The New York herald., 1863-12-26
The Lato Oonvontion or United states As
sessors Ln CLEVELAND. Ohtn.

u
SCISSORS in Cleveland, Ohto.
The publication in the HERALD several days
ago of the report of the proceedings Of the
Convention OF United States Assessors, held in
Cleveland, Ohio, last week, has already affected
the prices Of articles recommended for increase
of taxation very largely. The Convention was
pretty FULL and the members were mostly in.
telligent and sound thinking public men-those
who have filed many Offices Of responsibility
and trust They came from various sections Of
the country, and were supposed to represent
the interests of their localities with fairness
and understandingly. The Convention was
held with the appreciation Of the Commss ,ner
Of Internal Revenne, whose chief clerk was in
attendance and gave advice and suggested
recommendation when desired 10 do so by
members. 1t was also understood that the
meeting MET the approval Of the Chairman Of
the Committee of Ways and Means. who, if he
adopts tho suggestions, win present them TO
Congress-; and they are in all Likelihood to be
passed by that body, If the propositions are pre-
sented az administration measures.
This gives an Importance TO the proceedings
has excited the various markets affected in
corresponding degree In some instances the
report came upon dealers and manufacturers
like a thunderclap. They were not prepared
for tbc suggestions In many other cases
profound speculative sensation was
produced and prices increased enor-
mously and unreasonably. The farther
our report spreads the more will it
attract public attention and produce excite
ment, if not alarm and Indignation, and strong
public sentiment in opposition to some Of the
propositions will be aroused Nearly every arti
Gle manufactured by either men, women or chill
dren, if the sales exceed certain amount rs to
be taxed The tax on the great interest OF the
West-whi skey-is TO be increased to sixty
cents per gallon from March l, 1864, TO July l.
1864; from July TO November l, 1864, seventy
five cents, and from and after the latter date
one dollar per gallon. When IT ia understood
that whiskey, which sold last summer for thirty
and forty cents per gallon, commanded ninety
cents before the new rates were proposed. tho
agitation in the whiskey market, and all the in
terests connected with it, such as corn, wheat,
rye, &C., may be imagined. 1t is reported that
a large quantity Of whiskey changed hands in
Chicago, st. Louis and Cleveland pending the
proceedings of the Convention. The advanced
taxes were made at the suggestion of Western
members, although the recommendations were
encrgetically sustained by the chairman of the
committee. Mr.. Budd, of Pennsylvania-a State
also largely interested in the production Of the
article
This increase, together with that on malt,
hops, beer. TO-, may have the effect of breaking
up mass of low groggeries; but it is likely the
government will be most seriously affected by
it in the purchase and the consumption by its
armies and navies Of the article called "eom-
missary." The native wines were cut down
to ten cents a gallon previously recon-
mcnded at twenty-five cents per gallon).
80 as to conciliate the German wine
growers of the West, who were represented
az a class Of people who would not support the
republican party If tho increased tax were
levied. So with some few other interests; but
the subject Of politics was scarcely touched
upon in open convention. 1t is true member
now and then would grit bis teeth, and swear
that the imposition Of certain tax would kill
the party in his district; but no attention was
openly paid to any such consideration, and
committee and adopted without apparent view
to the effect they would have upon elections
Indeed, the unbounded favor with which the
people bore their already heavy tax burdens,
according to the resolutions Of Mr.. Emerson of
Massachusetts, would seem to negative the idea
that the Convention had any other thought but
that the people were ready to submit to further
burdens to support the government. All this,
however, remains to be proved The Conven-
tion could not occasionally resist a smile as
tax upon certain humble articles, such as ginger
pop, ice cream, &c, was proposed; bnt If any
thing manufactured was left untaxed the oms-
sion could not readily DO detected; IL il WAS,
the sale of tho article is certain to require a
paid license, from steamboat down to fish cart.
A citizen Of Cleveland inquired at the COM
mencement Of the sitting of the Convention
what it was all about. Some one said ii was TO
take steps to invade Canada; but another, with
more propriety, pronounced it TO be conven-
ton OF dental students, assembled 10 devise
the easiest means Of drawing teeth from the
American people" When called upon to de-
eide upon the point the American people will
undoubtedly act intelligently upon the subject.
How Co.'s THE WAI!--The war has come to
stand still. Active operations on our side
are limited for the present, so far as we know,
to cavalry exploring expeditions, and on the
side Of the enemy to petty thieving guerilla
adventures. The Army Of the Potomac. while
resting from its severe campaigns Of the last
twelve months, is undergoing general over