The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-20
!. !, +. !. Z, aoyernment and ior introducing

Of the Government and Tor introouo'ns
the experiment OF free trade. -, TN.
When foreign nations are reaplng in !,
mense revenues by taxing our ar!,cs.s W. ~
export. Is il not madness OF ioiIY 70 ~
talking about free trader Are these NV
lights In political economy content 10 W, = :
over the vital interests OF our peopie " 'n'
keeping Of foreign nations!
There are many reasons why tnis in'ei-
nal tax should be abolished. ., 90
While the taxing power Is incidenta, ~
all governments, 1t can only be legiiiinan.eIy
exercised when the necessities OF tle Wv
eminent require II. This tax = no ionsei
necessary for the support OF the oovern-
ment. IL has already produced an over
flowing treasury. and as consequence al'
influx into every department OF the GOV
crnment OF extravaganza and pronigacy'
bribery and corruption, that threaten the
overthrow OF the liberties OF the country.
n Is partial. Why couilne 1t TO tobacco
and grains aud leave ali other manulacto-
ries North and South untaxed.
IL is sectional. The bulk OF the articlss
taxed are produced in a comparatively
small section OF the country. while many
large. non. producing sections are wnohY
exempt. q,
Whatever may have been the object ana
purpose OF its creation. we now nave reason
70 believe that its continuance IS dictateu
by malignant and vindictiye policy.
II is exorbitant, by imposing tax equal
to the market price OF the article taxed.
II NAV therefore be denounced as IN
lust and oppressive, odious and iniq'iitlous,
and inquisitor1al and eXtortionary. why
was not the principle Of equality in taxa,
ton enioined on all taxing power carried
ont and all the extensive manufactures OF
the country made to share the burden
And TO be consistent, why not tax the
sboe-factories, the tailors. the blacksmitns,
fhe carpenters, the tanners, and the miller
who grinds the grain for our bread, and
thus nj one blow cripple and crush inc
agricultural interests OF the country.
Now, labor-and especially agricultural
labor-is the foundation upon when an
the other interests OF the country are Dullt
mn. Without labor capital would be un'
awaiting, and so without capital labor
could accomplish but little. They derive
their value from each other, and II kept IN
harmony will afford a sure foundation
upon which all the material and progress
sive interests OF the county will flourish
This internal tax, il continued, must re-
suit in free trade. And free trade and the
tariff are incompatible, and cannot eXls,
together. Abolish the tax, and the ,arl1
can readily be adapted to the wants OF tlf
Government. Care should be taken tc
discriminate between articles oil ne
cessity and articles Of luxury, and SO
to apportion the duties as to equalizt
the burden among the different classes ac'
ccrding to their ability to pay, always
guarding and protecting alike the laborei
and the capitalist, and never sacrifice The
general interests of the whole country tc
private or sectional or class interests. we
are one people, living under one govern,
ment, and in adjusting this great national
question all diversity OF interests should
be made to yield to the general welfare,
If the internal tax is to be the settled
policy OF the country, then the tariff mus
be abandoned. But abolish the tax and
iudcious tariff will appropriate portion
Of the profits Of the foreign manufacturer
and producer to defray the expenses OF ON
Government.
II these propositions are correct, they set
tie the question in favor of the tariff.
AUGUSTA.