The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-06-07
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the meantime from $3.50, 55S, 1873 in 1850,
to $500, 100000 in 1860; the average valu-
alton of slaves from $500 % in 1850. to
1854 rs in 1859; and the average value
of land per acre from SO 25 in 1850, to
IS 10 in 1891 ~
The additional cents on the 500
worth of property, which increases the
levy of 1861 from I to Is cents, was made
by the Act of 9th May, 1861, which took
effect from and after its passage, to pay
the interest upon the Bonds authorized
to be issued ut the same extra session.
These Bonds are to used in the raising,
arming, equipping and supporting an
army of volunteers, as provided in the
bill for that purpose, also passed at the
last extra session of the Legislature.
From Circular issued from the Com
pfroller's office, May 10, 1861, we learn
also that
From the 9th inst, one-half of one per
cent. will be collected upon sales of mer-
chan,lise, at the invoice cost, whether
bought in or out of the State.
The State tax for the present year is
s cents upon the 500 worth of taxable
property to payinterest on State Bonds
issued for the defence of the State.
24 cts. upon the $500 for State purposes;
81 +" " /" for common schools.
2 4" as a contingent fund.
I" +" for Insane Asylum.
Is
The poll tax is the same as for last year,
35 cents-25 cents for common school
purposes, and 10 cents for the State.
Thus our correspondent is fully answer
ed with statement of "our taxes this
year, compared with last and former
years" 1t will he borne in mind, how
ever, that it is optional with the people
of Tennessee whether this additional tax
Of 1861 to pay the interest upon this war
debt, and the payment of the principal
eventually, shall be saddled upon them or
not. For the present they must pay the
interest, undoubtedly, but whether this
investment shall take the shape of loan
to the Confederate States or not depends
upon whether they shall vote "Represen-
tation" or mo Representation" on the
9Th of June. By the terms Of the Mill
tary League and the Union of Tennessee
with the Confederate States, the latter
undertakes to pay the entire expenses in
Cured by Tennessee in support of the
common defence of the South against in
vasion. The money to pay this will be
raised by duties levied upon foreign mer-
chandise. IfTennessee refuses to link
her fortunes with the Confederate States,
and attempts to maintain her separate
independence, she will necessarily have
this debt to pay out of the pockets of the
people. And those who oppose separation
from the old Union on account of the
fact that war debt is to be incurred
thereby should remember that a much
larger proportionate debt is being incur
red by the Federal Government-that
mbjugation is much more expesive than
defence--and that the burdens, by reason
of the fact that the duties on foreign goods
by which this debt is to be paid will be
twice as large in the Federal Government
as they are in the Coneedency, will fall
much heavier upon the consumer. The
people in the South get the cheap goods
of Europe direct from first hands, and
escape at the same time the onerous tariff
which has heretofore supported the
Northern manufacturer, and the commits
sions which have enriched the Northern
importer.
Cur correspondent says it ais matter
Of speculation" in Hawkins county as "to
what is the probability of our tax running
to next year." Unfortunately we have
no clearer prescience of the future here
than our correspondent has. We were
never in our life more strongly impressed
with the uncertainty Of future events than
at present. Ii it should-b be found neces-
sary to issue additional bonds to defray
The expense of the war, the tax will
doubtless be increased sufficiently to pay
The additional interest upon those bonds
otherwise ii will probably be the same
rs this year.