The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-19
THE UNITED STATES LAND TAX


lecting the direct tax on land began operations
In New Hanover scounty. The tax for the
/ counties of Wake, Johnson, Wayne and Craven
/ has already been collected, and other commits
sioners are now at work in more distant parts OF
/ the State
| The direct tax on land is eighty cents on the
/ hundred dollars, aud the appraisement of pro-
perty of 1860 is taken as the basis Of assessment
of this tax This tax is to be collected for only
one year.
The Richmond Times announcing the arrival
| of the direct tax collector In that city, says
/ The announcement above referred to was the
very first information that our people had that
there was such thing as direct tax
men, they had dreamed full surely that the
prompt and regular payment of the internal
revenue imposts discharged all the claims of the
Government, when the announcement Of the
arrival of the direct tax agent undeceived them
not agreeably. The direct tax is stern reality,
all of US that, like Justice Shallow, own gland
and beeves" shall soon find. This being the
case, the history of the tax ana the amounts to
be paid by the different Southern States is
matter of interest. All that it is important to
know on the subjects, except the exact amount
to be paid by each individual, and the exact day
upon which he is required to have that amount
ready, is contained in the following paragraph
which we take from a Northern paper The
paper predicts that the tax will "cause' some
trouble The only trouble to be anticipated is
the distress it will bring upon many of our 'peo
pie whose whole property consists in lands which
are just now lying idle and anproductive:
"By the act of Congress of the 5th of August
1861, direct tax of S20,O00,000 was levied
upon lands and houses in all the States in the
Union, those of the South as we'll as those of
the North. The amount was apportoned among
the States, ahd full arrangements were made for
the collection of the same by the usual machinery
Of assessment and collection. At the same time
privilege was given to each of the several States
TO assume their proportion Of the tax, and pay
it at once. This was done by the States not in
rebellion, and the citizens of those States were
assessed for the amount in their general taxes.
Most of them paid it without knowing exactly
that they v ere doing SO. Hence, so little was
said about direct taxes that the burden was
scarcely felt to be ore in the loyal States. But
in the disloyal States the existence of the tax
will, doubtless, be well Known hereafter and
cause some trouble. The following amounts
arc charged to the States lately in rebellion
Virginia, 1887 $50 66; North Carolina $685.
l94 &C., South Carolina, $685., 80 &c; Georgia,
1854 1867 33; Alabama, S529,3l3 33; Missis-
sippi, S413 oh 66; Louisiana, $3.50, 1886 &c;
Tennessee, S669, ,498; Arkansas, S261, $50; Flor
ida, 1922 6G; Texas, 1855, ,L06 &C. BY an
act passed in 1862, it was provided that the
direct tax should be charged upon all lands in
insurrec,ionary districts aud remain lien there
on, and that where practicable the lands might
be sold for default of payment whenever. posses
sion could be obtained BY the United States
officers. Under this act sales of lands for non
payment of taxes have been made 10 the South,
but they have been few in number
INrERcEDIsG FOR Mr.. DAvls-The For
trcss Mouroe correspondent of the Boston Tray:
eller writes:
Zone of fhe privates of the Goth Maine regi.
meht who settled in North Carolina after the
close of the rebellion, has reached here on his
way to Washington to iutercede for the pardon
of Jeff. Davis, having travelled on foot to
Norfolk 1t seems that he was found withio
the rebel lines, captured, carried to the rebel
headquarters, tried and convicted Of being a spy,
and sentenced to be hung. He asked to be
allowed to write to MIR. Davis, and the request
was granted. Having some doubts, however,
of the intention Of his captors, he bribcd the
rebel waiter to take another letter, and throug h
a servant of the household of the rebel Presi-
dent, it reached him. The result was that
was despatched with an order for the
Yankee soldier to be taken Immediately to the
Presidents house. Upon his arrival the guard
was dismissed with an order to return It seems
that while JEFF. and wife tarried at Portland
previous to the war, this soldier rendered Mr..
D some service, which he acquitted by saving
the life of the soldier Now the latter is on his
way to intercede for his Geliverer."
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A r. H.
A. I. Mallett, we attended. his first exhibition
of Portable Gas Machine, for which he is |
agent. 1t deserves to be classed among the /
wonders of.the age. The most brilliant gas is /
produced without fuel or retoris, bat by neat |
little maehiue, which, though, apparently COM !
plicated, is perfectly simple 10 lis operation /
These machines are intended for churches, pub
lie and private houses, steamboats,, factories, |
machine shops, &c. The light is brilliant and {
steady, and not the least attractive feature is the
fact that after paying for the machine, it costs .
but trifle to generate the gas. DIR Mafictt is /.
a native OK North Carolina, and is we'll known .
throughout the South from his long connection !
with the Surgical Department of the Southern +
army, and we know that he would not Introduce /
and recommend anything to the pubic without :
being satisfied of its utility Wilmington DIS
patch
A new tanning process has been invented in .
France by NJ. Picard, which is said by LIE No
velis:e to be cheaper and more expeditions than /
the old. By mechanical process in the place /
Of bark, hides are tanned into leather in twelve |
hours. Turpentine dissolves fat and preserves
leather. The material used is fifty per cent
cheaper than bark; the process less laborious;
oak forests viii be benefited by leaving the
bark on the trees and avoiding the treading .