The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-16

Julus Poppc, Anderson &. IL.
Report OF the New York Cha mber OF
Commerce OH the Cotton Tax.
A special meeting of the New York
Chamber of Commerce was held at
their room, on the 10th inst, to hear
and toke action upon the report of a
committee appointed at a previous
meeting to consider the subject Of
the proposition now before Congress
to impose tax of five cents per
pound on all cotton hereafter pro-
duced in this country. The report
of the committee was read by Mr..
Maury, the Chairman, rs follows.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
The Committee appointed by the
Chamber of Commerce to consider
1.-The effect of the proposed tax by
Congress of five cents per pound
upon cotton" beg to report:
They feel that the subject is one of
vast interest to that section of the
country in which cotton is grown, of
great national concern, and especially
worthy Of consideration, in view of
the political state of the South.
They assume that in OH enlighten-
ed community of merchants the i'm
portance of dealing Justly with the
South at the present juncture will be
deeply felt; and adopt, as the senti-
ment Of this community, that if any
error is committed in our national
legislation it shall not be on the side
of severity. If it is necessary to ex-
clude the representatives of the
Southern States from the halls of
Congress, because of disabilities
growing out of the recent war, and
measures are to be adopted, affecting
the industries of large section and
OF a numerous people, these mea-
sures should be characterized by q
spirit of generosity, which will take
the sting from the declaration that
taxation without representation is
tyrannical.
1t should appear in after years,
when prosperity in the South takes
the place of present adversity, and
fraternal relations are again restored
in and out Of Congress, that, in the
days OF her weakness, the North and
West did not take undue advantage
of the South, discriminating against
her industry, and imposing burdens
too heavy to be borne; but, on the
contrary, that Il spirit of magnani-
nifty ruled in the councils of the
nation, disposing our legislators to
deal generously with the people Of
the South, thus to aid in restoring
them from state of weakness to II
condition of strength.
These are the views that animate
yonr Committee, and they are such
rs, in their opinion, the Chamber
should urge upon Congress-, as Of the
most Importance in considering the
amount of internal revenue tax to be
levied upon raw cotton They are
deeply impressed with the feeling, as
they suppose all right minded men
are, that the cultivation of cotton
should be encouraged by ali proper
means, andshonld not be discouraged
by onerous taxation
And your Committee beg to pre-
sent some of the reasons, which, in
their judgment, are conclusive,
against q duty of tive cents per pound
on the great Southern staple:
Fi,Si-Thnt the cotton interest in
India. Brazil and Egypt have accum-
nlated large capitals from the high
prices OF the last three years, while
our planters, as q rule, have lost ill
theirs.
'Seco"d-That nothing has vet oc-
Cured to arrest the extension Of cot
ton production in those countries
and nothing will arrest it short of
material and permanent decline in
prices hereafter.
1And-That in the last five years,
railroads have been opening the traf-
tic in India, and other means of trans
portation have been improved; and
AIS the Indian Government guarantees
an annual dividend of not less than
five per cent. to railway stockholders,
we must suppose branch railroads
will be made wherever they are likely
to pay.
FoD'M That during the four years
famine If United States cotton in
EurODp GREAT improvop,on+. Lo.,>