The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-05
Direct Taxation.

Under a system OF direct taxation the
Federal tax-collectors would have to col
lect for the Federal Government about ten
millions Of dollarsa year from the tax-pay-
ers OF Virginia. tax levied directly upon
the same property that already pays the
State, county, and city taxes. Yet our
Charleston contemporary says it does not
fear direct taxation; in fact it rather adyo-
Gates than opposes that way OF raising
revenue.
Whoever wishes to realize the difference
between real taxation and tariff-taxation
will do well to imagine what would be the
condition OF the people Of Virginia ii they
were required to pay annually three dol
lars on every hundred dollars worth OF
their property. in addition to what they
now pay-say, in Richmond, five dollars on
hundred. A bond or house yielding only five
Der cent. net would in effect be confiscated.
The owner would get not one cent year
from 1t, Try now to believe, II you can,
that il would be better for the people oil
Virginia to pay annually ten millions OF
dollars Of direct taxes to the Federal Gov
ernment than TO pay what she now pays
under tariff, whether this latter sum be
ten millions or twenty millions OF dollars a
year.
Does the reader ask us for evidence going
TO prove that the Ne,oS and Courier favors
direct taxations Here it is in our contem-
porary's own words:
sThe people Of South Carolina and Georgia pay
far more In indirect taxation, under the present
system than they would have 10 pay IN dtfect TAX
alton With direct taxation, there wouh pc no
crcise taxes, and no duties on imports. The duties
on imports alone probably cost the people OF SCUM
Carolina slo,1 70 10 IN 's' no"''''' '
Think of that. 1t means. as we have
said, that il would be better to pay i've
dollars year on every hundred dollars
worth Of property, such tax being neces.
sary IN order TO produce revenue OF ten
millions Of dollars, than TO pay ten millions
OF dollars under tariff, as, according to
the above estimate, South Carolina now
does. Do you believe that! Can there be
found one single public man in Virginia
who believes it, and would be willing to
TRY to teach the voters such doctrine!
The Hews and Courier further says:
.The expenditures Of the Government. we un-
oe sIoo Z. by the Congress chosen II The
yery frst election after the Imposition OF tne
ars. direct tax; There rs one shas wii appeal
10 every lover of his country.
.The direct tax would De appornone,a , amonp
sha Stafes in rroportion 70 their population, ~
siseI py the Constitution, and can be col
ins,ed BIZ and through the States themselves"
Now YOU see what wATTERsoN's doc
trines lead to. Our Charleston contempt
rary is right on this question II WAITER
SONS and MoRRIsoN's and CARLIsLE's the
ory as 10 tariff is true. Ii IL be really
true that the people generally--the poorer
classes the workingmen-are now paying
taxes under the existing tariff according tC
the number in each OF their families in
stead Of according to their ability, then al
cusioms-duties ought TO be abolished anG
all taxation ought to be direct. Do yor
really believe that, when you see that tax
Of i've dollars on the hundred would bank
rupt every man In South Carolina, wberea:
under the existing tariff the people Of thai
State are prosperous aud happy
But the fact Is that the value OF all the
real and personal property in South Caro-
lima Is set down by sPoPRogD at less than
ti40,000,ooo. Therefore, In order to get
an annua! revenue Of ten millions Of dol.
lars from that AMOUNT Of property II would
be necessary TO lay a tax Of over seven dol
lars on every hundred dollars worth OF
property Think Of that. An annual tax
OF seventy dollars on thousand dollar
house or farm or bond! And this In addi-
tion to State. county, and city taxes! Why,
II would make the entire State desert.
The real property would be given away II
anybody could be found who would be
foolish enough TO accept II and pay taxes
upon It. But this nobody could afford
70 do. Richmond . rapidly-growlng and
4 prosperous city bat Federaltax Of seyep
dollars on every hundred dollars worth Of
real estats in this cit7 wouId bankrupt