Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-12-24
THE INTERNAL REVENUE.

The expressed will of the people is adj
verse to continuation of the internal rev.
enue taxes. They are remnant of a class
of excise laws which have outlived the ne
cessity for their existence They have
placed heavy burthens upon many helpless
agricultural districts of the country, and
in their execution, if not in their spirit,
inflicted oppression.
In the complicated machinery of the
regulations under which these onerous
Federal taxes are gathered, was fonnd a
place through which a horde of officials
and agents of INSCRIPTIONS power were
turned loose to prey upon the people, to
eoncoct schemes and execute designs inter
fering with the freedom of elections and
the exercise of the rights of suffrage.
The government las had an overfowiDg
treasury, even after profiigate expenditures
have been drawn from it. The conclusion
is irresistible, that partisan power has per-
petuated this grinding law more to pro
mote it's desires in an extension Of rule,
than with reference to the needs of revenue.
The manner in which the agents of the
government, placed among the people ap-
parently for different purpose, entered
wildly and with persistence into the plot
ting purposes of a party inimical to the
repose of society and the harmonious work.
ings of our. institutions, was sufficient 10
cause every rejecting man to hate the law
which legalized their existence. 1t was
the forbearance and well-ba lanced pru-
dence of our people, making concessions
to maintain peace in the land, which pre-
vented outbreaks of passion, as they had
day after day to witness the continued
proceedings of paid agents of the govern
eminent in their work of party fealty.
The people saw all this, and they seri-
ously considered it; and they have respond
ed and said, "Away with the law, and the
army of officials which it creates"
The election of Democratic President,
and the continuation of majority in the
House of Representatives by the people,
decided certain cardinal points for future
direction of the government. The internal
revenue law was to be thing of the past.
Its iron hand, in wrenching from Virginia
agriculture alone mi lions of dollars an
nuaIly, has inflicted cruel oppression upon
our greatest interest. This has been con-
tinued from year to year, long after all
other raw materials than tobacco have felt
its weight. A great interest, worth seven
millions to the planters, and fourteen mil
lions of dollars In the manufactured value
to Virginia, and that, too, in her impover-
ished condition, whilst all other products OF
the soil, especially those of rich and unchast
ened States, are free from such excise laws,
has had heavy burthens to bear in contrib
uting to wasteful and pro figate rule of
National affairs. Retrenchment and re-
form were also cardinal points secured for
future administration. The people are
confident, and in good time, they feel as
sured, our great staple, which has so long
endured oppression, will have freedom
from its crushing weight. With Tetrench-
ment and reform, the revenue will still be
sufficient, whilst tobacco and the toiling
people who cultivate it receive just and
needful relief from a hard law which near
ly generation has had to bear under the
most trying circumstances.