The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-30
The rnternal-Revenue System.

The Internal Revenue System.
When we find such journals rs the Wash
ington Post uniting with the Republicans
In deprccating the entire abolition OF the
acknowledgements department we feel some
what apprehensive lest the Democratic
party should fail 10 perform its duty in this
regard. But on the other hand, when we
find that staunch paper the New York
Journal Of Commerce, published in the
largest commercial city in America, and
known TO be particularly devoted TO the
interests Of merchants and other opponents
Of a protective tariff, arrasing itself upon
the side OF the people. our hopes again rise
high. and we imagine that Congress must
be WISE enough 10 see, and courageous
enough TO perform, its duty 10 the country
by doing away with all internal taxes. We
quote from the Journal Of Commerce:
ait is evident that no thorough reforma-
ton Of the tariff can be accomplished at
the coming session OF Congress. We need
not 60 into any elaborate discussion OF the
impediments 10 such legislation; the Tact
Is evident enough 10 every intelligent OBJ
J.,
ent purpose. We deem ii unwise, there
fore, for reyenue~rdormers TO waste their
strength upOn the details OF the present
unfair and iniquitous system Of levying
and collecting the duties upon imports,
and advise them to direct their efforts to q
task In which there il far more hope OF
success. We mean the total abolition OF
excise. and the repeal Of all laws Tor the
collection of internal rtycuuP,r
New York is deeply interested in sccur-
- inc a fair lar1f upon imports; butthc organ
OF her commercial classes has penetration
enough 10 perceive that the one thing to be
done this winter is the abolition Of all in
ternal taxes. Surely this good example
ought to inspire the Democrats in Congress
not only with hope. but with determina-
ton 10 put an end to the most iniquitous
system Of taxation ever devised by human
ingenuity or malignity. 1t is amazing that
the people should so long have submitted
10 such a system of taxation. The fact can
Dc accounted for only by recoliectng that
the most OF the money raised under that
system is collected upon whiskey and to-
bacco.
We quote the Journal again:
"There are at least ten thousand persons
directly or indirectly connected with the
internal-revonue system, and thus subject
10 the political influence which sets them
all at work as partisans at every succeeding
election. This cost the last year in direct
expenses sj,lOS,3)0 oHt OF the public trea-
sury. Ii the whole system, with its Off
cials, spies, iniormers, inspectors, and po-
lice agents, could be abolished, no harm
would come 10 a single legitimate interest
throughout the country, and a heavy hand
would be lifted from the homes OF a free
people. With this or OF the WAY 81 the
opening OF new Congress, the tariff
might be taken up without serious 0ppOSi
-tion, and modified 50 rs to be acceptable TO
the whole country"
As TO the objections 10 the system the
Journal says:
"The excise system can never find favor
in free country, and ought not TO bc toie-
rated, unless il may be in a great national
crisis, where the revenue thus derived j..
Indispensable TO the maintenance OF the
Government. II provide for an espionage
upon the business and occupations oi the
people which must always be odious. IL
searches Of stOreh0uses, shops. and dwell
ings; constant and yigilant supervision
Of personal industries, and a disclosure I'M
der oath OF the details OF bankiDg-hOuscs
and other private business, all Of which is
thoroughly inconsistent with the idea OF
popUlar freedom Either "a The produc-
ton, transfer, sale, or tax upon the method
OF payment, il lays its searching eye and
meddling band upon nine tenths 81 the en-
tire business Of the country.
"Our fathers would never have tolerated.
in a time Of peace, any such interference
with the occupations and industries OF the
people. 1t meets them at every turn, and
in a single year eXciies more irritation and
friction than has resulted from the entire
system OF direct taxation in all the States
FROM the foundation Of the Government to
the present day. How many OF the people
have been killed and wounded in the eel
lection Of this revenue we are not told, but
in the laSt i've YeaIs nearly ten thousand
persons have bec1 arrested, in the doingOl
which twenty-eiea: officers have been
killed and siXiy.ioUr have been seriously
wounded This gives lis glimpse OF tie
estimation IN which The tai is held.
"Durng the laSI year SllG,j2O, 213.11
were collected by this agency. OF this
sum $50. S73. i0S.ls we're from distilled
spirits, Si7,3Jl ,JSS.9l from tobacco, SlG,-
1873, 02O.i2 from malt liquors, 1928, 1871
from banks and private bankers, and 81
Si7, 497.73 frum stamps, on checks, matches,
medicines, and miscellaneous sources. To
levy and collect this sum there We're en-
plOyed l.6 collectors. a. whom - had an
annual salary o. $4,000 esch; l,03j deputy
collectors, with salaries 81 S2.l00 down to
$50; I9l clerkt, messengers, and janitors,
at $l,700 down to S7j: 76j gaugers, ut not
over IS per day; l,o74 siorekcepcrs and
gaugers. at moi over 81 per day; GA store
Keeps. who are net gaugetS, al the same
rate; and 80 inspectors. II we add 10 this
the horde CT .roYenue ageEts, detectives,
and The like, we find that a small army OF
men have been taken from proper indus
trial pursuits amt set TO satching and
barassing fhe productive Industry and
trade OF the country SO securs the return
specifed"
------------
Judge Garrison.
We arc sorry that .tt.dgc GAR IsoN will