South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-04-11
Views Of Hon. w. L. Wilson on
Current Topics.


the Federal Marshal. in West Virginia,
and II he had any facts bearing on the
subject.
As TO the subject generally. he said
he had little personal knowledge, but
he added, the statements which Gibson
has compiled from the official reports
as TO the number, cost and result of tue
criminal prosecutions in our State. make
too startling an exhibit TO be met 10y
mere abuse OF Eio. Indeed, abuse of q
politician generally strengthens him
with his party and makes but passing
impressions on his enemies. Unexplain-
ed, these {. lures discfedit our State, both
at home and abroad, yet | would not
make judgment wi,hou, opportunity for
full explanation, which our people will
demand and 10 which they viii! give
candid hearing.
ain my own end of the State we have
hail little experience with DEPUTY Mar
shals and Revenue IDformers until late
ly, wren our attention was called 20 the
matter by proceedings which excited
much indignation in my county. Some
months ago deputy marshal began the
arres, OF residents on the Blue Ridge,
several miles east Of Cbarlestown, for
alleged revenue Offences. They wee
taken hundreds OF miles to the court,
aud by some jugglery we're Induced to
plead gully and returned home, ! be-
lleye, with sentence suspended. The
! pretended offenses were remote and too
trivial for State prosecutions and to those
familiar with the people arrested, it was
very clear that their arrest could have
no motive except political pei secutioD
or the gathering Of improper ICES. Up
on learning these facts [ determined to
attend the next session OF the United
| States Court TO bring 10 the notice of
Judge Jackson AMI OF Marshal Atkin-
son this abuse Of the court, but mean
time met Atkinson and Districs Alter
ney Flick ana complained 10 them, re-
ceiving from the former a prompt as
surance Of investigation.
The Springer Committee will soon
slit this whole mater 80 to our State,
and give Us the real facts
"Arc you in favor Of any changes in
these internal revenue laws ?''
"Decitehly | am. The Democratic
party has traditional aniipatLy to the
excise system, except when necessity
of my district, if not involved, was Ger
tainly in sympathy with the whskey in
surrection in Washington's administra-
ton. There are no economical objsc-
ticus to the liquor tax, scarcely any to
the tobacco tax; but there are grave po-
litcal objection. The collection Of tue
tax, ard the pretended detection AMI
punishment Of revenue offenders, calls
| into existence horde OF spies, inform
ers AMI deputy marshals. who infest the
country in the political campaigns, and
so oppose The people in many States,
that the last report Of tile Agent OF the
Department. Cf Justice says it is no won
der they have be,n shot down as if en-
emies of the people. At the beginning
OF the session ] offered bill to remove
all restraints Oh the sale OF tot acco by
those who raise it and 10 put it on the
footing of the other farm products.
have no objection 10 extending this ex
emption, and, while | an DESTROYS OF
preserving ss much of the revenue "a
possible from Tia tax on liquors, wish
TO emasculata tue excise system Of all
power for political abuse
~ lat about the tariff 2"
get correct theory on thln to deal with
practically in It's almost infinite details.
have never been aYetse TO tariff dis
Cussion. IL Is % subject on which The
people arc lily Informed TN need in.
struction, and long for the day when
parties will divide ON economical ques-
tons alone, and not On geographical
lines. M1reove believe that IL po'-
itic7, as in religion, the beliefs we have
most warrant for, are those which are
always open for Gisproof ani discussion,
aud it will be an evil day FIR our libcr-
ties and tue purity Of our Government,
when the public ceeses to watch and to
critici5e The methods of raising and ex.
pending their taxes"
The primary objecs OF tax laws must
he revenue, just enough and no more
han IA nee Eel TOT the frugal admins
ira ion OF government, otcei wise You
violate two fundamental principles Of
free government, viz that taxes can be
levied Tor public purposes only, and that
no more can be oXacted than such pur.
! poses require.
/ The tariff must always be, "a il has
! been, the chief source of revenue, as at
/ OhCo VIC ihyoo productive, BdSlC7J W COL
lect, AMI least burdensomc TO the great
| mass OF the people, and the above prin'
| ciples are as applicable to it "a TO any
other species OF taxation. Bat in the
/ gath ring Of take by duty Cn imports
it has been The unbroken policy OF orr
| laws to favor Cur own Industries aud
| productions, not Nv prohibitory duties
or rates so highly protective as 70 foster
monopolic7 or unfairly burden any one
class or section foi the enrichment OF
any o'lcr, bnt hy such reasonable i'm =
/ por IS wall produce revenue and give
our own people Ia the industries, where
thcy can compete y it'll others, fair adj
vantage IN ,ur home markets. Yet We
have also to seek other markets for The
surplus products Of our mines, farms and
factories, and artificial laws csnnot al.
ter the natural laws Oi trade or the phys.
igul lavys uf cl 1fo oud rrclurf ion