The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-25

We have not felt much inclined to
demonstrate with Congress against an
increase of the tax on cotton, for the
reason that we feared anything coming
from an anti radical, though thoroughly
loyaI source, would have no weight IN
that body. We are very sure that no one
would be further from seeking to create
a wrong impression on the subject, or
from attempting to relieve the cotton
grower Of his due share of the national
taxes. We deprecate any other policy
than that of even. handed justice-an
equal distribution Of the blessings and
burdens of government
1t gives us pleasure to republish and
endorse the following article on the
subject Of the Cotton Tax" from the
Memphis Post, radical sorgan. Our
conferences with cotton planters from
the States of Georgia, Alabama and
Mississippi, have given us opinions sim
liar to those expressed by the Post.
Cotton cannot be grown this year for
less than twenty cents per pound, ex-
cent in some few localities where the
Weld per acre is greater than in the
larger number Of the cotton growing
q lets.
From the Memphis Post, hIa7 e.
TuE loTroN TAx.-There seems to exist
strange mIsapprehenslon on the part OF
some Of the members OF Congress on the
question Of taxing cotton. The most absurd
-stIfnstcs as 10 the cost of production
have been preached during the debates ON
the supicct. Thuddeus Stevens IS reported
TO have said that no was reliably mtormet
that, with free labor, c5tt IA ccu q be pro
gured AT tb. cost Of one cent per pound.
Everybody here knows that the average of
prudlc ion lu the Mississippi valley taking
iEe uuIauds and Dsltoms together, viii NOT
exceed, one yca- with another, three nun
dred pounds Ol lint cotton per acre, ana
that three thousand pounds OF baled cotton
is more than can be rel ed upon Tor the SIN
gle hand. This would give only thirty dol
~ rs Tor a years work of the Iub,Ier, with
which To pay io- food, clothing, doctors
bill. etc. ana the rent, taxes, and muumer-
able other expenses, beside the prchL oil Inc
planter.
n large proportion of the planters Of Ten
ucssrc, Mississippi and Arkansas are pay
ing Their Iaborcra on the basis OF eighteen
to twenty dollars per month Tor hfs1 ass
hands. besides board and medical attend
ance. 1t must be remembered, 100, mat "a
la-ge number of euterpTlsing NoftneFh men
have invested heir means IN planting, anu
are scattered in all parts Of the South. Inc
greater portion of them are officers and sol
iiers. who. having served their country
houarabIv through the pcrils OF the War,
have invested IA most cases their entire
means IN the venture. Thee men are pay
ing from five t. twelve dollars per acre as
rent for the land ;hcy plant. No s'gscloua
or cvpercucrd man with whom We nave
Conversed has estimated the cusJoi pIodu-
cling cotton during the pres hJ year at less
tlisD am average oil sixteen ccLts per pound
on the plantation, and almost every one oS-
Inmates as high SIS twenty cents. Unless
the season is unusually iaVOTabIe, we nave
no idea that planters within the radius OF
NemDhia' influence viii be able to deliver
thor cotton IN this city a. less price Ihah
twenty-five cents per pound, without a
loss
It's the paramount duty Of Congress to
So cauduc. their e; islaJ.Ou as TO restore, as
rapidly as possible, tho material prosperity
OF the South. she has within her the
embr Of golden egg. 1t Is now small
and feeble germ, which requires gentle and
assrduous culture, while both parent and
germ are certain to be destroyed by rough,
empirical treatment. If, as IS the opinion
orthe most sagacious observers IN tho mer-
camille world, thesimposltloH oil hVe cent
tax ON cotton will enable that OF East INDIA,
Brazil and Egypt TO so far supply the
looms of Europe as TO keep our production
ont of the foreign market % any couslderd-
bic extent, then its result viii be the rum
Of the struggling planting interest OF the
entire country, and an mcalculabie INJURY
10 all the interests of the Union for years.