The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-22
A SCANDAL AND A MENACE.

A serious menace to the stability Of
our governmental institutions comes from
the ignorance Of our people, prevailing
chiefly amongst the people OF the North
and Northwest regarding acts of Congress
to effect every wild. visionary suggestion
under the pretense Of levying taxes for
the support Of the Government. Under
this pretense they have prohibited citi
zens from exercising their natural right
to issue their promissory notes to such
persons as wish them. Onder this pre-
tense they have stified and stamped out
many Industries and destroyed the pros
perity Of one set of citizens for the bene-
fit Of some other set. Under this pre-
tense they are now urging Congress to
pass a law imposing a tax on all sales
for future delivery, so heavy that none
such can take place, and 1t looks as
though Congress were going to pass 1t.
Now none OF these acts are Legitimate
uses of the taxing power. Power to lay
and collect taxes is given to Congress
that It may raise such revenue as the
Government HccQS. IL ~ bA'Nh
power by the Constitution to tax for the
purpose of destroying the thing taxed.
II anything whatever can be made TO
yield revenue, and, in the opinion
of Congress It should be mads to yield
a revenue 1t belongs to no one to
question the right of Congress to draw
q revenue from that subject. But II Is
a fragrant abuse Of its power to tax, to
impose a tax on a subject which Con-
gress and every fool knows will destroy
that subject. and for the purpose OF
destroying 1t, and when Congress pre-
tends that such an act is passed TO raise
revenue, Congress is enacting what 1t
knows to be untrue.
Now, IL there be any provision OF the
Constitution that authorizes Congress 70
forbid English cloth coming here, If there
be anything in the Constitution that au-
thorizes Congress to forbid State banks
to issue their notes, If there be anything
in the Constitution that authorizes Con-
gress to forbid one citizen to sell wheat
to another to be delivered six months ar
ter the bargain is made, then no one can
criticise Congress for prohibiting any ono
Of these acts. But no such provisions in
the Constitution can be found. Desiring
to accomplish their ends, then, Congress
places a tax on each Of the acts which
makes 1t impossible for any one to do any
one Of them. That is. to say II cannot
prevent your doing so and so. but can
impose a tax on the act II 1t is perform
ed; therefore tell you that II you do the
act you must pay me a tax that will
ruin you"
What is there that Congress cannot
accomplish II this principle is admitted?
II may say a man and woman shall not
marry unless they pay a sum which
neither has. 1t may say Virginia's legis-
lature shall not meet until Virginia first
pays So 900 into the Federal Treasury.
II the principle is once admitted, limita-
tons upon the powers OF Congress are
at an end, and instead of constitutional
government we have an absolute des-
potism, the despot being the Congress
of the United States.
This abuse Of the taxing power by Con-
gress has now been carried to point |
which makes 1t the menace OF the day. |
Our people must rise up and rebuke 1t or |
their liberties are not worth the name.