The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-26
The internal Taxes.

The papers tell us day after day OF hoGi-
cides committed by the revenue officials and
OF homicidos committed by persons who
feelthemselves outraged by the acts OF these
officials. The officials kin innocent noun.
taineers. Innocent fnountaineers Kill off,
cials. The people Of Pennsylvania began
the frs, whiskey Instruction, and began II
under the first President OF the United
States. The passage Of nearly hundred
years has not convinced the common peo-
pie in that or any other state that II ought
10 be considered an offence against
the Government for them to convert
their fruits and grains into brandy
aud whiskey. The people OF every State
think at least that in regard TO this matter
they "know their rights" and. "knowing
them,v they lave certainly not been slow In
maintaining them, as Is abundantly proved
by the fact tina. many hundreds OF Internal
revenue spies and informers have been re-
turned killed. wounded, or missing during
the last twenty years.
Colonel wIrHERs, lately a United States
senator. has recently donned again the
editorial robes. We were curious 10 know
whether he would side with those who de-
mand the repeal OF all internal taxes as the
first duty OF Congress, or with those who
would seek revenue reform in another
quarter-namely. by framing new tariff.
We were glad. therefore. TO find in the last
issue Of the wythevilIe Dispatch Colonel
WITHERs's paper the following:
1.-The attempt by some OF the low-ta-iff
members of Congress, aided by the large
whiskey- distillers, 10 prevent the repeal OF
the internal-reyenue laws VIII. we nope,
prove abortive. The repeal OF these laws
should be paramount consideration with
all southern members, and those who fail
10 work and vote for this result will find
fearful reckoning awaiting them when they
again confront their constituents.
'',Ehat an oppressive and burdensome
tax, which was only designed as 4 war
measure to meet the immense expenditures
then rendered necessary, should find adj
yoeates and defenders when the necessi-
ties which alone justified or excused ii no
longer exist, is IN enigma for which no
adequate solution has ever been suggested.
Let the whole system, with its corruptions,
its tyrannies. and expressions. which vio-
late both the letter and spirit OF our
Constitution. be swept from our statute
books, and then let Congress address itself
10 the task OF reSdiusting the tariff"
Short, sharp, decisive, and comprehen-
sive. The "low-tariff members Of Con-
gressv alluded to have allied themselves
with the wbiskey-distillers and have Sc
cured from the committee having charge OF
the subject report in favor Of the extern
sion for two years OF the time to be allowed
for paying the tax on the whiskey now in
bond. Yes, the very men who have thus
successfully operated upon committee OF
Congress are the men who deny the power
OF Congress to protect home industries;
who rdieule the paternal theory OF gov
eminent, and teach that the Government
has no more right to legislate for the pro-
lection Of the business OF manufac-
turers than il has TO tax JOHN SMITH
JoNEs's pocket. This whiskey-scheme
is "protoction run mad. IL so happens
that the Government will have revenue
enough 10 pay all its expenses even if the
whiskey-distiller are allowed to withhold
from the Treasury the eighty millions they
owe 10 but that is not a'good reason for
making bad precedent. II Congress can
constitutionally compel one class OF tax
payers TO pay their taxes when due, and
allow other taxpayers credit Of years,
and. at the same time, lend them the credit
Of the Government for the same length OF
time, il would seem that there could hardly
be doubt as TO the power OF Congress to
frame tariff with view TO protecting
other classes in the community.
The reader must recollect that the pro-
position in favor Of which the committee
has agreed to report allows the whiskey-
distillers TO keep the Governments money
upon paving an interest of AZ per cent. per
.annum. That is equivalent to giving the
wbiskey-men from "a to p per cent. per
annum. They can get for the eighty mil
lions the Government lends them from 6 to
per cent. The committee assumes that
because the Government can get money for
AZ per cent. or less, therefore the whiskey-
men are entitled to borrow Government
money at A. per cent. per annum. This
Is. we repeat, the same thing as putting
their credit on an equal footing with the
credit OF the Government. Why not let
the national banks have two years longer
in which to pay their taxes TO the Govern
ment, and charge them only AZ per cent.
per anuum upon the money! The banks
could lend out all the surplus Of the Gov
ernment at from TO per cent.
II the scheme we are combating is al
lowable, IT would seem that the Govern
ment would have the right, in case it could
not do without the eighty millions it is pro-
posed to lend to the dstillers, to levy adj
ditionsl taxes upon the other classes OF the
community IN order that it might relieve
the distillers. II not, why not! The mere
fact that there Is an overfowing treasury
cannot affect the principle involved In the
scheme.
----~-----------------------
Captain HENRY T.. ORR has become al
editor Of the Norfolk Evening NerS. Lik'
Senator THURMAN aud so many other dis
tinguishcd gentlemen, he was born II
Lynchburg. He Is a ready writer, an eX
perienced journalist. and win bring to tn,
Ne,cS the resources Of full mind (o
rather " full man." as Lord BACON has III
The Landmarks saws: