The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-10-07
The Cotton Tax--The West and the
South


The Cotton Tax---Thc West and the
South
a recent article in the New York
'por13, specializing on the pol;tico-
economic situation, in the event of
the Southern States being restored to
their rights in the Union, with a rep
resentation in Congress, thus speaks
OF two important questions, and the
bearing they would have upon the
two largest, richest and most popu-
Ions sections of the country. It says:
If the South were re-admitted. we
suppose the first question it would
agltate IN Congress would be the re-
peal OF the enormous tax on cotton.
AS the South would have to RELY
mainly on arguments, and compare
lively little on votes, no harm conld
result from the discussion: for. unless
1T was made apparent that the appeal
or reduction of the cotton tax would
oe Tor the general interest, the votes
or the Northern members would not
be secured. To admit the South to
the discussion, would be merely to
90 1t the fairness accorded to suitors
III a court of justice in allowing them
standing In court, and counsel to
present Their case We have no
doubt that the North, if the question
We're well argued, would consent to
the repeal or reduction Of the cotton
tax. If cotton culture were revived
on It's former scale, the price would
SINK to twelve cents; an excise of
three cents would, therefore, be.
taking one year with another, tax
OF twenty-five per cent. on the value
of the PRODUCT tax rs burdensomc
as twenty-five cents a bushcl on wheat
when wheat sells for dollar If the
crops of the West were taxed in pro-
portion, the whole West would Justly
cry out against the burden as enor-
nous and oppressive. 70 impose
such tax on Southern agriculture.
When no tax is laid on Western agri
culture, is an inequitable exertion of
Legislative authority. If, after dis
cusslon, the tax still appeared to be
Tor the interest of the North, the
North (having the power would be
very likely to pursue its interest
But 1T IS not for the interest of the
West to narrow and destroy its own
best market. Three cents pound
tax on Southern cotton operates us a
bounty of three cents pound on
the production of that staple in
Egypt; India, and all other countries
suited to the cotton plant. But in
proportion as cotton culture is dis
couraged in the Southern States, and
the planters devote their land to
other crops, they will glut the over
stocked grain and pork market, and
reduce the price of Westeru products
more than they would be reduced by
a heavy excise. The West, therefore,
mas nearly as great an interest as the
South itself in the removal Of the
cotton tax, and whenever the South
ern view is fairly presented in Con-
gress, the West and South will proba-
bly, act as unit for the repeal of the
tax.
Another question which the South
would belikely to agitate in Congress,
IS the repeal of the present enor-
nous tariff on imported goods. The
countless ships which go abroad
laden with cotton may as we'll return
With freights as to return empty
1here IS no reason why they should
not Drlng back such goods as can be
purchased thirty to forty Der cent
cheaper abroad thar they can he
manufactured in this country. There
IS no reason why planters, or why
anybody, should be compelled to pay
a bounty of thirty or forty per cent
to the New England manufacturers
On this point, again, the interest OF
the South and that of the West are
identical, and soon after restoration
those two great sections would be
fonnd acting together in opposition
to high protective duties. If the
West, by cooperating with New
England, could succeed in curtailinc
the Southern representation, it would
rue. It's action within ten years, as
having weakened o valuable ally in
the great battle for free freda