New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-23
an 1mpoRrANr PROPOSITION.

Senator Robert Toombs, of Georgia, was invited to
attend The Southern Commercial Convention at So.
vannal, but owing to engagements at Washington he
was debarred the privilege of being present. he,
however, wrote very strong letter to the Conven
ton, which is obtaining general circulation in the
newspapers. We have not room for the entire letter
in tile present crowded condition of columns and
shall therefore, condense its salient points in sy
nopsis, accompanied by such extracts as may be
necessary to proper appreciation of its full value
After the usual preliminary, the distinguished Sen
ator states that the g thought which gave birth to
these Conventions was to devise some plan by which
the South could secure her just share of foreign
commerce, which is mainly supported by her indus
try !" that the accomplishment of this end is neces-
sary to the wealth, prosperity strength, and conse
quent safety Of the slavehodng States that it can
be easily, speedily and constitutonay accomplished
not by voluntary commercial associations, not by
the General Government, but that it can and must
be done by lawthat federal legislation has driven
commerce away from Southern ports and that State
legislation can bring it back and nothing else can, as
long as this Union exists ..<
The eminent Senator then proceeds to lay down
his proposition in the suboined torcble manner:
The power State Government to tax without limit al
items Of material wealth within her jnrle'I@n IS clen I'M
Messly and repeaedy affirmed it, State ca1ot under the
s peEid S sa for IN" sRf TAX
only every State in the Union but even eyer munspa sopo
his power from the Foundation Of this Geyencn 10 this day.
| our disadvantage s.....r. ....-
Then Mr.. Toomhs draws the following forcible
Illustration to which take pleasure in directing the
attention Of our readers
o s~ Sn p wSGn f3 2 so7a S
CHI
pays the Federal Treasury thirty per cent I'd ratoae4 then
this year. one and three eghth @ to the mS a Is
sds the bStten5 imposed On b. G the r1ea M @
government levies nearly fourteen times much out Of i
the duty Of our LEGISLATURE to see to it. Tint people M
Government that of State not dnt pay
The @ IL r & a mt ct New rGrh m
do It.
secure direct trade This be done by imposing State
s for Ss M' ose S
@ be IN @ e 0 b6 GE' IT be eoh
prevent ali indirect importation Of foreign merchandise. a II
wants Of nc sae Without imposnE the people capa
posed upon ali such merchandise is not PROBABLE that the m
poers Of foreign merchandise intended for consumption
y thousand dollars IN every million portcd and hey did,
os pi?s Ho and s e o on o 5
kes But be mistaken ia the proper amount lax
alton effect this object should raise the until did
complishit The power is unmed-the object is invaluable
There is a large amount of sound. practical sense
in the foregoing 1t strikes at the root of gigantic
evil under which the Southern States have long suf
fered and although the mode proposed is not pre-
Gisely what we could wish, still we would almost
promise to support any measure that would relieve
from our savish commercial dependence upon the
North, from the people of which section the more
money they make out of us and the peculiar desCrip-
ton of labor we employ, the bitterer and more wan
ton the curses and excavations they heap upon our
devoted heads. The tax recommended If juliciously
graduated would do much towards accomplishing
the Wishedor object and could be so levied as to
compel direct mportations. This would speedily
render New Orleans one Of the largest importing cities
of the country, she is now the largest exporting
point on the North American continent and would
raise her to pitch Of unsurpassed commercial gran
deur But, in order to give the measure due force
and general effect the same law at least in substance
should prevail throughout all the Southern States.
Can such concert be effected? We think it more
than likely. AT all events, we cansec no reason that
should deter fully twelve of the States Of section
| from entering into the measure with right hearty
good will.
| The Senator from Georgia next argues in favor of
his propositions by demonstrating that the people
chee,fully pay taxes indirectly Levied while they in
variaby grumble at direct taxation. The taxpayers
Of Georgia. says he, contribute something less than
100000 annually to their State treasury, and that
contribution is always made reluctantly and grudg
ingy.' Yet the same people, in proportion to their
numbers as compared with the other States of the
Union pay indirectly more than 50 900 900 annually
into the National Treasury, and are content! The
reason for this singular inconsistency, remarks Mr..
Toombs, "is to be found in the mode of eyying the
taxeB-and in that alonc.'
The Georgia Senator thus concludes:
do propose go into the the proposed l"rts'a,
nhe wisdom OF state Legislature will readily
them We already levy portion of n this
propose to levy ALL 1t nee Is Lay
the State can easily provide for Stamping and certifying the
cnped goods this evidence be shown by the seller
whole stock is taxed would exempt the merchandise brGuh;
to our ports for consumption in other States. Thu. drawback
system the General tried rr
for etec1ing that object Whatever other exemptions poicy
the Interests of Of sister States may demand submit
TO the Convention and the wisdom of the Representatives
people.
From the foregoing, our readers will be enabled tc
obtain correct estimate of the value of the document
under consideration. The subject is extremely in
terestng and valuable; and we trust will, in some
next Legislature of Louisiana.
EzEzISazasEu1lE
| ID ED
On Monday, ODD inst quarter before o'clock after
long aud lingering Illness Col THOMAS r. HUNT Asaistan
| QuHrtermasterG eucrnl, |. s. \.
His Friends acquautrnCes officers the militia and vol