Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-07-12
THE TAX ON COTTON.


I'm the bin claiming 20 be one 'to reduce IN
tcrnal taxation, and amendatory Of the act OF
June SOth. 1864, TO provide internal revenue,
lust passed by both Houses Of Congress, there
is clause imposing a tax Of three cents a pound
upon cotton.
In the Senate, Mr. Salisbury Of Delaware,
who. in spite Of the opprobrium attempted to be
thrown upon him by the term CoPperheod,
generally talks ike statesman, Justly and ably
opposed this tax. He said: " Considering the
situation Of the people where this article IS
grown. reduced to absolute poverty, scarcely
able 20 get bread for their families, unrepresent-
ed in Congress. without voice in the lcvying Of
taxes l thiukiti is unjust that the article Of cot
ton should be singled out, of all the products
of the farmer and planter, to be taxed" He
contended that it would be quite as fair to tax
wheat and corn. Before the war the average
price of cotton was about nine cents a pound
and this tax is one-third of that amount.
Mr.. Hendricks. Of Indiana, member Of great
fairness and candor, also opposed the tax on
cotton, and asked why this is the only agricul-
trral product that is taxed before any value is
added to it by labor? Is it because it's pro-
duction of the Southern States? He was sure
Senators would not admit that this tax is 30 be
imposed as a penalty upon the people Of the
South. He urged that the Northern people are
interested in the production Of cotton in order
to restore the balance Of trade in our favor with
Europe. Now, when the people Of the South
efn States are scarcely able to cultivate the land
at all; when nature has joined with theirpov-
erty to prevent the production of a crop; when
the balance of trade is against us; when we
need TO send hundreds Of thousands of bales a.
cross the ocean to restore the balance of trade
in our favor, at this period it's proposed, when
we are reducing taxation upon other articles, TO
increase by fifty per cent the tax upon cotton.
The honest mind of Mr. Hendricks could not
understand the craftsmanship or the policy of
such legislation.
In the earlier days Of the Republic Senator
was understood to be representative of the
whole country, not part, though chosen by a
State; but Mr.. Sherman of Ohio, who has here
tofore had credit for an enlarged craftsmanship,
does not seem 10 so understand it. Though a.
greeting in the main with Mr. Hendricks as to
the tax on cotton, he seemed to quiet his oppo-
sition by the fac, that he was not a member Of
the committee of conference, and felt great sat
islaction that most of the agricultural interests
Of Ohio and Indiana arc to be benefited by The
bin, and he was particularly elated with the
fact that the relief given to the tobacco interest
is greater than to any other interest affected by
themeasure. Tobacco is ah,r0y, used perhaps
by two-thiris ofthe males ofthe country. whilst
cotton is a necessity, used by every man, wo-
man and child yet the burden on the luxury
is lessened, whilst that on the necessity is in
creased. This is Mr.. Shermans craftsmanship
"a sample ofthe enlarged views which animate
an Ohio Senator! This is a specimen Of the
fairness Of the Radical maioritics in Congress,