The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-01-01
Cotton Planters Relief Bill.

Tic documents among which is the majority report OF
the committee appointed BY the house Of representa-
lives to report bill for the relief Of the cotton plan
ters It is stated that there is doubt but that It
will pass By a two-thrd vote; and that the stay-law
will also pass. By the proceedings of the legislature
published in this days paper, viii be seen that body
has adjourned the 5h instant We cannot say that
we admire adjour1iAg-so often. The members of the
legislature are elected and paid do the peoples work
and not to trolic.
'.MAJoRITY REPoRT,-To the Hon. speaker and mem
bers of the committee whom the bill for the relief
of the cotton planters Of Louisiana was REFERRED make
the following majority report:
"The blockade of our ports has suspended all trade
in the great staple of cotton and left the producer With
out market for his crop at any price, and without
means to pay his taxes procure MS subsistence
1.-The taxes necessary carry on the government OF
the State are two millions OF dollars, and the amount
required for the ensuing year IN view oil the very e'y
expenditures for military purposes VIII lar exceed taC
sum 20 the State taxes must be added the Conieaer
ate States war tax to be collected now In lew mohChs,
which will largely exceed the sum required Tor state
purposes and will swell the total sum to be drawn from
the people the coming year to over hive millions oil do
lars"
THE postponement of the payment of the taxes by
issuing State bonds at long date, would be burdenng
the people in future with heavy accumulating debt
in addition their taxation already too heavy besides
in mourning the state immense loss 10 discount
aud interest and would be- in our opinion, not only
mpoitic but Injurious the best interests OF the State
''Not only must these heavy taxes, soon falling Que
be drawn from the people, but they must provide SUB
stence for the coming year 1t will be Impossible Tor
them to do this unless they realise something from
their crops Some means of relief must be specify
afforded or their distress will be deplorable beyond
expression.
AIN our opinion the act which majority of the COM
mittee herewith report substitute for the original
bill will atfoed this seef tthout danger OF loss 20
planter.
The bill proposes an issue of ten millions of dollars
of State treasurq n2es payable in year after the
blockade shall be aised to the cotton planters to the
amount OF five GEMS per pound of his cotton. To Sc
cure the payment OF said treasury notes and to indem
nffv the State agaiu the possibility OF loss, as well as
to rive the utmost onGdence in the validity Of the
treasury notes as circulating medium the entire cot
ton crop of 1861 estimated at 100000 bales and worth
UPWARDS of 500 03alo0 is pledged in redemption of
said treasury notes nd Ia addition to this the State
is secured By iudciamortgage upon the whole wealth
of the cotton planter amounting to untold millions
This puts the safety pf the State against loss and the
validity Of the treasfy notes beyond doubt OF couro
S veE3y.
: The State unde this act will not even incur any
EXPENSE for engraving or printing the treasury notes.
as the bill provides a'und eff one-half of per cent
out Of the amount I'd be issued to the planters to pay
the same and to PAL the State officers for the labors
imDosed on them by tie act It will readily be seen
that the advantages 1hecoon planter by this method
of relief is GREATS Rfeased from the fact that he will
not become liable folanY interest, incur any eX
pensc for acceptance,r endorsement Ias he would be
were he compelled tlisGouHt his notes or drafts tIro
the ordinary channe Of trade. The bill proposes o
save him from this epense, amounting to many thou
sands Of dollars cactear during the existence OF the
z. war.
is IN ordinary time when the planter can sell his
5 crop he is at an eSense OF only and half per
e cent commission fl selling ito require him now,
il when the calamites the times press him down most
severely to hecosts OF discount acceptance aud
endorsement upon 3erop for which there IS no sale
(, would be doing ias grave injustice that ought to be
n avoided The bill rorcd by the majority does this
in addition to Hitinghe burden from this great inter
est and every ntere which threatens TO crush IL
If Relieve tie cotton issres and every other interest in
the State is cOresp0tIngy benefited. With the BEN
=, efts conferred by els act the planter sustain the
o government and susn himself and without 1.-THE can
. do neither 1t was bped the Confederate States would
extend this relief b. this hope has been realised
d The State c0u now to their relief or distress
.r the most rghtut All without parallel in the history
Of the couatry, is store for our suffering people
She can come, @ittt dmger OF loss TO herself, and
r east relief on eyerFde with generous hand upon her
l. ctZeus VINO are eliHg to sacrifice all they have, life
IS ana property III ht defence in her The major
b. ity Of lie commit. therefore, submit the bin here
With reported substitute for the original bill and
~ recommend ~ baf2-g. 49,. ,,,,-. :, ~
y Fam Go SERRS ,aI(aa GbaE5 aaa9B,a
I ite' =. a blacElear, } " Mcdonald committee
= Az ACT for the Rcf Of the cotton planters Of The
81 State OF Louisiana
g tno. j. y Il afs ----,.-- .r ID
personalities ot tie State Of Louisiana, in general
assembly convened That the governor of the State OF
k Louisiana sherebF Authorised and required to contract
4 without delay, for all engraving printing and delivery
Sc to the auditor ofpdbc accounts of State treasury
70 note, in denominations Of FIVE ten twenty fifty and
q one hundred doFs TO the amount of ten millions OF
a. dollars.
e Size >. Be it trther enacted, &C. That said State
treasury shll be in the following form State of
Louisiana treaSuF notesecured by pledge of the
ton crop Of tie safe Of Louisiana of 1851 and faith
< pledged The Stte of Louisiana will pay-dollars
Il to - bearer the expiration of one year after
the blockade IS Hsed Sud State treasury notes shall
be signed by tie tate treasurer, and countersgncd
registered, and numbered by the auditor of public ac-
n counts
"a SEC. T. Be it frther enacted &c, That any party
seeking relief unrr the provisions of this act shall
make affidavit to ne quantity OF in his hands
owner, administrator, executor, tutor agent that
said cotton shall weighed and appraised on oath by
two persons residents of the parish in which the ai-
ant resides that sid appraisemcut shall accompany
and be attached tdsaid affidavit and shall have the
certificate of the der oil the district court attesting
the reliability tie parties and the credbiity attach
ing the proof a chat the said clerk shall not issue
certificate unessthe cotton is appraised at not less
than six cents per iound.
SEC. q Be it tathgr enacted &c That IN case the
clerk Of the distric should refuse to make said
certificate that salt applicant snail have the right to
apply to the judge # the district court in open SEES
sion, or in chambeB, and prove the responsibility of
the parties upon which proof the judge Of the district
court shall grant tie certificate.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, &c. That any party
making false ailyit shall be deemed guilty of per
jury, and upon conviction, be liable to the penalties