The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-05-26
The RADICAL PoL1oY.- While the Radical

The RADICAL PoLICY.- While the Radical
party is refusing representation to the South,
the proposed tax of five cents per pound on
cotton is pending. The dogma which was
once received with SO much unanimity by the
people Of America, and served as ligature
to bind them together more firmly in resisting
taxation without representation, is now utterly
ignored by the dominant party in Congress.
Instead of cooperating with the President OF
the United States, in the policy of reconstruc-
tion which he favors, and thus exertlng the
power which they might WELD for good, In a
restoration of the Union, by admitting South
ern representatives within the halls OF legisla-
ton the Radicals persistently unite in an oppo-
sition, which results only in strife and the
prossest injustice to the South. Apart, how
ever, from the wrong thus inflicted upon the
South, by imposing upon her taxation, while
she is refused participation in national dellbe-
rations, the proposed tax itself, to which. we
have alluded, Of five cents per pound upon
cotton, has already induced more than one
influential paper, in the cotton-growing State
of Georgia, to advise the planters to "let cot
ton alone' Instead OF encouraging its cul
ture, and placing the South in the attitude
she formerly occupied, in aiding to preserve
the national credit to which her production OF
cotton so largely contributed, for its export
was most powerful element In balancing ac-
counts with our creditors abroad--complaint
have been uttered against the President for
having authorised or ordered the sale of Gov
eminent railroads. stocks, materials, &C.. to
Southern men on credit, when it is well
known fact, that it was done in unison with
the views Of the Secretary Of the Treasury,
and in accordance with the policy of the Gov
4l,o
the great desidratam, $50 vital was this"
saws a contemporary, "to the national credit,
that, had the Government giuen this property
back to its impoverished and discouraged
owners, it would have been justifable in doing
it, as, had not the cotton gone forward
promptly, at time when the balance of trade
was rapidly running against us, we might
have had our credit SO shaken, that we might
not have recovered for years.
Notwithstanding this, the New ork IsI-
6une complained that without the authority
of the law, President JOHNSON, among his
earliest acts of reconstruction, ordered the sale
of Government railroads and railroad running
stocks, iron and materials, to an enormous
amount, to Southern men on credit"
But, cotton, whether king or not, is most
convenient thing, as Mrs. TooDLEs would
say, w nave III bllO uouscs Leu, IL UulS GdA
of five cents per pound is to be imposed, it is
estimated that, including all charges, the ex-
pense Of transporting and placing it in Liver
pool would not be less than twenty three
cents pound, and thus the foreign producer
would be able to compete with, if not under
sell us. This tax, therefore, it is argued by
the Georgia Oonstitutiona7ist, and other able
Southern contemporaries, would be altogether
in the interest Of the foreign cotton planter of
India and Egypt, and other cotton growing
countries. Consequently, our Georgia CO
temporary advises the planters to turn their
attention to breadstuffs and provisions and
"let cotton alone" illustrating the propriety
Of its advice, by the following table:
100 bales, 450lbs., at Is $50 90
Contra
Federal tax, cts. per lb......s2, ESQ 90
Baling, storage, &c.........".... 500 90
Hire, rs hands at $8per month 2,400 90
Feeding, clothing, &c.......... l,25O 90
Iaxes ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5U w 6,460 w
$500 90
From this sum of $500 are to be deducted
Estate and county taxes, family expenses,
worth of land, stock and implements, wear
and tear" &C.