Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-11-03
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MISS OCt. y, 1900.
EDITORS APPEAL: 1 rssi 10 your paper Of the
22i, Al article over the signature of " Flint
Lock with regret, and think be has done The
Plsntars injustice. The writer endeavors to
prove that the planters are the ert0rtioDers and
0ppressoTs Of the country. I sn certain but
lev planters in this section of he country pay
more than expenses. The tax law presses heav-
Ter upon the planter than upou any class in the
community. The planter under that law is com
pe-ed to pay the Government oDe-lenth Of al
the pork or bacon be ~raises, whether sufficient
Ter DIS family or not. The cholera and other
diseases may destroy his hogs he army may
be near bis plantation and the soldiers may kill
ms best and latest hogs, yet he is compelled to
give o~ne-tentb Of the meat he may be able to
raise after his losses. All Of his cattle and hor-
ses are pressed except s bare suficiency, and
those are further decreased by the soldiers shoot
ing Tie cattle and taxing The mules and horses.
His corn crib and fodder house is at all times a.
the disposal Of the impressiDg officer, who often
exercises bis authority without justice OF mercy,
and in 81 eases CT outrage the planter has no
redress. Their orchards, gardens snd potstoe
patches, suffer from pillagsrs. Their property
and labor is spread over a large space and can
not be concealed. Many are in the army, with
no means to protect either property or labor
The banker, The merchant, tbe hotel keeper, the
printer and others, have The entire avsils Of his
capital aud labor without the fear Of an impress
mg odicer. The planters tax is fxed-0ne-tentb
must be paid whether there is too much rain Or
not enough. The merchant can add cent per
cent 60 his goods and pay his tax without loss.
The planter, after bis crop is planted and worked,
add and if the season should be uufa.
vorEble and be makes a bare support, he mist
still pay bis tenth, The merchant and al others
can advance their prices day By day with ne
fear Of imPressment. L viii now take seventy
bushels Of corn to purchase d calico dress.
IN former times, one and a half bushels
would purchase the same article. The calico
the merchant no more labor than in former
laes, but the planter to be even must make
twenty-five bushels Of corn with the same Ia
that be in former Times made one and a half
This one Illustration will hold good
= ali the productions Of The plantations. The
throughout this section of the country
lost, more or less, the labor Of the two psa
'ears in the destruction Of cotton, which they G
eieSupon to support their families and pay
her debts. Besides this, planters have upon I
acir places 2 certain proportion Of women, chill !
ren and Ifrm, that must be clothed and fed. 4
nd as they d. not now make cotton some Of a
a make their expenses. 2
If Twas disposed to discuss this subject upon z
lie basis Of labor and espital employed, I could f
.sily prove lhss the plsntors are making less :
-0ney now than formshy-many barely pay I
e sxpenses-aHd, as q body Of citizens, have D
,Dzibgied more gratuitously TO the soldiers aud U
e war, less disposed 20 sxtorlion or speculB .
ID, and haze been as patriotic, high minded 10
sacrificing, a any class in the CoHfederacy. to
A short paragraph upon aaofher subject. "a
10 newspapers and their correspondents would d
ME less upon The currency and finance. # or
osld be better FOX tho country and all coDeep- a.
j. They are eona;sntly telling ms sb3ut a re vi
iDdant currency, predicting dis.rssslul evils IN pa
e country, and d~evising various remedies er y
e political evil, each making bad uor.s. rbese Gr
ID % constantly alarm public c0nfaepee-5is
rO mems minds create doubt, and productive 81
mischief The planters and lAboring men do b.,