Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-29
The Cotton Tax.

We are glad to see that such early and
earnest efforts are being made to have
Congress repeal the tax on cotton. Nj
merous memorials, North and South, have
been forwarded to Congress praying for
Immediate relief The freedmen, who are
most seriously interested in the matter,
have at least entitled themselves to the Ia
yorable consideration of that body by the
unanimity with which they have supported
Radicalism in the recent Southern cleo
tions.
The New York Chamber of Commerce
have memo1ialzed Congress upon this sub
iect, passing the following resolution
WHEREAS, The value of cotton is less than hall
as much as twelve months ago, owing TO causes
of no Temporary nature therefore.
Resolved That the present tax on cotton Is un,
Just and oppressive because no other important
Agricultural product is burdened in like manner
and especially when it is considered that three
quarters of the crop has ordinarily to ind mar
ket abroad that by driving agricultural industry
to other pursuits than cotton IN the SOIL ana CHI
mate which are the best in the world for the pro-
duction of cotton, so far as known. the contlnu
ance of the tax is glaring waste OF the natlona
resources that while the tax dlScOurages the
production Of cotton in our own country, it en-
courages it abroad, to the great detriment OF oul
shipping interest and of the internal trade OF the
United States ; that the tax Is injurious TO the
freedmen and the laborers in the South, because
lit obstructs the cultivation OF land and employ
ment of labor that the present value OF cotton Is
go low in the interior OF the South that the tai
amounts to nearly 20 per cent. upon the gross
value therefore the tax ought to be abolished
with the least possible delay.
Senator WILSON informs a colored cor
respondent in this State that he thinks
Al 81, no 1a1 70 In
TO the present crops, and Speaker CoLFAx
in O letter to Col. ELI S. SHORTER, of Ala
bama, says {:
81 believe the cotton tax ought to be ana
will be repealed. When it was levied
thought that the high price cotton wa
then commanding would render the tax les
burdensome than it has since proved. Blu
as we do not tax other agricultural pre-
ducts, and as cotton is so valuable as a
equalizer of exchanges, and is an article
such prime necessity to SO many millions
and as its culture in our country should b
encouraged, I am decidedly in favor c
aboEshing the present direct tax On it an
the depressed condition of this staple viii
think, incline Congress to repeal it earl
in the session. Still, can of course spea
for myself alone
We trust we see from these indication
that Congress may be induced to repes
q this onerous tax. This tax has been est
mated at thirty millions of dollars, wrun
from a section desolated by the wal
and every branch of business paralyzed b
the emancipation of the slaves, followed b
the uncertainty and unreliability of labor
Under these circumstances, with formids
bic rivals in the East Indies and Egypt fo
both long and short staples, the heavy ia
upon cotton in this country must have bee
conceived in the deadliest hate, and adopt
ed in the hope of further ruin to the South
ern planter. 1t would have been more ns
tural, and certainly more in accordance wit
the prosperity of the whole country, if Coz
gross had done all it could to foster til
great staple of the country and assisted b
all its means the South to have compete
with foreign countries in the cultivation
cotton. No, as the surrender of the Coz
federate armies did not permit the polit
clans to continue the war in the field. the
determined to carry it On in the Halls {
Congress. The cotton tax and the freet
mems bureau were intended to punish tt
South for endeavoring to resist their sui
lugation, and the ruin of a large portion
the cotton planters has resulted as a ric