly pray yrur hrna
rsble louies TO afo. item reiie u. syeedi
" as p's,ibls BY sbOlishing thIs unjust al
discriminating aud grievOus tax. the impC
siIin aud continuance Of which has bee
MI ttIeeiusl bar to their recovery fram III
prostration Of the war, has already robbie
Virginia Of many millions Of dollars. an
has beca the chiei causs al her pecuniar
distrcss aud inability to meet tie iu,ere'
ON her public debt.
1 Your mrln"ria'isis will cheerfnIly Tea
their proportion of tic luhlle buiders. al
willingly pay all taxes hearing equally ~
on the people Of al the States which sha
be necessary - support the GuscrnmeI
aud niaiIta,n its houur aud credit but the
do most solennly aud earnestly protest a
gainst this special aud urjas, tax upon the
chief staples tax partial 10 its operation
anl morc excessive aud buriensune 10 &
mount than was ever imposed hy any ca
lighiened government upun the agricultu
raj production of = fOrimn of the people.
>. .r.z FHANK V. WINSTON,
GEoRaE J. SUMNER.
4,.ss llExnY ". MURRAY.
~. .t.-...... Committee.