Chap. 126.—JOINT RESOLUTION in relation to the present Tax on To-
bacco,

Agreed to February 21, 1870.

Whereas, the people in the tobacco-growing sections of
the state are, many of them, already greatly embarrassed in
their pecuniary matters, and have not the means necessary to
put their farms in a condition for profitable cultivation; and
whereas, tobacco is pretty much the only production upon
which they can depend to raise money; and whereas, many of
them, in consequence of the comparatively low price of tobacco
at present, and the great cost of producing it, have been con-
strained to diminish considerably, the quantity which they have
heretofore cultivated, and many of them have been compelled
to relinquish the cultivation of it altogether; and whereas, to-
bacco, though it may be classed among the luxuries, is never-
theless a necessity in those sections of the state in which it is
the chief staple, and consequently should be placed, by con-
gress, upon the same footing with cotton and sugar and other
chief staples; therefore,
Ist. Be it resolved (the senate concurring), That congress
be, and it is hereby respectfully solicited, by the general as-
sembly of Virginia, so to reduce the tax which is at present
Imposed upon tobacco, as to give the pedple of Virginia an
equal chance with the people of other states, to increase the
material wealth and prosperity of their state.

2d. That this request is not made from any desire, on the
part of Virginia, to evade the payment of her just proportion
of the burdens of government, but from a lear conviction
that the revenue, arising from the tax upon tobacco in Vir-
ginia, would, in a few years, be greatly augmented by the re-

uction of this tax.

3d. That the governor be and he is hereby authorized to
present this preamble and these resolutions to congress through
the agency of our senators and representatives in that body.