Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-02-01
VorsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

the bill offered IN lieu BY NJ. Meek.
NJ. Car offered an amendment TO the bI IN
lien. providing that the bonds to be issued TO
p.v he tax shall have two years 10 run, bearing
interest at the rate Of eight per cent per annum'
usvable a. such points as may be ~desigusted IN
~ boads and said bonds shall be in denomi-
nstions Of not less than $500 nor more than
slo0O; provided that The Confederats States
sbsl deliver 10 the State of Tennessee the assess
ment books assessing said tax, with authority
70 The State to collect q e same on account and
for The benefit Of the State Of Tennessee. Que
half of the revenue is 10 be collected BY the
revenue collectors of the Stale the present year,
and the remaining half during next year. The
tax is to be paid quarterly ss collected INTO the
trsssuryo Of the STATE, and the treasurer is direct
Cd to pay the same quarterly to the holders OF
the bonds.
Mr.. Carr said il was evident the Senate would
not PASS The committees bin, while it was equally
evident the House would not pass the Senates
hil. There were three parties IN the House on
this question One ID favor Of the Seuate ; bul-
another IN favor Of the committees bill, and .
third il favor Of taking no action, ald leaving
TIE people 70 pay the tax. Is was evident
therefore, that nothing could be done TO meet the
expectations Of the people. He had Offered his
amendment to meet this state Of the case. He
had had q conversation with the President Of thu
Bank Of Tennessee, who had informed him that
these short baads would answer the Bank almost
as well as cash, as they would form & basis upon
which 10 draw on New Orleans. His amend
ment proposed to constitute the State the agent
Of the Confederate States in the collection Of the
tax, and by advancing its payment save the ten
per cent. This mode would not bear heavily
upos the poorer classes. gIuce $500 worth OF
property was exempt from taxation IN thell
hands. He was satisfied the Senate weuld pass
81 She committees bN with his amendment, and be
had prepared il with the view OF obviating the
difficulties That existed with regard to the prop
osidons now before the House, and be called
upon gentlemen TO consider well the subject be-
fore they acted.
M Gardner was decidedly in favor Of Jht
committee bill. The Governor, who had care
fully considered the subject in connection viii
the present condition OF the people, and in bis
message to the present Legislature has recon
mended the assumption OF the tax by the Stale
He thought the collection Of this TAX the pTeseu
year would greatly embaTTass the people, an
would most probably increase the disaleehol
that existed IA portions Of the State, while if IL
payment Should be postponed as provided by tn.
committees biz, the people would pay ii cheer
fully and scarcely feel It. This would great,
strengthen the cause and enable our government
70 sustain lie war. He regarded the commit
tees bill as the greatest relief measure that th
Legislature could adopt. lie regarded the Seu
ate's BIZ ss very Objectionable, bat he was so Dc
cidedly IN favor Of the State assuming the tax
tas he should vote for that bin, II he could no
get the coInmittee's.
Mr.. Donaldson thought it was not the duty Z
Representatives 10 inquire and make statement
as TO what the Senate would do in regard {
measures before the House, but as the matte
had been mentioned, be would say that fror
conversations with Senators, he was Statistic
the Senate would pass the committees bin.
Mr. Someryel replied to some remarks by b
colleague Dir. Martin, Sf Shelby as 10 a pc
mis- which that gentleman stated had bee
granted by the President to a firm IN New o
Jeans to ship cotton 70 Havana, and that in cor
sequences there vas a good demand FOR cotton !
Memphis 81 from seven and a half 30 eight cent
lie thought his colleague was mistaken. Durin
his recent visit HON be made inquiry in regar
10 the demand for cotton, and be found ther
were parties who we're willing to pay seven an
a quarter 10 seven and g half cents for the pc
Of the planters cotton. That would bring Il
medium grades Town 90 Eve or six cents. II
people were now able to pay this tax as be kne
from an intimate acquaintance with their eond
lion. The passage Of the committees bill Won
enable them to PAY II without any sacrifice. Tht
could not get the money now, but perhaps a f.
months delay would enable them 10 dispose
their cotton at leInunerative prices, and th.
would then be in q condition TO pay. If Ii
war should continue, there would be but lit
cotton planted. He knew planters in his couH
who were IL the habit Of sowing but fifteen
twenty acres OF wheat, who had this year SOW
hundreds Of acres. They would be in a con
ton to sustain themselves, because they We
devoting more attention to the raising Of era
and stock. II the payment Of the tax sh0u
be postponed as provided By the committe,
bill, these planters would be able to right the1
selves and 10 pay the tax without ineonvenient
What was true OF bis people was equally tr
of West Tennessee and a large portion Of Nj
dle Tennessee.
Mr.. Csrthel would be in favor ofths a nendme
fit were feasible. It was evident, however, Ii
there was no authority to collect the tar, witho
additional Legislation by Congress on the subje
The Constitution authorizes Congress TO le
and collect taxes, but it does not empower O.
rress 70 authorize the State to collect the tai
+ mav lew sud assess. He regarded it a. cl'
that after the State shall have paid this tax.
Che authority Of Congress over thesubJect ceas
Aside from this objection 20 the amendment,
rerar5ed it as furnishing 70 relief as all to
people. He favored the assumption Of the
bv the State, both as . war measure and a m
ter of policy. He regarded the committees
IS preferable TO any proposition brought forwa
and should support it.
Mr.. Carr favored the assumption Of the tax
the State, provided some plan can be devised
collect the tax under the assessment Of the G,
tolerate Congress. Ii this cannot be done,
should oppose all Legislative action upon the 81
;ect. BE was not satisfied with the objectiC
Of the R-epTesentat1 from Gibson (Mr. Garth
~ he amendments. and he called upon legal &
.lemag 10 ssy whether some such plan as
could net be adopted 70 coilaot the tax
Mr. .Toney received briefly the discussion, &
f;ng the p~ositians assumed in regard to the p
r~s1r nj 10 war tax. He thought the Sen
I'M sbould BE- entitled, a bill TO bankrupt
BanE of Tennessee sad ruin the credit Of
STATE He had heard Representatives say {
tbev would vote for the Senate's bill, If II
could gs. no better, 90 decidedly were they
favor Of the STATE assuming the tax. For hi
self he would see the Confederate tax gather
come into the State and appeal directly 70
neonie before he would vote for the bill. he
rarSed the assumption Of the taz as the b
node Of sustaining the government, ana P
seede5 10 show wherein the collection Of the
bv the Confederate government would ian
accomplish the object sought to5e accomplish
The Members Of Congress entertained tnts u
If the matter, and hencs they proposed to
ceive from the States assuming the tax ten
cent less than actual tax. His opinion was q
he trus mode OF sustaining the credit OF
ro,ss3erste States, vas for the several States
~ 81 the government TO levy its tax and
III ~nrrnpt9v assume H. He wssnot parteul
~ wsddsd to the plan proposed by Inc conn