The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-06-04
SENATOR BUTLER ON FREE TRADE.
A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN THE TARIFF FAVORED
Bur Nor ABSOLUTE FREE TRADB-THE ADOLF
TIoN OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SYSTEM ADJ
vocATED.
UNITED STATES SENATE.


mtiue Committee Free Trade Associa-
tion Of South Carolina, Columbia, s. c.
My DEAR SIR: Some time ago 1 re-
ceived from you the following letter:
[Senater Butler then quotes the letter
sent him by the Free Trade Association
on the 4th of March,
Recognizing the right of your associa-
tion or any other number of respe ctable
citizens of South CAROLINA to know my opin-
ions on all questions affecting the public
interest, cheerfully respond in this form.
not having the tine for public addresses as
suggested by your letter.
You will permit mo to say, in passing,
am much pleased at the prospect of
full discussion of this most vital subject.
about which so little is understood, aud 1
trust it will be conducted in spirit of
candor and toleration worthy of the
topic, and free from those uuseemly per-
sonalities and aspersious which of late
enter into controversy that arises. It does
not strengthen the force Of any mans ar
gument or views to impusn the motives or
sincerity of those who differ with him, but
often degrades the controversy and leads to
pernicious consequences.
The question Of taxation is, and has
always been, one af tho most difficult and
complicated problems of civil government.
Taxation is necessary evil, and how to
lay taxes, and whero, and when, upon what
objects end persons, SO as to make the evil
as lightand as little burdensome as possible,
and operate with justice and fairness, has
always been most perplexing and trouble
some to the minds of those whose duty it
has been and is to deal with the subject.
When it comes to determine what shall
be the objects of direct taxation, you are
constantly confronted with complications
and difficulties. In South Carolina We
have the ad ualorens system, which ap-
pears to bo the fairost and most simple,
that is, that man shall pay according to
the value of bis property +; and yet there
is always room for complaint of under
valuation or unequal valuation, whether
you should tax mortgages and at the same
time the thing mortgaged, chooses in action,
moneys in hand, sc.
These and others of kindred character
are all subjects that have baffled the best
intellects of the ablest statesmen and politi-
cal economists of this aud every civilized
country. The internal or excise system of
Federal direct taxation has always been
the most odious of all forms. The army
of agents and inspectors, employed to pre-
vent and detect fraud ON the public reve-
nues are oppressive to the people and uu
republican under the mildest form of
administration. The powers Of tho Fed
eral and State governments in regard to
taxation, except as to imposts, are con-
current. Both may tax the Same object at
the same time, and each must have its own
agents, sepasate and distinct, to collect
taxes for the support of each. Under the
"Articles of Confederation" it was found
that tho Federal government could not
rely upon the States for the resources and
revenues for its support, and hence, chiefly,
the necessity for the "more perfect Union"
formed under tho present Constitution.
So that, when we talk about supporting
the eovcrnment by system of direct taxa
ton, you perceive some of the obstacles in
the way. AsI hive observed, all forms
of taxation are onerous and vexatious, and
the vital question is, which is the least
so2
have been led to submit these o:.hser-
vations from passage in your letter in
which you-say:
"We have, therefore, resolved to urge
upon the people of South Carolina in pub
lie meetings the propriety of demanding
of Congress speedy abolition of the arti-
fetal barriers and governmental tollgates
by which the traffic of the world is diver
ted from its natural channels, and man is
deprived by man Of his God-given right
to receive the fullest returns to his labor
IF you mean by this the abandonment
Of the system Of laying taxes on merchan-
disc imported from foreign countries and
abolition of custom houses, 1 cannot join
you in the demand. The collection of du-
ties on imports has been in practice from
the foundation of the government, and is
much the safest ani most efficient mode Of
securing revenue for the support of the
government Congress has rarely availed