Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-07-31
A Letter from Hon. George D. Wise.


against General NIahone's proposition to re-
duce the tax on tobacco to eight cents per
pound. They were the following
':Messrs. Bayard. Camden, Coke, George,
Hampton. Harris, jackson, Jones, of Florida.
Maxey, Pendleton. salisbury Slater, and
Davis of Illinois,
Other Bourbons failed to vote at all on the
proposition-among them Johnston. of Eir-
ginia.
Now ii is not merely that these gentlemen
voted with Republicans against the reauct-
ion. 6nt that they actually defeated the r.
auction By their rotes. There We're thirteen
of them who voted with the Republicans.
and the vote was Is ayes 10 rs noes. If the
thirteen Bourhons who voted TO kill
the reduced rate had Voted with General
Malone To establish il the reduction would
have been secured by the following vote:
AYES, 81 noes. %.
Let the people Of Virginia, and of all the
tobacco. growing States, remember this and
act accordingly. '-Ijhg
1t would be difficult to compress in the
same space more of sublime etirontery and
MISREPRESENTATION than is contained in the
above. taken from the columns of the Rich
mond Wing. 1t is well known hiatt editor
of that journal is committed to the support of
m Administration which has used the
weight of lis influence to prevent the re-
duction or abolition Of the tax upon tobacco
| Both the President and his Secretary of the
Treasury. in their annual communications to
! Congress- strongly recommend that there
shall be no reduction of that tax: and il is 4 SO
we'll known that the Republican party in
CAUCUS was committed. To oppose and de-
| ftal all mea ures FOR the relief of the pro-
duccrS and consumers of that staple agricul-
tural product. Being in an unquestioned
majority. their resolution to that effect was
regarded and accepted us tinality. When
the acknowledgements tax bill $50 called was
before the Senate for consideration General
Malone proposed the amendment for re-
luclon OF the tax upon tobacco to eight
cents per pound, with full Knowledge of the
fact that the Republicans with whom he is
in coalition would oppose and defeat it,
They were committed to that by caucus
resolution. as before said, and all the anus
ing by-pay i'll the Senate was intended to
afford certain gentlemen an opportunity
10 eNtricate themselves, if possible from
IN unpleasant dilemma. Senator John
ston in the above extract is represent
ed is being unflvorable TO the amend
ment proposed by his colleague, where
| lllc tlNlIl II uC SpOhG Ill It's Ia
vor. and i'll effect voted for it. In its advo-
cacy he said: In the interest of consumer
and producer both. am very earnest in de-
string the reduction of the tax to eight
cents" He proved that by bringing to it
almost the whole support which it received.
whereas his colleague either could or would
not constrain his allies to help him. Senator
Johnston was paired with a Republican who
Woald have voted against it, and so did. as
above said, in effect vote for it. The remark
of Senator Logan that 1T will not be adopt.
ed if all our folks (the Republicans vote" is
sufficient To show their disposition in refer
cnce TO the amendment. "All our folks"
save two did vote in opposition and the re.
suit Was predicted. Our people have but told
that General Malone would incline the Re-
publica,ls by his course 10 L favorable dispo-
siton towards them, and that blessings
would flow from his coalition to the indus
tries and enterprises Of the South. The re-
suit has been that he could carry with him
only one Republican--therepudiate boss of
Pennsylvania.
The vote of Kellogg. of louisiana, is to be
accounted for otherwise. He supported
MahOnes amendment in no spirit of conces-
sion and with no view of aftording relief to
our producers of tobacco, but with the pur-
pose to kill the BILL SO as to prevent the
action proposed in reference to sugar.
When the same bill WAS before the House for con
sideration Hon. s. J. Randall proposed AS an
amendment that from and after the LIST day of
July, 1883. all laws and parts of laws imposing
internal taxes upon tobacco snuff. cigars chproots
and cigarettes shall be- and they are hereby, r.-
pcal,d and on all original. uubroken packages of
tobacco snuf cigars, cheroots and cigarettes held
by manufacturers or dealers on the said 1st day
OF July 1855 upon which the tax has been paid,
there shall bc allowed rebate or drawback of the
tull amount nf the taN And all laws and parts of
laws which impose any limitation or restriction
on the sale or use of leaf tobacco by the producer
are hereby repealed. 1t will be seen that full re-
lief is provided in this for both consumers and
producers, and that at the same time the interests
OF manufacturers and dealers are carefully guard
ed and protected. Mr.. Kelly, the chairman of the
Committee on Ways and Means, is committed to
the position that this measure of reliefmight have
been adopted without dctriment Where were the
faithful allies of John Paul and the Hhig i'll this
emergency? The vote was close-1O5 for and
w against 1.-THE democrats voting soidly i'm
the affirmative. and the republicans with two or
three honorable exceptions, soldly in the mega
tive Here was real measure Ofrclef-no half a
lOaf-and the record is too plain to admit of eva
sion or Misrepresentation. If John Paul of Viz
gnia, had not voted to unscat Southern Represen.
tativcs, upon evidence insufficient and shown in
some instances to be fraudulent the tobacco grow.
crs OF Virginia and other States would to-day re-
Joce Ill the prospects of an early deliverance from
an unjust. unnecessary. and odous taxation and
from restraints and restrictions rs CALLING rs they
are inqutous. Let the people of Virgins and
of all the tobacco growing States remember this
and act accordingly" With these facts staring
him in the face, feel justified in saying that the
author Of the above extract has displayed harli-
hood never excellcd when he assails as Bourhons
those who have advocated and sustained relief for
Southern industries remaining in coalition with
those who have uniformly and persistently op-
posed it.
The people Of Virginia and Of all the tobacco
growing States" will take notice, and act accord
ingly. Respectfully, G. d. WISE
EGYPT.-The overthrow Of the French
ministry upon the granting of credit for oper-