The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-06-05
TAX ON COTTON.
From the New York World.

The ruinous tax of five cents pound pro-
posed to be laid on cotton, the main product OF
Southern industry, affords good illustration OF
the working OF the new American principle OF
taxation without representation. If the South
we're fully represented in Congress, it would be
still in the power of the other sections of the
country to levy this enormous tax, it, after
debate, it should be judged expedient The
Cotton States are q minority the other States,
large majority. To say nothing of the princi-
pie for which our fathers fought for in the Rev
olution the South is entitled to be heard on this
question, on the same principle which accords
to the most atrocious criminal the right to be
heard by counsel 10 his own defense. To con-
demn even the vilest felon unheard, is deemed,
among all civilized peoples, an unwsrrantable
oppression. If his defense is not good, the court
or jury are at liberty to place their own value
upon it. But to refuse to hear it, to listen to
witnesses and counsel against the prisoner, and
admit none in his defense, shocks every senti-
ment OF equity. If FIVE cents pound on cotton
were ever so proper tax. it ought not to be
laid till the representatives of the people who
are to pay it, have opportunity to present the
views of their constituents. They are entitled
to this equity, even if we regard the South as
criminals, and the proposed tax as penalty
But as co eqnal members oftbe Union, as joint
heirs with US Of the American Revolution their
claim to be represented 10 government which
taxes them, stands on higher ground.
Five cents pound on cotton is the mos: bur-
Gensome and oppressive tax ever proposed to be
laid jn this country. 1t is halt of the average
price Of cotton, on the plantations, in ordinary
years. 1t is as bad as tax of forty cents q
culture be SO much more heavily taxed than
Tbo ~
cotton is just the same as the tax on a ton of
coal. The South, unlike the Pennsylvania coal
interest, has no Thad Stevens to domineer over
Congress, and press the interests of bis consti.
tuents A people who cannot be heard by rep
resentatives with sufficient local knowledge to
understand their affairs are sure to be oppressed
in the distribution OF public burdens.
The two industrial iaterests which suffered
most severely by the war, were cotton growing
and navigation both among the main pillars
of the national prosperity. We destroyed cot
ton-culture by the bocksde and the South, in
revenge, drove our shipping from the ocean by
her remorseless privsteers. Each party to the
war struck the most Gripping blow possible at
the interests Of the other. But the moment the
war ended, and the country became again ome,
it was for the interest OF both parties that these
great branches Of the national industry should
be speedily revived. But what would be said
of Congress. if, iu the broken aud crippled con-
dition of the navigation interest, it should bur
den it with tonnage duties more enormous than
were ever before heard of in any part Of the
world 1t would be like laying a double task
on sick laborer during the first days of his
convalescence. But the navigation interest.
having representatives in Congress, is saved
from any such oppression; while the more i'm
portant and far more crippled cotton interest.
having no representatives, is to be- so burdened
and weakened that it will probably never revive
Already, iu apprehension Of the tax, the South
is beginning to deliberate whether it will not
abandon the crop.