Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-20
lIsremenl. Il EaIses -.
Pnrnsns Of sse wer Tax.

When the ConfedeTate Congress in 1861 in
posed a war tax on the poople-a small tax, too,
Welding only some twenty or twenty-five mil
Hons-tho State Of Georgia, through its Legs
lssure, assumed its proportional part thereof
sud paid it by selling its bonds; thus relieving
the people temporarily Of the burden, and dis
tribufing it through g period of years. Such
policy was deemed wise st the time, aud was
adopted without much opposition 1t wss
adopted because tGa power Of the people to pay
taxes was not so great then as noW-mQss Of
sham being far from q" fllLhand53 and be-
cause there was not then great iua alton Of the
circulation.
The reasons which prompted this policy in
1851 no longer exist. The people nov have
abundant means to pay-almost every species
Of property and al kinds of industry are M
usually pyodUct.ve-and everybody is enxj-
Gus to paw into the public treasury portion of
his surplus, ia order TO make the bslaDcs more
valuable, By increasing It's purchasing power.
The very act OF taxation revivss confidence
am0ng us al st b0me-u0 matter how the tax is
paid and this revival Of confidence is an essen
tal confederation. Bat tie setusl paying of
the tax By taking the money directly cut
of each cilizan's pocket, must have a much
better ctfscs on outsiders than the paying
it by the issue aud sale Of State bonds,
or the issue of State treasury notes, be-
cause the former shows both the peoples viii
Iiugness and their ability. And a. this direcs
present payment viii, TO the extent it goes, re-
lieve the plethora of circulation, it is by that
much q positive gOod--a partial remedy for an
existing evil i cannot be g hardship to the
people now to pay taxes, aud it ought to be
done.
In those States which are partly oveuun By
the enemy, making the collection in the invested
districts ilapracticable, and when it would be
extremely onerous even if practicable, because |
industry is comparatively unprOducliYe, it may
be proper enough for the StatsgoveTnmsnt to
assume and bear the burden.
The idea is very prevalent that the whole war
debt should be saddlod On our postsTity-that, as
this generation has 70 bear the heat aud danger /
Of the setual conflict, coming generations should /
i'Day tie piper" This is not altogether g lust /
and correct view, for although pos.eritY viii |
enjoy In security thu blessings won BY the val1r
and endurance Of the men cf the reyoluhcn, yet /
many Of the latter win also see ko splendid fru-
iion Of thsir tolls and labors. The fact Is how
ever, thst the great bulk Of the debt will be en-
tailed on postarity for long years and viii fall /
mainly on those who outiivs the war. But still /
We must pay part as we 60 along-must pay /
st least tho interest. That much IS a necessity /
Of the sitaationi for unless we do pay, conf I
1ence viii become so impaired, depreciation viii I
20 On 50 rapidly prices viii 60 so high, the /
lebt will mount up SO frighllully, that we shsll /
put success in jeopardy, if not wholly preclude /
C. And f. by putting off the evil day Of pay
nent, we should succeed, re would accumulate I
debt appalling 20 posterity, and which, from /
IS very magnitude, might force repudiati0n.-
augusta COHStitEiiOHatist.