Chap. 105.—JOINT RESOLUTION Asking the Congress of the United
States to Make the Tax on Tobacco Uniform.

Agreed to February 20, 1872.

Whereas, the unsettled state of the question of the tax upon
tobacco has caused an almost total suspension of the tobacco
manufacturing interests of the state; and whereas, in conse
quence thereof, a very large and indigent class of laborers,
embracing at least thirty thousand operatives and those de-
pendent on them, have been deprived of employment and the
means of subsistence, thereby causing great distress and suf-
fering among them, they being for the most part unsuited for
any other employment; and whereas, other branches of indus-
try, which are dependent upon the business of tobacco manu-
facture, are like it, stagnated and paralyzed; and whereas, in
the opinion of the general assembly of this state, a uniform
instead of a graded tax upon tobacco would be highly bene-
ficial to the trade, in preventing fraud and in doing justice to
the plug tobacco manufacturers of the entire country, they
being the larger class of manufacturers in said business of to-
bacco maniacture: therefore,

1. Resolved, That the general assembly of Virginia do most
earnestly request the congress of the United States to take up
and at once act upon the question of the tax upon tobacco, by
enacting a uniform rate of tax upon all kinds and descriptions
of manufactured tobacco and snuff at the lowest possible rate
consistent with the interest of the general government.

2. Resolved, That the senators from this state be instructed
and the representatives be requested to use their influence and
vote for, in the congress of the United States, the passage of
such 8 law at the earliest possible moment.

3. Resolved, That the governor be requested to at once for-
ward a copy of these resolutions to the presiding oflicers, re-
spectively, of the senate and house of representatives of the
congresg of the United States, and to each senator and repre-
sentative in congress from this state.