The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-03
The Cotton Tax.

We are glad to see that such early and earn
est efforts are being made to have Congress re-
peal the tax on cotton. Numerous memorials,
North and South, have been forwarded, to Con-
gress praying for immediate relief. The freed
men, who are most seriously interested In the
matter, have at least entitled themselves to the
favorable consideration of that body by the unan-
unity with which they have supported Radical
ism in the recent Southern elections.
The New York Chamber of Commerce have
memorialzed Congress upon this subject, passing
the following resolution:
Whereas, The value of cotton is less than half
as much as twelve months ago, owing to causes of
no temporary nature; therefore,
Reso{red, That the present tax on cotton is
unjust and oppressive. because no other impor-
tant agricultural product is burdened in like
manner, and especially so when it is considered
that threequarters of the crop has ordinarily to
find market abroad; that by driving agricultu-
raj industry to other pursuits than cotton
in the soil and climate which are the best in the
world for the production Of cotton, so far as
known, the continuance of the tax is glarlng
waste of the national resources; that while the
tax discourages the production of cotton in our
own country, it encourages it abroad, to the
great detriment of our shipping interest and Of
the lnleTildl UTdUC Vi tHe uleO states CIldG tHo
tax is injurious to the freedmen and the labor
ers in the South, because it cbstructs the cult
walton of land and employment of labor; that the
present value of cotton is so low in the interior
of the South that the tax 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 colored correspon-
dent in this State that he thinks the tax should
be repealed so as to apply to the present crops,
and Speaker Colfax, In a letter to Col Eli 5.
Shorter, of Alabama, says:
Il believe the cotton tax ought to be and will
be repealed. When it was levied thought that
the high price cotton was then commanding
would render the tax less burdensome than it has
since proved. But as we do not tax other ag-
rlcultural products, and as cotton is SO valuable
as an equalizer OF exchanges, and is an article of
such prime necessity to SO many millions, and
as its culture in our country should be encour-
aged, am decidedly in favor of abolishing the
present direct tax on it; and the depressed con-
dition of this staple will, l think, incline Con-
gress to repeal it early in the session. STILL
can of course speak for myself alone"
We trust We see from these Indications that
Congress may be induced to repeal this onerous
tax. This tax has been estimated at thirty mil
lions Of dollars, wrung from section desolated
by the war, and every branch of business paraly-
zed by the emancipation of the slaves, followed
by the uncertainty and unreliability Of labor.
Under these circumstances, with formidable ri
walls in the East Indies and Egypt for both long
and short staples; the heavy tax upon cotton in
this country must have been conceived in the
deadliest hate, and adopted in the hope of fur
Their ruin to the Southern planter. 1t would
have been more natural, and certainly more in
accordance with the prosperity of the whole
country, if Congress had done all it could to fos-
ter the great staple of the country and assisted
by all its means the South to have competed
with foreign countries in the cultivation of cot
ton No, as the surrender of the Confederate
armies did not permit the politicians to continue
the war in the field, they determined to carry
it on in the Halls of Congress. The cotton tax
and the freedmens bureau were intended to pun
ish the South for endeavoring to resist their sub
jugation, and the ruin of large portion of the
cotton planters has resulted as rich reward for
the spleen and malignity of men who were too
cowardly to meet their armies in the field.
We believe that self-interest, the earnest pro-
test of every commercial centre In the Union
will work the repeal of this tax during the pres
ent session Of Congress. Imposed when cotton
was double its present value, Its magnitude must
compel change. The languishing condition of
the toetering fortunes of the cotton
planters cannot long stand such experiments of
hate In our legislation Every interest, North
and South, demand the repeal of this tax, and
we trust and believe it will be DONE Whining
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