The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-09
Petition for the Repeal OF the Twenty.
Hala sass ,zonr-Cent Tobacco Tax. 8s TIf

T. zsrgt ~ ri aY,I
Petition for the Repeal OF the Twenty ;
aia sGs ,zoGr-Cent Tobacco Tax. IIf'
TO the Editor OF the lGraphic:s zsysa s:
The following petition is being extern
sively md eagerly signed by the tobnceo-!
farmers OF this vicinity. It. isnow semitic yok
for publication with the hope that YOU 81 III
use your valuable influence In helping to
create diversion OF public opinion in our
favor: 2.ii 81 itE. Es y ii {tiaat ,t.5 1T.
70 ths Honorable The Congress Of the Uaited
StateS:" y 80 -, e 's,27ii
fWe, the undersigned, representatives Of
EGraEga Mo-, 4 i3, and peoPieo the county
OF Hanover and State OF Virginia, beiey-
ing that some prompt measures should be
taken to relieve the depression and sec.
tional hardships which now affiict, an i'm
mense majority Of the landholders, culti-
vators, manufacturers, and laborers, re-
siding in the tobacco region Of Virginia,
respectfully but most urgently. petition
your honorable body to repeal the law i'm
posing the twenty:four-cent tax per pound
on tobacco! =. a. =, ...,. ~. .,'s.s'
We:are willing to bear our rroportionate
part towards supporting the. Federal Gov
ernment, llqllidatingthe national debt, and,
as attested by the returns OF the late No.
yember' elections, preserving the integrity
OF heinational credit. Yet we ask for the
repeal OF the law imposing this tobacco tax
because ii is steadily destroying the tobacco
interest in Virginia. and .depreciating the
value OF tobacco farms and factories. The
onus OF the tax falls full upon the producer
rather than the consumer, and is in It's ei-
feet unjust. obnoxious, and directly ruin
Gus to ali who from force OF circumstances
are still interested or engaged in tobacco
culture. ..,. ..., fEi ~ .s."
Now, tobacco is the great starle of Vir-.
gnia. 1t Is our money crop. Its proper
cultivation is the specially Of our agricul-
tural education. Our climate and soil are
naturally favorable to its growth, and since
the early colonial times our people have
been such adopts in its culture and manu-
facture that certain grades Of Virginia to-
bacco have gained name and fame as
wide as the civilized world. Hence to be COM
pclled to give up this industry now would
be to be deprived not only OF all use OF a
knowledge gained through lifetime, but
all interest in the assurance OF warrantee
secured for Virginia tobacco by our ances-
tors in the opulent markets of the world.
We ask for the repeal OF the present to-
bacco tax. because to thus tax tobacco-cul-
ture out OF existence is to- tax oIlr pros
perity, and our chief means OF comfort out
Of existence. Virginia, has no recourse as
lucrative as the culture and manufacture Of
tobacco was when!its manufacture was cor
Quoted free OF tax other than that levled on
all industries. She cannot adopt cattle
raising as il substitute. The want Of bank
ing facilities would initiate against such an
industry as rclentless|y as the tWeni y-ioaF-'
cent tax does against tobacco culture. Nor
can she make specially OF grain-growing.
The through ireights from the great West
land grain ut the Atlantic Seab0ard as
cheaply as she can, and thus render her
grain region comparatively worthless. Her
immense ter.power and her mineral trea-
sures lay dormant for want OF capital and
population to develop them, while cotton,
peanuts, trucking, &C., are, except in iSo-
lated cases. nearly rs utterly out OF the ques-
tion rs her Gnte-bclEuan slave nurseries.
But it is needless TO here rehearse the mis-
fortunes of Virginia. All the world knows
that she was the dismembered border-land,
the battlefield, the military hospital OF the
late civil war; that during four years Of
iratricidal strife her fences. buildings,
towns, and timber forests lighted rhe camp
fires and man@uvres Of more than million
OF armed men: that the mere scratch of an
official pen deprived her OF millions Of dol
lars worth OF her inherited wealth that
her ravaged lands are the homes Of thou
sands of MANNED ey-soldiers and impover-
ished widows, single women, and orphans;
that, trembling in the balance between the
disgrace Of bankruptcy and the 0dium Of
an increase OF taxation. she stands in the
worlds market for sale because OF her pres
ept inability to. pay q colossal debt contract
ed in the long-gone days OF her peace and
power and glory. And yet, in 1873, the TO-
bacco States South and West paid &c.,
777,0OO internal revenue tax, while rich and
powerful New: England and the eastern
States paid but s2S, $4,000. .. ....'e.'.t
We feel in degree which language can.
not express the vital Importance we attach
to the speedy reduction Of the tobacco tax;
We sincerely believe that the passage, Of
such law will go far towards promoting
the welfare OF our people and restoring
business prosperity. We therefore ask the
immediate consideration and support OF lit
by your honorable body: and in duty bound
| will ever pray, L. TERRILI, Secretary. :
Hanover, Ya., December 10, 1873 i :,
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