Washington telegraph., 1863-07-15

deeds covered
and hidden from the sight of men by their Iatel
detection
1KE TAN BILL.-Wc published Il few week,
ago complete synopsis Of the provisions O
this bill. 1t is entirely sufficient to give full
understanding of all its features. To publish
it at length would require more space than W,
could spare without loss to our subscribers il
the way of news.
ohe point seems to be somewhat misunder
stood We hear it remarked by way of casting
odium upon the bill itself, and the Congress:
which passed 1t, ana the members who voted
for it, ''that lands and negroes are not taxed "
We would regret exceedingly to be. obliged tC
believe that there existed in any quarter dis.
position to create in the minds of the people a
dis trust of the patriotism of Congress, or dis
satisfaction with its constitutionally enacted
laws. Still more would we regret any effort
IN the present crisis of our fortunes. when we
are struggling for existence itself, to see any
excitement of class feelings or preiudces-
most especially that most ab3minable Aadre'c
JohRsoHism, (for he brought it to perfection,
4 the excitement of the poor against the rich.
We need now unanimity, of all things. This
very evil is, of ali others. the one which the
enemy would wish to see introduced amongst
US. 1t was part cf their calculation in de-
claring war, that the non STAKEHOLDER W w)uld be
arrayed against the Shareholder, and the South
thus become an easy prey. 1t is their pro-
| gramme
! 1t is absurd to doubt the patriotism of Con-
gress, whatever we may think of this or that
member. They are taken from the people. b ;,
vote of the people, and thus have the highest
| endorsement for devotion to the interests of
the people. The senators arc elected by the
representatives of the people from the States,
and the President by direct vote of al tae
people themselves To suppose that all these
would combine to create privileged classes, or
do any other act treacherous 20 the best in
terests of all tie people, is without the bounds
of reason. Nevertheless, it is fitting that all
matters of a pu bic nature should be fully ex-
planned. The tax bill is not a tax upon pro-
perty of any sort. No property is directly
taxed. 1t is a tax upou the privileges of trades
and occupations, upon incomes and upon pro-
duce in certain proportions.
The House of Representatives bad passed n
bill levying an ad valorem tax uron all kinds
of property The Senate dissented from it on
constitutional grounds. 1t was contended that
direct taxation should be IN proportion to re-
presentation, and as the representation had
not yet been duly apportioned, a direct al
valorem tax would have been improper. Hence
the bill was changed into its present shape OF
tax upon incomes and privileges, and passed
| both Houses. Both our senators voted for il
upon its passage. and in the lower II ouse it
| received the support of Royston, Garland and
Batson, Mr.. Hanley voting against it.
Without implying censure of Mr.. Hanley.
we commend this vote as highly patriotic. To
have rejected it would have been to leave the
COnfederacy without resources for its expenses.
ave by the issue of an immense amount Of
paper, with which the community was already
flooded. The provisions Of the bill are very
iudicious, and bear lightly upon the poor and
heavily upon the rich. The richer the more
| heavily in proportion. The man whose income
is less than 5000 is not taxed at all. The per
| centage of taxes is increased as the income
| grows larger. The poor man whose crop is
very small pays no part of his. produce TO the
Government. The large planter is taxed one
tenth of his produce, and contributes n great
deal. The same due rcgar for the interests
of the poorer classes is preserved throughout,
and the principle is manifestly to throw the
burdens of taxeti upon those best able TO
bear it, and who have most at stake. The law
may not be perfect. 1t would be strange if it
were, being altogether an experiment in our
Confederate system. and passed hastily in the
face of an urgent necessity to provide immedi-
ately or the salvation of the credit and very
existence of the Government. We think it
however, eminently wise under the circum-
stances. Our representatives did well, and
any errors in it may be corrected as experience
may reveal them.
Certainly we may trust the motives of our
Congress so far as to pay cheerful obedience
to their laws. when such is the condition OF
our safety For if We pick faults in them now,
and make them the subject of hair-splitting
debates. and partizan discussions, we bring
about discord, aud distract the country at the
very period when oil should act with unity and
energy.
Al. 81