The Semi-weekly Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1862-1864, 1864-01-15

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obstacle which did mt exist for vour Dre-
decessors aud which created crave einjlar-
ras.n,rnt in devisnp anv scheme of taxa
tjon About two thirds of the entire taxa
bic propertv of the Confederate States con-
sists of land and slaves. The general now
or of taxation vested in Congress by the
provisional Constitution, (Which was to he
ONLY temporary in its operution.) was not
restricted by any other condition than that
..;,N duties. imDorts and excuses should lac
uniform throughout the States of the Con
! federacy." But the permanent Constitu-
! ton sanctioniro the principle that taxation
| and representation, ought to rest on the
same basis, specially provides that ..repre-
sentatives and direct taxes shall be appor-
| toned among the several States according
| to their Respective n!nIje,s. which shall be
determined by adding TO the whole nuEiber
OF free persons, including those bollndt 10
service Tor a term Of wears and excluding,
J Indians not taxed. trcc-iiths Of all sl;ly az.
| IL was further ordered that census
| should be made within three years after the
first meeting of the Congress, and that no
capitltion or other direct tax shall be laid,
unless in proportion to the census by euu-
mcration hercnbctyre to be taken
| 1t is plain that under these provisions,
capitation and direct taxes must be levied
| in proportion to the census when made.
! 1t Is also plain that the duty is imposed OIL
| Congress to provide for making d census
prior to the I'D February, 1865. 1t may
| further be stated that according to the re-
c.iycd cons tructiUu of the Constitution Of
the United States, "a construction acqui-
escca in for upwards of sixty years. taxes
| on lands and slaves arc direct taxes, and
the conclusion seems necessarily to be,
that. in repeating, without modification, in
our Constitution this language of the Con-
stitu;ion of lTS7 our convention intended
| to attach to it the meaning which had been
sanctioned by long and uninterrupted ac-
uuiescence. .......rr.-
! So long a. there seemed to he q proba-
biiity of being able to carry out these pro-
visions of tho Constitution in their entirety.
and in conformity with the intention OF liz
authors. there was an obvious difficulty i'll
training any system of taxation a law
which should exempt from the burtheI
two thirds OF the property Of the country.
| would be as unfair TO lie owner Of the re-
naming third AS it would be Inadequate 10
meet the requirements of the public ser
vice.
The urgency of the need was such, how
ever that after very great embarrassment.
and more than three months OF aSslduoils
. labor. YOU succeeded in framing the law of
! ;ie 2lth April. lS'i;;. by which you sought
TO reach. - far as was practicable, every
resource Of the country except the capital
Invested in real rs ate and slaves, and by
! means OF an income tax and {. tax in kind
on the produce OF the soil Us well as by Ii
cens., on bushes. occupations and profess
-iouS. t, command resources sufficient for
! ihc want, Of he country. But Il very Large
! ,;ruurIiou o. these resources could only
! be made available ut the clos. of the pres
ca, and the commencement of the ensuing
var. while the intervening cxigcncies per-
ujttei no delay. In this state of affairs,
f>IinrYinduccd almost ,mAvoilably by tlst.
| foIr,lnes of war in which we are engaged,
she issues OF Treasury notes have been in
creased uatil the currency in circulation
amounts TO more than six hundred millions
of InliarS or more. tiiu tu.cciold the am
cunt required by tn. business of the coun
,.v.
/ need not enlarge upon the evil effects
of this condition Of things. They are, un-
fortunately. but too apparent. In addition
,p the difficulty presented TO the necessary
operatiun- OF tie Government. and the ct
.irfant conduct of the war, the most dcpior-
able of ali it, result, is undoubtedly its
cDr,YtDtinr influence on the morals of TIE
frroplr. The possession of large amounts
o! Treasury notes has naturally led to a de-
sire for investment. ard with a constantly
increasing volume of currency. there has
been an equally constant increase of price
lin all Objects of investment. This effect
has stimulated purchase by the apparent
certainty of profit and a spirit of specula-
lion ha, thus been fostcrcd, which has 50
debas;u. an influence. and such rt,lnouS
consequences. that it is our highest duty to
rcmov" the cause, and no measures direct
cd 70 that end. can be too prompt or too
stringent.
Eyvcrting to the constitutional provisions
already cited the question reculs wheth.:
it be possible to execute the duty OF appor-
tiouiilg taxation in accordance with the cen:
s,lS ordered to be made as Il basis. 80 long
as this appeared to be practicable, none can