Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-02
Tho Internal Taxes.

The Internal 1dXeS.
We appland the manlness Of the Demo.
Gratis Of North Carolina. In State Conycn'
ton assembled, they will not only declare,
as the Roanoke Convention In Virginia did
las, year, for the BLAIR bill or some better
bill in aid OF general education, but they
demand the unconditional abolition OF the
whole mternsl-roycDue system as war tax
not 70 be Justified IN time OF peace. In
caucus 10 Washington city, the North Caro-
Ina members of Congress showed the same
tplrt. and stood up for their rights.
II Isl little too much 10 ask OF human ma
ture to expect the Democratic congressman
from Virginia and North Carolina not 10
vote fer the abolition Of the internal taxes on
frultbrandies and tobacco. Even the Nation
al Convention Of the Probibiiionists declared
on Thursday last for "the immediate aboli-
ton Of The internal.reyenue system Why
should any Democrat hesitate to vote In the
interest Of his own constituents?
3D." in the New York Tobacco Leqf ex-
poses st length the iniquities Of the tobac-
eo tax. Persons residing in other states,
where agricultural products are sold to any
lodv and u every body VINO may wish 10 buy,
must be surprised to learn that in Virginia
and North Carolina the Government inter-
fercs between purchaser and producer, and
{yrsnuicsny compels the planter TO sell only
10 licensed dealers We quote from "D.'s"
article as follows:
81 have seen the working OF the whole
machinery. and propose 70 show your readers
how unjust and Ubiquitous IS this tax, and
how it gunds down 10 very poverty all The
totlcc0-producers Of the South.
ANY farmer may cultivate tobacco, but
beis Obliged by law TO sell his crop 20 GER
tam individuals licensed by the Government
10 buy. Ia the good old days before the
tax the farmer stored hts tobacco crop in his
barns, well knowing that many purchasers
would approach him, not only competing
for the purchase, assuring Mm iair
remuneration for his labor, but taxing
the tobacco directly from his barns,
saving him the time and labor necessary TO
hunt a market. Now he can sell only to
few individuals specially licensed to buy.
The purchasers will not come to him. so he
f. obliged 10 20 10 them-tO load his TO-
bacco into wagons, and take il, however long
the Journey, to the tobacco mart, where he
homes 10 End purchaser. Arrived there, he
cannot 20 on the street and look around Tor
a purchaser, as he would had he corn, pota-
toes, or other ordinary farm produce. lie Is
Obliged to drive to some one OF the great sale.
houses, where it is unlosded, sorted accord
ing TO qualty, and dumped into piles with
hundreds OF other piles, covering q floor
sometimes two or three acres IN extent"
"The owner Of the tobacco has nothing
whatever 10 do with the sale, but has the
God N roff1qQ the nripa bid
and withdraw his tobacco; but he has to
pay auctioneer's fees, warehouse dues, ETC.,
rs II the sale had been a satisfactory one.
Besides this be must either take his tobacco
home again (which is often impossible, rs he
needs even tho little money II sold for, or
lesye il on storage to be sold at some other
time or 70 eat itself up In warehouse charges"
''Tho farmers are numerous, but poor,
scattered, aud without influence. Struggle
as they NAV, there is nothing for them but
poverty In the present and ruin and starVa-
lion I'm the future II this tax be maintained
"The tobacco crop Is that on which most
OF the farmers OF the tobacco region rely for
money 10 purchase those things which they
cannot produce or make for themselyes-as
sugar, coffee, molasSes, muslin, calico, nails,
etc.--things regarded by some very wise
statesmen az Injuries. but which have be-
come common nccessarles Of life even To the
poorest American"
The condition OF things thus portrayed is
ruiuous to the planters OF course. The num-
Der OF manufacturers Is cut down by the
tax, aud consequently there are not half as
many purchasers as there would otherwise
be. Enterprising young men who would 20
into the business Of manufacturing tobacco
81 there were no tax upon 1t are absolutely
unable TO carry out their wishes.
Does anybody think that We exaggerato
the proportions or the bad effects OF the to-
bacco tax! Let him recOllect that the tax
upon a single hogshead Of tobacco is from
eighty to one hundred and twenty dollars.
Let the wbeat-grower Of the West "put
himself in the place. OF the toOaccO-grower
Of Virginia aud imagine what he would do
II the Government we're to tax each barrel
Of flour sixteen dolars--the amount OF tax
levied upon two hundred pounds OF to-
bacco.
The Democrats OF North Carolina have TO
elect Governor next fall and therefore they
cannot afford TO allow their party trumpet to
give an uncertain sound. They know that
they have great work before them, and they
have prepared themselves to do it In a
thorough manner. 1t Is 10 be hoped that
their congressman will not by unwise pro-
ceedIn 3. in Washington handicap them.