The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-10-04
THE COTTON TAX REGULATIONS.

We have heretofore given our readers synop-
sis of the tax levied on cotton by act of the last
Congress. Every day the iniquity of that tax be-
comes more apparent, and it is manifest that, un-
less it is modified, Southern planters will have to
abandon the culture of cotton. The regulations
adopted by the internal revenue department are
most onerous; singled out among all the agricul-
turists as ON object of taxation, and made to pay
tax amounting to one-tenth of the gross value of
his crop, the department has thrown obstacles in
the way of cotton producers which really appear
insurmountable. They are subjected under the
published regulations to annoyances and burthens
such as have never before been imposed on any
class of planters in any civilized country. Before
they can ship their cotton they must have it weigh
ed or marked by government official, and in or
der that this may be done, the cotton must be
hauled, either to the nearest weighing station, or
the expenses of the weigher must be paid to the
plantation. Even in this case the planter must
await the pleasure or convenience of the weigher'
and thus he may be prevented from realizing on
his crop in time to make preparation for another
seasons planting. The merchants of New Orleans
have presented the grievances of the planter under
the law of Congress and the regulations of the
Department, to the Secretary of the Treasury, in
a memorial, understood to have been written by
Gen. S. B. BUcKNER. Prominent among the hard
ships imposed upon the planter, they show, lst:
That the cost of weighing will be greater to the
planter in the country than ut the point of sale.
I'd. That it is to the interest of the planter, as
we'll to realize on his crop as to avoid the risk OF
its destruction, to chip it to market as rapidly as
it is picked and bailed and that the sickness or
neglect of an assessor or numerous calls upon the
latter from different planters in widely separated
localities will necessarily occasion delay, which
may provo fatal to the interests of the planters Of
an entire district. 81. That the majority Of plan
ters are dependent upon the sale of their cotton to
enable them to pay the tax. They must, there
fore, either sacrifice their cotton, by selling to
those who wish to speculate their necessities,
or they must give bond for the payment of the tax
before the cotton will be permitted to leave the
district This bond is needless hardship, when
the cotton is itself sufficient security.
The memorialists propose to remedy these evils
by throwing oil the cotton-growing States into
single collection district, for tie purpose of COL
lecting the tax on cotton BY this arrangement,
the cotton would be free to seek market at any
point within the district, free from the delay, e1-
pcnse and vnrious needless restrictions now i'm
posed; and the government would collect the tax
at the point of sale with greater certainty, In
shorter time, and at smaller cost. We hope the
Secretary will adopt the notifications suggested.
The only persons who could object, would be those
officials who expect to make fortunes by means Of
fees, or those who sincerely desire to paralyze
| Southern industry.