Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-07

The War Tax.
REPORT OF TIE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE TO THE Leo
nLAgURE.


The War Tax.
RsPoaF OF TIE JOINT SELECT coxMrrrEE TO TIE Leo
nL.TURE
To H.s Honorable 6saGts snd House of Rspresaata-
tires Of tie Stats Of 1snReSses:
The undersigned, Joint Select Committee ap-
pointed by your honorable Bodies, under Senste
Resolution No. 10, to whom was referred that por
tion of the Governors message that relates to the
ct Of Congress Of the Confederate States approved
august 18th, 1851, imposing tax for the prosecu
"ti0n Of the war, and for other purpose" have
given q careful and thorough consideration to the
subject committed to them, and beg leave now to
make the following Report: The frat step tsken
by the Committee, after consultation and discuss
sion of the matter, was to address letter to the
Tennessee delegation in the Congress of the Confed
! crate states at Richmond, copy Of which letter
dated November 18th, 1861. is herewith fled as q
part Of this Report, marked "AD It will be seen
iron the purpOrt of that letter that the Committee
had difficulties in devising ways and means to pay
this tax, and that their first effort was to ascer-
tain if the State might not be enabled to pay
the tax of its people by osettng the indebtedness
of the Confederate States, pro tdnto, against the
amount of the tax, and thus psy this tax without
any Inconvenience to the people, and az the same
time collect the claims of the State against the Gov
eminent of the Confederate States 10 the extent of
this war tax. The 'oisct of the Committee, as con
tanned in their said letter was exploded by the an
swer given to it by the COngressmen of Tennessee,
set forth in their letter, dated Richmond, Nov.
9th, 1861, and herewith filed part of this Rs
uort marked 'B" Having failed to avail ourselves
of the claim of the Sta against the Confederate
states IN any shape, to assist in paying this war
tax as will appear fully from SAID correspondence,
the Committee forced to look to the resources
of the State in other shapes.
The committee have some doubts upon the policy
of tn assumption of this tax by the State, when
cons dered sImOy as financial operation for the
saving of the 10 per cent, as provided in Path sec
ton Of the act OF Congress because they believe
that the expenses incurred By the State in collect
ing the tax the losses always incident to the colec
ton of revenue, and the great risks which the
State would assume IN various ways, would cou1'
teroaanoe the 10 per cent. which 1t saves by as
Stunning and paying the tax; but they believe
sumo and pay it, in order to relieve the people
from the weight of such heavy taxation
at this time of pecunisry distress and political
troubles. The Committee have called upon
his Exceency, Governor Harris, for his suggestions
and Co operation in this mattsr, and With him they
have called upon and had interviews With the lead
ing banks Of the SIate Ia order to get their views
and suggestions about the means of paying this
tax; and they are happy to report that they have
received such assurances as satisfies them that the
short bonds of the State be negotiated with the
banks for Confederate States Treasury Notes, with
which the tax can be paid before the first of April
next at which time it is required to be paid by the
provisions of the act of Congress The plan agreed
upon Oy the committee ana approved Dy the genJe-
men with whom they have conferred is to issue the
coupon bonds of the State the amount Of the tax
! (Which is estimated at from 81 500 600 90 TO
81 900 600 00) ayabe in equal instruments at one,
two, three four and five years after April lat, 1862
with interest at the rate of eight per centum psys
bic sumi-anually; and and to levy special tax upon
the property privileges and polls of the State to
meet the annual instruments of the bonds. By this
means the people of the State will have five years
within which to pay the tax instead Of one. and in
this way it will be SO light upon the tax payers that
! it will not be seriously telt 1t would have been
better to have Issued bonds having longer to run,
but such bonds could not have been negotiated, for
the assurances given that these short bonds will be
TAKEN are prompted 1.-THE committee are satisfed) by
patriotic impulses, and no! by any conviction Of
gain or advantage by the operation. The committee
submit herewith bill (marked c. which they be-
ieve the only practicable way of paying the tax
and they recommend its passageby the Legislature
/ The committee have considered house resolution
No. Al: - To provide for the payment Of the war
tax" and its objects ~tyaned blythe bill here
with presented they ask to be discharged from the
| further consideration of the same.
| W. @. DCNiP,
! W. EEsTER,
! W. P. MORRIS,
Senate Commute.
B. u E>rEs,
W. l.. MoCLELLAyp,
D ]. R GARDNER,
JAMES NJ. MEX,
JAMS MCCMLuN
LA P. JONES'
House COMMITTEES