Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-09

to suppose that blockade Sufficient really to prevent
access" TO our entire coast could be maintained
We had the means therefore &c neutia al nato 10 had
not combined to aid enemies by the sanction of an
illegal prohibition their commerce. 10 secure the
receipt into the Treasury of coin sufficient TO pay the
interest the bonds and thus maintain the tfeaury
notes at rates nearly equal 10 par 10 specie So long a.
the interest continued to be thus paid with the reserve
OF coin pre-s1istng in our country experience sus-
tanned the expectations of those who devised the sys-
tenn Thus, on the first of the following December,
coin had only reached premium of about twenty per
ceut although had already become apparent that the
Of the country was threatened with perma-
pent suspension by reason Of the conduct Of neutral
nations and that the necessary result must be the
haution OF specie reserve. Wheat in the begin
ming OF the year 1852 was selling at one dollar and
thirty cents per bushe not exceeding, therefore, it's
average price in time Of peace The other agricultural
products OF the country at similar moderate rates,
thus indicating that there Of circulation,
and that the rae Of premium spece was heightened
by the exceptional causes which tended to It's e1hauS
ton without the possibility Of renewing the supply.
This review Of the policy Of your predecessors is
given in justice to Them and exhibits the condition Of
the finances OF the date when the permanent govern
ment was organised
In the meantime the popular aversion to internal tax.
alton by the general government had influenced the
saion of the several States and in only three Of thsn
South Carolina Mississippi and Texas the taxes
actually collected from the people. The quotas devov-
ing upon the remaining States had been raised by the
issue of bonds aud State treasury notes and the public
debt of the count thus actually increased instead
Of being diminished by the taxation imposed by Con-
gress.
Neither at the first second session Of she pres emit
Congress we're provided by taxation for main
tanning the government the legislation being confined
to authorizeg further sales of bonds and issues of
Treasury notes. Although repeated efforts we're made
IN mo nf tn
frolted with obstacle which did exist for your
predecessor and which created grave embarrassment
in deVsng any scheme Of aIatont tWo-thirds
of the entire taxable property OF the Confederate States
sists OF lands and slaves TIE general power of
alton vested in Congress by the provisional Constitution
(which to be Only temporary in its operation)
not fesrc ed BY any other condition than call du
tics mpOsts and eIcses should be uniform throughout
the States Of the Coniederacy" Bat the perm lnent
Constitution, GancoHing the principle that taxation ard
representation ought to rest on the same basis specially
provides that Representatives and direct taxes shall
be apporionsd among the several States according to
their respective numbers which shall be determined by
adding the whole number Of free persons including
those bound to service Tor term Of years. and eIcu
ding Indians 10. taxed, three-fftts Of all slaves"
1t further ordered that census should be made
within three years alter the first meeting OF the Con-
gress aud that mo clpltGcn other direct tar shall
DO laid unless in proportion to the
tion hereinbeore directed TO be taken"
II plain that under these provisions capitaton and
direct taxes must be levied in proportion the
when made II il also plain that the duty is imp ,sed
Congress to provide for making csnsus pior 20 the
22d February, 1855. II may further be stated that
according to the received cons uction of the Conat
ton of the United Safes construction acquiesced in
for upHArds Of sixty years. taxes on lands and ,liVes
direc! taxes, and the conclusion necessarily
to be tat, in repeating, without. modification, in our
Constitution this language of the Constitution Of 1887
mr. ntanded \ attach IN tba
witch had been sarcioned By long and uninterrupted
acquisEcence.
So long as there seemed to be q probability of being
able to carry out these provisions of the Constitution in
their entirety and in conformity with the intention, OF
its authors there vas an obvious difficulty in framing
any system OF taxation. law which should e1emp!
from the burthen tWo-tbrds OF the property of the
country, would be unfair TO the owners Of the re-
naming third would be made quAte to meet the 70.
quirements OF the public service.
The urgency Of the need was such, however, that,
after very grea. embarrassment and more than th ca
months of assduous labor, you succeeded in fr ming
tho law Of the oath April, 1885, BY which you sought
to reach so far was practicable every of the
country except the capital invested in real estate and
Saves AID by means of income tax and tax in kind
on the produce OF the SOIL well by licenses On
business occupations and proes ions 10 command re-
sufficient for the wants Of the country. But
very large proportion Of these could only be
made Available at the close Of the present and the
commencement of the ensuing year, while the inter
Vening eIigencies permitted delay In ths sate of
Affairs Supernduced almost unavoid.bly by the fortunes
of the war in which we are engaged, the issues Of
Treasury notes have been increased until tho currency
in circulation amounts to than six hundred millions
of dollars than three fold the amount re quired
By the business Of the country.
need not enlarge upon the evil effects CT this cond-
iiOn Of things They are, unfortunately Blu. too appa
en-. In addition the difficulty presented to the ne
ceSsary operations Of the government and the efficient
conduct Of the war, the most deporable Of all is
results Is undoubtedly its coRpting influence on tie
morals of the peopl,. The possession of large amouls
of treasury notes has naturally led to desire for il
vessment and with constantly increasing volume tf
currency there has been an equally constant increase
price in al objects Of investment. This effect ha,
stimulated purchase by the apparent certainty of profit
and spirit of speculation has thus been fostsred which
has so debasng influence and such ruinous conse-
quenceS, that is highest duty the GAUGE
aud no measures directed to that end can be- too
prompt or too stringent.
ReVerting to the constitutional provisions already
cited the question whether it be possible TO eI
ecute the duty Of apportioning taxation in accordance
with tie ordered to be made basis. So long
this appeared to oe practicable none can deny the
propr:ey of your course in abstain'ng from the mpo
ston OF direct taxes till you could exercise the lower
in the precise mode pointed out by the terms Of the
fundamental lay. But s obvious that there are many
du,ies imposed by tie Constitution which depend for
their fuldment on the undsturbed possession OF hs
rtory within which they are to be performed. The
same strument which ordered q census 10 be made in
al the States, imposes the duty the Confederacy Ito
guarantee to every State republican form OF sovera-
ment" l: enoins on u, Ito protect each State from
invaso and while declaring that great objects AID
purposes Ito establish JUSTICE ensure domestic trau'
guilty, and SECURE the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and posterity" confers the means and thereby
imposes the paramount duty of eecting lie in
tent, by 'layng and collecting taxes, duties, imposs
aud e1cle necessary to pay the debts provide for the
common defence and carry on The Government of the
Confederate States"
None would pre- end that the Constitution Is viola ed
hecause, BY reason of the presesce of hostile arnes
We are unable to guarantee . republican form Of gov.
eminent to those states portona of States nov lem.
poray held by the enemy, sni little justic9 would
there be in inru.ng blame for the failure to make the
census when that failure is attributable to causes not
foIeseen by the authors oil the Constitution and be-
yond our control The general infant of our