The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-16
Tax on Cnttou-The South.

The proposition made by MI MookhLAD |"
increase the internal revenue tax upon So'lh-
orn cotton from two TO ten cents per po'ui"
meets the decided disapprobatlon OIL Inc Ne"
York Times, the organ of the conservative
wing of the Republicans. Such tax, IL "o-
clares would, in n few years, give the rlFaiS
of this country the advantage III the growing
of cotton 1t contends that when we conId
raise cotton at from six TO twelve cents Il pouha
we had q monopoly of the chief markets oil
Europe, and the country was enrlched ny IL :
Int with the addition of eight to ten cents 4
pound in the price that competition which we
did not fear will become dangerous
The Times, in this view of the interest OF the
Government and the Northern people on the
subject, gives the following very proper advice ;
"Instead of depressing the raisin q OF cotton
nv such ruinouS taxation, every possible
encouragem ent should be given 10 lis enlarge
mcnt The old planters should be encouraged
10 resume labor on the free basis; the Norm
ern men who have gone South 10 engage In
planting should be encouraged III lholr new
enterprise, and the negroes should be cncoul
aged 10 raise cotton on their niue palchcss-
What with the industrial REORGANIZATION
under which the old planters suffer, the mex
perience under which Northern men Sulier'
and the crudencss of the efforts OF me negro
| if a tax be laid such rs now proposed, IL VIII
| lust about crush EeryDouy attempting toi'iSo
| cot ton in the SOUTH
| We never doubted that the people OF the
North would see how a general system of
sharp taxation, political disability ana oppres-
sion of the South must result in disaster 10
themselves Such policy would not only
greatly enhance the cost OF southern staples lSo
beneficial 10 foreign competition), but seriously
diminish the amount of the crop. Inc same
4 Il
causes will produce both these efects. WIN
the raw material thus enhanced in price ana
diminished in quantity, the revenue OF the
Government must be curtalled and the proHls
of the manufacturer diminished. The foreign
manufactures will be enabled thus to compete
with our own in our own markets, and would
drive ours out of most foreign markets.
The Federal Government will be fully alive
to these considerations, we imagine, before IL
disposes of the subject. We are aware that
the Radicals would know no stopping place
in their persecution of the South save that
particular point at which they discover mat
they will inflict a deeper INJURY upon Them
selves than upon us by going further For
the present they are Il little blind even 10 mat
point. They have already impinged CONSIDER
ably upon it, But after they throw OIL their
bile they may grow cool and deliberate enough
TO see a little more clearly what they are
about.
But suppose they will not-what then
Wby as we are helpless, we must Just keep
quiet and preserve our dignity as we best may
in our disabled and voiceless condition. Inc
rulers of the land have the whole subject III
their own keeping, and it is for them 10 do
what they think proper Even were our re-
representatives. admitted on the floor OF Con
press now, their circumstances would be like
the voice of one crying in the wilderness. In
deed they could do nothing, and might only
provoke passion and heap up indignlues TO-
wards people who have borne quite enough
in that way. 1t would have been better had
we never elected Representatives; and we are
not sure, now they are elected, but they would
be wiser in staying ut home than knocking at
the door in Washington. A Congressman
pay is good, we know, to an impecuniouS poll
tician but then towait, and wait, and pay
board while you wait, is not financially sensi-
BILE and safe for they may not be admitted
after all. What them 1t would be con-
siderable outlay of money and anxiety for an
event which, even should IL have come, would
confer the smallest possible advantage upon
the Southern people.
Let us be patient. Time W i'll do more than
talking. The North has not only 10 take care
OF their interests, but their own liberties. If
they protect these, we cannot be abandoned 10
oppression.