The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-01-28
SENATOR EDMUNDs ON THE INTER-
NAL REVENUE TAXES.

From Haypers Magd-ins.
If the whole internal revenue system
were abolished except the fax on national
banks, and the customs laws were left
substantially as they are, the revenues
would be diminished to the point (and
perhaps below of the absolute necessi-
ties of the government, and we should
have only in force the system of collect
ing revenues that existed before the war
of the rebellion, and with 1.-The restored
harmony of the States" would be restored
to them the right 10 deal with whisky
and tobacco, and all social questions
growing out OF their production and use,
untrammelled and unem barrassed by the
interference OF national law or the army
of internal revenue agents. Everybody
must agree that the money raised by the
internal revenue system is a tax, and en-
tireiy tax, upon the psople aud indus.
tries OF the United States, which, as has
been shown, is not the case with the GUS
toms revenues; and if any tax can be SAID
to be direct and discriminative which is
based upon "A selection of particular home
products to bear the burden which is not
imposed upon other home products, it is
this, and upon the just theory of equality
in taxation upon property as such IL can
not be defended. IL is true that it is
feared by many politicians, who look
with a just and natural eye to the tenn
per and sentiment of the people in their
respective States, that repeal of the tax
on whisky would not be popular in those
communities and States where prohlbi-
ton or other means of REFRESHING or 10
straining the traffic in alcoholic drinks
prevail: but it is believed this is an error,
aud that on reflection the people of the
strongest prohibition communities would
be satisfied that such step would be of
advantage to their cause, While the laws
of Congress do not purport to Interfere
with the police powers OF the States in
regard to this subject, they certainly
have had no tendency to diminish either
the production or consumption of liquors
and they do recognize the manufacture
of and traffic in them as lawful and toll
cradle occupation even in States denoune-
ing the same traffic as crime. Under
the wise and necessary separation of the
powers OF Congress upder the COnstiLu-
tion from those OF the respective States,
every Internal social question was left
with the States themselves, to be judged
of and dealt with according to their own
sense OF propriety. Certainly, apart from
the sentiment of deriving revenue from
an occupation or commodity injurious
to the public welfare, neither the cause
of prohibition nor that OF repression has
been in any manner advanced by the in
teInal tax upon whisky; and on moral
grounds the prohbitionist would hardly
felicitate himself upon sharing in the
profits of business he believed to be
totally wrong and deserving of extirpa
ton. If, upon grounds OF sound political
economy, the internal revenue tax ought
to be abolished, members OF Congress
need not hesitate to do their duty from
fear of an adverse sentiment on the part
of some of their constituents. This path
to radical reduction of revenue is plain,
the way easy, and the result certain. No
industrial interest, whether OF agricul-
Lure, or manufactures, or Of commerce,
can be injured by it. and if the income
of the government should thus fall some
what below its present rato uf expendi-
ture, there would be very wholesome
Incentive to rigid economy in ali
branches Oh the public service, and per-
haps an Introduction of that real reform
which has recently been so much
preached about and so little practised.