, 1863-06-10

Letter from Hon. e. B. Ward, Of
Detroit.

The Manufacturers Association Of Chicsgo
called Convention to meet In this city on
the 4th inst, to petition the Commissioner Of
internal Revenue to suspend, until the next
meeting Of Congress, the collection OF the In
come tax from this class, on the ground TINT,
having just been required to pay tax Of three
per cent. Of their gross receipts, they cannot
in equity be taxed three to fire Der cent, Of
their profits in addition.
Hon. E. B. Ward OF Detroit, who received
copy Of the cali returns the following reply,
declining to attend. Mr. Ward Is one Of the
largest manufacturers on this continent:
DETROIT, June l. 1868.
calling upon the manufacturers Of the United
States to meet IN convention at Chicago, on
the 18th inst, with the view Of arresti1g the
application Of the income tar On the net pro-
Its Of manufactures, is received The manu-
featuring interests Of this country are Of vital
Importance to It's prosperity. hence every act
OF congress OR Of the people, bearing upon
their interests, should be the result Of careful
consideration.
As manufacturers, and as patriotic men, We
should guard, as FIR as possible, against op-
press1ve taxation: and while we protect our
own interests in this regard, I hold that ne
also protect the interests Of the nation.
Let us see whether we a1e oppressed By the
acts complained Of:
Fo1moret anforty years the manufacturers
Of the United States have urged upon Congress
the Importance to our interests of having q
protective tariff, SO US to give American man-
nfacturers the American market for their pro-
ducts. Congress has passed such an act, and
We are now enjoying tue benefits Of Its oper.
a4ion. In my opinion double the tax of which
Jon complain would be less burdensome to
our interests than the repeal Of even one-haH
the protection We now enjoy. Every mnnu-
facturer who has sufficient capacity to con-
ya1orem tax to the price Of bis commodity;
hence the tax is paid entirely By the con.
sinners.
The income tax only applies to the profits
after deductipg all charges incident to the
business, and all other taxes the manufacturer
pays. # he has no income, he pays no tax;
Il less than $4,000 three per cent. p; If over
prosperous and fortunate to contribute to the
needs OF the Government under which we
live, in proportion to their prosperity or good
fortune.
Is not this mode Of assessment emineut1y
just, patriotic, and statesmanlike. I thinkit
is, md rs manufacturer and taxpayer, am
willing to pay my income tax On the net profit
Of my bnsiness, just SO long as Congress will
give Us fair protection against the cheap lnbor
Of Europe, and tho Government need the mo-
ney for its support If we pay our share OF
the public burdens cheesfally, and we hereaf.
cd, we can apply to Congress with good con-
science for IN increase Of protection, and they
will no doubt grant it. But If We make M
generous attacke upon their acts--if We show
them we are not Just towards the Govern
ment, we must not expect liberal legislation
from them in the future. ..
The fact that very large proportion Of the
incomes from manufacturing will be derived
from Pennsylvania, New York and New Eng
land. and but small proportion from the
Northwest, appears to me to be potent ar
the Western manufacturers.
Il We have Congress whose accidental
Legislation {as you call this hw) is all based
upon aG sound principles Of statesmanship as
the act under consideration, I think we have
just reason to be proud Of them, and should
repose great confidence in their intelligence
and patriotism. II, IS jon state, the Hon. I.
N. Arnold believes the law in question to be
mi= take, l can only say think he has not
examined the subject in MI Its bearings.
1t is superfluous to say to you that our
country Is In deep trouble; 1t needs all the
support VIC can possibly give tour profits
and fortunes, and, If need be, our lives. Il 1t
only calls upon us to aid BY q moderate con-
13OANO4 VI 0A4 ACA 4uEVu1C5 l0E luE p[O5EEu-
tion Of it's great and imperative work Of sus-
talning its credit and its existence, think we
shonld yield to It's demands not grudglngly,
but cheerfn1ly, promptly, and With hearty
good will.
Manufacturers are mostly doing well, they
have all the work they can do, and It they do
not get remuneratiye prices, it Is their own
fault. :.
I hope you will not accuse me. Of opposing
the interests Of manufcturers-hr from IT,.
No man in the country Is more anxious to see
them iDcrease and prosper than myself, and I
belieyethe course I propose will in the end
be admitted BY you to be the surest road to
The highest and most profitable Development
IF the manufacturing interests in this country.
Believing as do, that the Convention you
purpose Is iniudiclous, and would, If SUCCESS
|ul In it's objects, be highly detrimental to the
interests Of The country, and in the end inja-
Fious to the interests Of manufacturers them.
selves, I must respectfully decline your kind
irritation to attend the Convention.
Respectfully, E. B. WARD,
Messrs. T, ". BAXTER & Co.
CoIoRED TRoops.-The Angso-Afr frican emu