Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-11-10
NO. "a.

federacy. tending to prevent separation in the fu
ture, for Insufficient reason.
q o. The export duty, besides furnishing an in
yaiao'e basis OF credit, and cons ituting an i'm
portanf element In the scheme for retiring the
re- iundant currency, and transfe rrnc large part
/ OF the burthenS Of taxation from our own peonIe
10 foreign consumers, would tend to promote our
| national Independence, BY affordine encourage
mtnt 10 the growth of the cotton manufacture
amongst as 1t will be seen at a glance, that if
We lay an export duty of s or 10 cents a round
ON raw cotton it would operate as a bounty to
that ext nj to the domestic manufacturer With
such bounty, no one can doubt, that an extra
ordinary impulse would be given to manufacture
'ng industry, and It would not be long before
we conid successfully compete with the Northern
States ana European nations in the markets of
the wrrd. ~
A. An unfortunate error was committed bv
the Confederate congress ia not imposing heavy
taxes at the commencement of the war; The de-
lay produced an accumulation OF debt, which has
not only caused arrangement of the currency.
cine debt being created by the issue of treasury
h'tes) but has, TO some extent inspired distrust
in tie public mind. Two years having been al
'u"ed 10 pass without taxation the burthen.
Wnicn Should have been distributed through
Ihree years, is now condensed into one But
inr inrsunaseiy, the people are not only able, but
wiling TO bear 1t. Congress was greatly mistaken
~ supposing that a tax bill would be unpopular.
on the contrary, the public knowing that taxa
tlon must come, were anxious to meet it prompt
~ instead Of Having it hanging like an incubus
over them. AS far as my observation goes, the
people, treating the public debt as their own.
Gas in fact it ISL like prudent debtors wish 10
nave IL ulscnarged with as little delay as NAV be
praclicabie. Congress should respond to the
popaiar sentiment, by imposing tax sufficient
70 pay the current expnses of the war. A nom.
nai tax OF per centum On property, Is, in truth,
} tax CT less than one per cent before the war
or one ouShel Of wheat or corn or one Dound
u meat or butter, will pay as much debt now as
en- ousnsis or ten pounds would them
rms important fact should not be lost sight of,
u irahil:ig system OF taxation. Before the war
he STATE tax was 60 cents on 500 worth Of pro-
'erty. Half busnel of wheat would then nav
ne tax now the tax is one dollar on every
hundred, and half bushel of wheat viii, uay the
AK on s4oo Whle therefore the tax on lne far
aer mas been noninaly increased 66z per cent,
: has really been reduced IS per cent
lt IS to De hoped, therefore, that Congress-
III ulsmlss all apprehension of burden.pg the
eopie py over taxation, and will come up to
neir Work In good earnest. Whatever shallow
olltlcians may have thought in regard to the
curse on OF events at the commencement of our
lincuitles, the people knew that a bloody. pro-
racted and expensive war was tho necessary
onsequence of the revolutionary movement
hey accepted it, with all its Incidents and thew
% prepared to meet all its responsibilities.
'Fe lear ls really entertained of the effects of
nwlse Legislation than of the arms of the foe
he arrangement of the currency, by the blum
srs of our authorities, has already done US
ore damage than the devastation of our terri
ry by the enemy.
have hastily thrown together my views of
ese great questions for the consideration of
'uIseif and other friends If my suggestions
all stimulate abler and more experienced
lnds into action and lead to the preparation
I'd adoption OF some measure calculated to give
lief to the country, | consider myself amply
paid for my trouble.
Very truly, your friend
and "bedieDt servant,
ALEX. Fl. FL STUART