Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-01-16
The Confeaersta Tax


 The various States of the Confederacy, that have assumed the payment of this tax, have been officially notified that 1t cannot be paid by an offset of claims against the general govern ment for money advanced, or expenses incurred, on account of the war; The legislature did all within it's power, unavailingly 1t seems, to afford relief, aRd we see no other way than for the people to endeavor to raise the money and pay the tax. The government must be sustained and property holders must sustain it. Ii the government is destroyed, their property becomes worthless. If, for want of being promptly sus~ tained, 1t languishes, property remains depre- ciated and unproductive. It is, then, a matter of interest and economy for the planter to make sacrifices now, for the support of the govern ment which is instituted for the protection, pre- servation and enhancement of his property.
 An examination of the tax books shows that, at least onethird of the taxpayers Of the State, do not own taxable property to the value of hve hundred dollars, and will not, therefore, be re- quired to pay any confederate tax The value of the lands, town lots and slaves in Arkansas in 1860, amounted, i'll the aggregate, to one hundred and sixty millions of dollars. Adding the value of other property subject to taxation under the act of Congress and allowing for the reduction or depreciation in the value ot the property, when assessed, and we may assume that one hundred and.twenty millions of dollars worth of property will be required to pay over half million dollars of tax. This sum IS to be raised by the wealthy and wellto-do classes. But, paradoxcal as it may appear, the richest men in the State age now the poorest A plan ter, whose draft, in ordinary times, tor twenty thousand dollars, would be promptly honored, cannot have an order for barrel of flour filled, unless the cash accompanies 1t. Men with hun dreds of bales of cotton under their sheds can not raise enough specie to pay postage on their letters. So far as we have heard and our op- portunities for acquiring information on this point have been ample there is no want Of pa triotism among the planters nor any unwilling ness to pay this tax. As general thing, the people are anxious to pay 1t, and would be vii. ling to bear more, if the means wherewith to pay were attainable. Some few skinants may grumble, as they would if required to pay but a dime in year, but the great body of the tax payers are willing to strain every nerve to sus- tain the government.
 If the blockade is raised, and we have some inside and outside reasons for believing 1t will be by the middle of February, the payment of this tax can be easily arranged. Cotton will be sod money plentiful and all classes feel the be xpeits of restored trade.
 But we should prepare for the worst and, if, on account of any possible reverses to our arms, or complications of European policy, our ports should not be opened, we must try to raise this sum within ourselves. As to the means of doing this, we know of no general measure of relief. We have never claimed to possess any of "Me mostastate financial skill hmow', 10 political etAics,'' but as a measure Of re- lief we suggest that our delegation in Con- gress should urge upon the -proper authori- ties at Richmond, the speedy payment oi the claims of the State for clothing furnished to the troops. This amount was a part of the regular army expenses, advanced by the State, and had not she done so, the Conlederacy would 1 have had to furnish the clothing, CT money in communication for it. This claim, for several hundred thousand dollars, can be paid out q appropriations already made. The vouchers and proper evidences of the amount advanced will soon be ready for transmission to Rich mond and when the amount is received in Con- fcderate currency 1t can be paid out and afford the means with which to pay this tax, or the State authorities by retaining t, can have in their hands the means of aftording relief.