Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-28
THE COTTON TAX.
LETTER FROM HOS. MILTON BROWN
UPON THE PROPOSED COTTON
TAX.

hALLAklDE llDlEl- " H7hAAfNAC-HJ 's''
II. ls66.-Hon. John w. LeftuicA:-I an
pleased that you have turned your atten
ton to the subject Of the proposed cotton
tax. A great mistake seems TO prevail al
WAsHrSToN and in the North in regard to
the profit Of cotton planting and the power
of cotton 10 sustain taxation. Cotton can M
more stand sarafion than corn or uheat, or dny
other product Of the soil Labor, Il left alone,
will equalize itself, and engage in whatever
found TO return the best compensation.
Cotton has been temporarily high, because
its cultivation has been partially suspended
by the war, and By IaDaii0a imposed By South
c,n Legislatures during dc mar. Ia this con
dition OF things it is obviously matter %of
national Importance to send labor back TO
the cotton-felds as rapidly as possible, to
reduce the price Of cotton by increased pro-
ductions, thereby furnishing an abundant
and cheap supply at home, and sending il
abroad at prices that will check the growing
competition in the cultivation Of this great
staple in other countries. To tax cotton
now because it bears a high price will be as
unwise as il would be 10 tax corn when the
price Is run mp by failure Of crops, or to
tax pork because the hog cholera may have
reduced the number Of hogs.
have said cotton cannot stand taxation
that is, taxation will turn labor from its
production into other pursuits. The facts
and reasons which have led my mind 10 this
conclusion are obvious
The average net profit derived from cap
ital invested in the cultivation of cotton for
series Of years before the war was less than
four per cent. The apparent increase Of the
"sO-called" Southern wealth was not from
raising cotton, but from raising negroes. The
negro girl, married at fifteen years Of age,
would, by the time she was thirty years old,
have children worth five or six thousand
dollars, while the labor Of herself and hus-
band during this period would not do more
than support themselves and family. While
the aggregate net profit from the labor of
slaves Of all classes engaged in the cultiva-
lion Of cotton was under four per cent, per-
haps not over three per cent, their increase,
wa fully equal 10 zen per cent 1t was this
increase, therefore, which made up much
the largest portion Of the apparent but de-
lusive income Of the South.
A majority Of the planters did no more
by their crops than pay the annual expenses
Of their families and of their plantations.
Some even failed TO do this much, and were
forced 10 sell one or more negroes every
year to settle balances against them. And
vet, bv the rapid increase and growth Of
negroes, the convertible value of their es-
tatcs, in most cases, was constantly advan-
eng.
These general estimates Of the profits of
c0ttoH-roisiRg as compared with nego-rdiSing
must be varied according to localities and
the character Of the climate and soil. In
the best cotton districts the profit on cotton
raising was Of course much greater than the
average here given, but then the climate
was less healthy and less care was taken of
the negroes, especially the young ones and
but little profit made by the increase and
growth of slaves. So that the aggregate
acreage income from the two sources-cotton-
raising and negeo-rdising about as above
stated.
it will be seen that these two sources Of
income were very different and distinct,
though strangely COMPOUNDED together in
the public mind When a planters estate
was supposed 10 have reached one hundred
thousand dollars, he was said TO have made
il by raising cotton, and hence IL was inferred
that the business was very profitable; yet
the mstter being rightly understood, he
made il by raising negroes.
But we have now entered on new con-
dition OF things, and the calculations Of the
cotton planter in regard to the future must
be entirely changed .Sdrcry is abolished,
and the increase and growth Of negroes can
never again be looked to rs a part Of his
income "king cotton must nor stand alone
lie has no slaves TO come and go at his
bidding, and must not rely on their increase
~ part Of his revenue.
This brings me 20 the direct question.
What will be the profits Of embarrassing in
this new condition of things? The following
propositions to my mind are perfectly clear:
First. During the existence of slavery the
largest portion Of the income Of planters
was from the increase and growth of slaves.
Second. The actual profits made on raising
cotton when separated from the increase
and growth of negroes, was not greater than
the profits made on wheat, corn, mules, cat
tie nc. in the free States.
Third. Slavery being abolished, the plan
ter must rely for his future income solely on
the products of the soil The soil in the
South is being cultivated by free labor, and
the products of the soil produced by free labor
can no more bear taxation an The South than
ia The North.
am. as YOU are aware, President of the
Mobile and Ohio railroad. which runs
through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee,
and Kentucky. Itpasses through more cot
ton-felds than any other road, and my duties
in passing mp and down il have brought me
IN contact and made me familiar with the
working of the popular mind.
Before the present growing crop was plan
ted, two questions were prominent before
the people: First. Can the freedmen be in
duced to cultivate a crop? Second. In view
of the broken and PROSTATE condition of the
country, is is possible 10 raise the means
necessary TO bring from Kentucky, Illinois,
Indiana. Missouri, and sOhio the mules,
farming utensils, hay, corn, meat and other
supplies necessary in raising n crop? Over
these questions, on which the fate Of the
people. white and black, seemed 10 depend,
there hung clouds Of doubt and fear al
most driving the country 10 despair. In
stead Of receiving soothing and encourag-
ing messages from abroad, We hear but little
except the voice Of wrath and vengeance,
In this condition il was hard to bring the
people up &C. the degree Of confidence neces-
rary 10 induce them 10 undertake the PLAN
ting of crop.
At last, pressed by the argument, they
must do something, and gathering courage at
the very point Of despair, the planters en-
Gagged in trying once more TO cultivate cot
ton They succeeded in getting about one
half the freedmen TO 60 10 work, promising
in some eases fixed wages, but in most in
stances agreeing 20 give part OF the crop.
They mortgagod lands, and pledged all that
remained 90 them ON earth 90 raise means
90 paw for their supplies. White families
that never labored before have gone into
the fields to supply the places Of that por-
ton of the freedmen who refuse 10 work
No people ever struggled harder than that
people are now struggling 10 raise them
selves above want, and to restore 70 them
solves peace and comfort. VIVA; they sre
doing believe to be fair type OF the South
generally, And now, is il not amazing
the product OF the labor of a people strug-
Cling against such fearful disadvantages
should be- selected as the subject OF peculiar
ant special t0rIiioas
From the commencement of the Govern
ment down 70 the ebolition Of slavery.
while the white man owned the slave, mis-
labor aud his increase, no such tax was
thought Of But now, when the white man
and the freedman for the first time enter the
cotton field, Jointly and mutually interested
in the growing crop this tax is proposed,
An engagement calls ms away, and l
mus, close ] may write You again. In
conclusion, pray Con that an American
Congress NAV never establish the principle
OF imposing taxes on any agricultural product
received from the bosom Of our mother earth