Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-27

long before proposing this bill, compos-
ed of SO many of the leading and expe.
rienced members of this body, would
consider peffumery a luxury, and |
would therefore leave that to the credit
Of the committee; but, sir, suppose to
bacCo should be considered 81 luxury
and not necessary of life, and for the
present we take whisky and malt beve-
RACES as luxuries. If their use is Il vice
and immoral and tending to corrupt
and debase all who use them, is it any
reason why this Government should re-
lieve such immortality or cure such vices
by the imposition of unjust and discrim
mating taxation, and thus raise money
to deiray the expenses of the Govern.
ment and afford opportunities for lavish
appropriations from plethoric Treasu'
Ty, and fail to tax other vices quite as
common and more injurious and de
morali2ing in their practices?
1t is not III harmony with our history
and traditions it is not consistent with
the principles of equality which under
lie our structure of government; it is
legislation for class :; it is afiording
special privileges; it is iavoring monopo
iy; it is unjust, discriminating, and
unequal in its operation, and 1t employs
hords of public officers who could be
dispensed with if the tax on these ar.
| ticles were equal. 1t is department OF
the Government from its great funda
mental principles. 1t is an abnegation
Of the great sentmt n of equality whic /
prevail ed when our Government was
formed, and enters into all its actions
| L., l., do, 10 frn,,, Ia,
pie for its support.
! STUDIED OPPRESSION IN SECTIONAL LAWS.
! Tobacco is staple production in a
large portion of this country; and !
presented case winch might occur and
no doubt does occur in Lancaster coun-
ty so as TO be north Of the belt and so
| that il might be made clear to my friend
the distinguished gentleman who so ably
represents the Lancaster constituency.
! The law, so unjust, so discriminating
and partial, has not been administered in
| PENNSYLVANIA. The freemeu of that State
are not accustomed to such rigid eXac.
| tions. Faithful to the Government,
| they desire above oil blessings just laws
| equally administered, unmanaCled free.
! dom of person. The less the tax.gath.
erer and agents OF the Government the
better; and if the many, the very many
painful instances of oppression and
wrong practlced south OF the belt in the
collection of the tobacco tex should be
transferred or attempted TO be trans.
ferred to Pennsylvania, ! would scarce.
ly expect them to forget their natural
rights, their training in life, their iideli-
ty to the Government and obedience to
its laws, to reason them into passive
submission.
1t twould certainly be painful expe-
rience to the freeman of my State, and
would cause him to be restive from the
time he put the seed in the ground un.
til it grew to maturity, and after all his
toll to feel, as it unfolded and generous
nature giving it her assistance, that it
was constantly watched 10y officers OF
the Federal Government, and that he
was restrained in the sale of the produc.
ton OF the soil; that Federal officials
and agencies surrounded him ; that the
taX-aathegers were also after him; that
he would be arrested 70" the sale of the
smallest particle excep, in The direction
that the Government indicated and
that he would be dragged from his
home to the Federal courts, perhaps
far distant and visited with pains and
penalties and the expenditure of money
for the sale of the production of the soil
which he was trained to believe was as
free as the labor of his life.
Gentlemen from the South and
West who represent constituencies
largely interested and occupied in the
production of this staple have offered
to this House in the long discussion TO
which this bill has been subjected in.
stances OF wrong and oppression which
it is not improper TO denounce Gs cases
of wrong and oppression, If not tyranny,
from which they should be relieved. 1t
may be that these taxes were necessary
when the Government was in need and
the Treasury empty. 1t is possible that
the Government may have been wrong
in the supposition that those who pro
duce tobacco are alone to be watched,
but there was no rational excuse, no
apology bearing the semblance of just.
ice that warranted the studied inven.
ton of most arbitrary and oppressive
laws to punish or control the political
action OF large element of Southern
industry. | simply repeat the truth OF
history when ] say that this wantonly
oppressive law was conceived and long
administered in the South mainly TO
coerce the political action of the help.
less citizen, and it has left record OF
vindictive oppression by corrupt or
reckless partisan officers that is an in
cffaceable reproach upon the boosted
Republic Of the world.
During the discussion on this floor the
distinguished gentleman from New
York Mr.. Hewitt at every phase of
that discussion asked that alcohol used
in mechanical industries, in the srts,
and in medicines should be relieved
from the burden of taxation ; and he
brought to the advocacy of his amend
ments unanswerable arguments, but,
like all the amendments for oppressed
industries, they were rejected by the
majority of this House. Can it be pos
sible, Mr.. Speaker, that this is one of
the remnants of that terrible war
Al ,,,h;oh ,..n nas~aA (., fhaua