Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-12-07

tra aud perhaps m unexpected half
million bales OF cotton in any year
when tho prices should oiIor snfllc-
ibnt inducemont, aud an equal en-.
pacty 10 coilsumc ut homo tile whole
production when at 80 low prices 10
could not be exported to Europe or
China. Since the completion OF
many hundrc,l miles of railways ia
India, that poweroi adding prompt.
ly to the worlds supply Of cotton
has been great y increasod. Itthere.
tore becomes evident that low prices
for cotton must be anticipated for q
considerable period, during which
the domestic productions should not
be discouraged by the continued i'm
position Of II direct tax. But with
tho relief that will be offered by the
prompt removal Of the existing tax,
the Commissioners full believes that
the United States will speedily re-
gain control Of the cotton market,
and again supply by far the largest
portion Of the total demand of Eu-
rope for consumption. In this opin-
ion, moreover, he finds himself sus.
taincd by what may be regarded as
the best authorities oh cotton in this
country, and particularly by the
late Commissioners of the United
States to the Paris Exposition, tho
Hon, II. r. Nudge, of Massachusetts
10 whom, rs chairman of commit.
tee on the subject Of the future sup
ply Of cotton, was especially refer
red for investigation by his col
leagues on the commission.
Tho conclusion Of the report of
this commission, not heretofore
made public, is as follows:
Having carefully observed what
has been done aud is doing by other
nations, the committee phesent the
following conclusions: '., ,T
|. That cotton growing in tho
Southern States, it untaxed, can, ,be
conducted proftably and successful
y against all competition elsewhere.
=, That if bprdcnel By a tax sui-
faicnt to be worth to tho Treasury
the cost Of collection. it cannot, at
present, fever, be successfully pro-
duced. ....-...i-
3 That already familiar TO our
people in all its details, it is the on
Iy industry Immediately available
and practicable to the great body of
the laboring population ofthe South
for the profitable employment ofthe
surplus labor, that is, beyond the
necessities Of crops for subsistence,
in the production of something sale
able and exchanseahle, Whereby
wealth can be regaincd.
4. That the Importance of u large
production of cotton, as the chief
export Of the country, in adjusting
balances of trade and exchange, and
especially in its bearing apon the
public debt held and to be held
abroad, cannot we'll be over stated
and SO far transcends the value of
the present tax, that to preserve
the latter at the cost Of losing tho
former, would boa haIf.pohny worth
Of wisdom to pound of folly.
The whole amount of rcvcnre do.
rived from the tax on raw lotion for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1867,
was S2}, 100, 07S 50; and although
this sum comprises nearly all the
revenue derived from the Southern
section of the country, and constitu-
hes an amoant that can all be spar
ed from the Treasury, yet, dneler all
the circumstances, the Commission
on has no hesitation in recommend.
ing the immediate passage by Con-
gress Of an act repeating tho extfre
tax ulo on raw cotton, and the same
to take effect on its passage. AS
yet but small quantity of the new
crop ol cotton has been marketed,
but if the repeating act be delayed
to a later period, it will evidently
work injustice to the producers, who
may be forced to send their crops
forward Immediately, unless thcre-
moval ofthe tax should be deferred
to cake effect at the close OF tAe
prcsont cotton year; Sept. 1871.
If II repeal OF the tax, TO take of-
f ct Immediately, should be enacted
By Congress, it is important that
one contingency should be ctfectu-
ally provided against. Contracts,
it is understood, are proposed and
possibly already made; foa the Pa.-
chase Of cotton, tax unpaid, to be
held in store until the repeating
legislation of Congress has taken
effect, thus insnring to tho specula-
tor or exporting buyer a gain equiv
alont to the amount OF the tax 1t
seems desirable, therefore, that the
act Of repeal should be 50 worded
as to relieve from the payment Of
tax only so much cotton as at tho
date med in the act remained un-
sold by the producer. All cotton
having passed out of the hands Of
the producer to pay the tax, if it
has not already done so. Only in
tliis way eau the relief go where 1t
is intended, viz to the impoverish-
cd cultivator. 1t may be interest
ing IN this connection TO mention
that the committee of the Commits
sioncrs to the Paris Exposition as
sisted by h. F. Nourse, Esq, OF
Rusion, have collected and caused
to be suitably arranged a series OF
samples Of cotton from nearly all
the cotton growing districts Of The
world. which collection they proffer
to the government with the sn.,gcs-
,ion that il bc placed for pres
ervation AL reference in one ofthe
public offices st Washington, ia
which the Special Commissioner
cordially concaFs.
] avn, SIR, yoHrs
most respectfully.
DAVID 4. Wills.
Spet iai Commissioner Of Reyeauc