The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-29
Direct Taxes--Intercstfng to Land
.- Owners.

Direct Taxes--Intercsting to Land
It has been announced that the
direct tax collector or commissioner
had arrived in this city and that he
would soon be around with his little
bill. His office, as appears from a
card on the door, is established in the
third story of the custom house.
The announcement above referred to
was the very first information that
our people had that there was such a
thing as direct tax imposed by the
United States. Good, easy 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, as all of us that,
like Justice Shallow, own Gland and
beeves," shall soon find. This being
the case, the history of the tax and
the amounts to be paid by the differ
ent Southern States is matter of in
terest. All that it is important to
know on the subject, 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 para
graph, which we take from a North
ern 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 people, whose whole property
consists in lands which are Just now
lying idle and unproductive:
By the Act of Congress of the 5th
of August, 1861, direct tax of 500
600, 600 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 appor-
toned among the States, and full
arrangements were made for the col
lection of the same by the usual ma
chlnery Of assessment and collection.
At the same time privilege was given
to each of the several States TO as
sumo their proportions of the tax,
and pay it at once ThisS was done
by the States not in rebellion, and
the citizens of those States were as
sessed for the amount in their general
taxes. Most of them paid it without
knowing exactly that they were doing
so. Hence, so little was said about
direct taxes that the burden was
scarcely felt to be one in the loyal
States. But in the disloyal States
the existence of the tax will, doubt
hn
cause some trouble. The following
amounts are charged to the States
lately in rebellion: Virginia, $937,
55O.66; North Carolina, $576, 1914. 66;
South Carolina, 1868, $40. &C; Georgia,
1854, 1867 .33; Alabama, 1929, ,313. 33:
Mississippi, $413, ,OS4.66; Louisiana,
$3.50, 1856. 66; Tennessee, 5000, 498;
Arkansas, $261, 1856; Florida, ST.
522. sc; Texas, 1856, 1O6.66. By an
Act passed in 1862, it was provided
that the direct tax should be charged
upon all lands in insrrrectionary dis
tricts and remain lien thereon, and
that where practicable the lands might
be sold for default of payment when
ever possession could be obtained by
the United States officers. Under
this Actsales of lands for fornon-payment
OF taxes have been made in the South.
but they have been few in number.
The Government officers in the South
have not been urgent as to the col
lection of the direct tax, but it is
evident that the time of payment is
near.-Richmond Times.
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