The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-24
MoRE ABOUT TIE COTTON TAX.
Continuation of the Debate on its Repeal in
the United States Senate.
In the United States Senate on Friday last.

In the United States Senate on Friday last,
MIR. SHERMAN called up the unfinished business
the bill to repeal the cotton tax. He said the first
tax on cotton was but one per cent. of the value.
Nearly all industrial products had been partially
relieved, while here was tax of twenty-five per
cent. on the product of the richest form of agri-
cultural products.
Mr.. CONFESS said he would vote with the Sena-
tor to reduce the tax proportionatey with others
now and in future to throw it off altogether when
other burdens could be removed.
Mr.. SHERMAN continued his argument for the
justice OF the repeal. The House had passed the
bill without debate, recognizing its necessity, IN
view of the fact that enough would not be left to
the producer after paying the tax, to provide the
necesSaries OF life.
NIr. SHERMAN earnestly opposed the motion to
postpone, saying it involved q postpoDement OF
the bill until tho whole question Of revenue should
be decided while it was indispensable to the
laborer and planter to know Immediately the tax
to be paid on next years crop. More than one
half OF the cotton crop perhaps, was pledged to
the laborer. They were really partners; but the
planter was obliged in the meantime to support
the laborer. No one denied that the tax was
onerous absorbing one bale of cotton out OF four
one-fourth of the product Of his corn
dodgers tax that could not be endured, and
one that was laid on no other product. 1t was not
question OF politics. Those people were not re-
presented here, and he spoke rs much i'll the IN
terest of loyal black men as Of rebels. Political
feeling, therefore, should be kept out of the dis
cussion. The already deplorable condition OF
poverty, broken in spirit as they were, should ap-
peal to senators not to heap Goals of fire on their
heads. He took up and replied to the arguments
that other kinds of products bore an equal burden,
as alleged by Mr.. Stewart, Mr.. Ferry, and others,
and asked what other bore such tax.
Mr.. FERRY. The sale of manufactured goods.
Mr.. SHERMAN. How much is that?
Mr.. FERRY. Five per cent. on sales.
Mr.. SHERMAN. That is undoubtedly paid by the
consumer.
Mr.. FERRY explained that his argument had been
that the tax en- his constituents should be removed
to some extent He thought all interests should be
partially relieved, not cotton alone.
AIr. SHERMAN continued, contending that the in
ternal revenue tax had been partially removed
from manufactured goods, and urging the imme-
diate passage OF the BILL
Mr.. STEWART briefly replied 10 Mr.. Sherman s
remarks in regard to mining interests
MIR. CoRBETT followed, quoting statistics in sup
port of the bill
Mr.. MoRR1LL, OF Vermont, denied that the tax
would work oppression. AT all events, to postpone
the bill until February or March, when the report
of the Revenue Commissioner came in, was not
oppressive. Why should not the exports OF the
South be doubled he asked, arguing that such
would be the result Of the continuation Of the tax.
Mr.. GRIMES gave the reasons why he should vote
against the postponement in order TO vote for the
suspension OF the tax.
Mr.. SPRAGUE spoke at some length in favor OF
press the alarm he felt in regard to the CONNER
cial interests OF the country, especially OF the
North. The fact that English labor had made In
dia cotton equal to the best sea island was the true
reason Of the fall in price. He denied that the
country was richer now than before the war; it was
poorer to the extent Of the $1,000, ,000, 600 spent
during the war. If the amount produced during
the war were deducted from this, they should add
70 it what 81, $780, 600 had destroyed.
Mr.. DRAKE contended that while, from the i'm
90 +1aS tha for
be suspended, cotton should still be made to bear
9 II Irtion of the countrys burdens. That the
manufacturers of the North, enriched by the war,
were now burdened somewhat, did not justify the
entire removal Of those burdens. But he urged
strongly that helping hand should be held out to
the South to lift it up 10 comparative prosperity.
1t was the dictate OF wisdom to suspend the tax
now-not to keep them in suspense, the produc-
ton of cotton requiring commencement at the
beginning of the year. He would oppose the post
ponement
Mr. THAYEK was surprised to hear from the Sem
ator the same argument that had been used at the
the South-that Congressional legislation was die
tated by malice.
Mr. DRAKE denied that his words could bear
such an implication.
Mr. THAYER understood the Senator to say
that he would not be actuated by malice. What is
the inference? That if we do not repeal it, we
are actuatcd by malice.
Mr.. DRAKE. intended none such.
Mr.. THAYER would not misrepresent the Senator,
but would take his explanation. He went on TO
say that the South had shown no contrite spirit,
but disposition to abuse Congress-, and did not
really deserve any special favor.
Mr.. NYE asked the chairman of the committee
(Mr. Sherman) if the intention was not 10 place
on Northern industry the burden taken from the
South.
Mr.. SHERMAN referred him to the report Of the
committee.
MIR. NYE accepted the reply as confession. He
referred to the various cries OF poverty from the
woollen interests the iron interests and the min
ing interests-which last he said was true. II en-
dorse it." Laughter.) He especially wanted to
know whether the Committee on Finance had ar
ranged to su )ply this deficiency. The South had
given no evidence of thankfulness for the magma
nimity of Congress, but the contrary. To ask
the soldiers who had done so much for the nation
to bear this additional burden from tho South wa
too much In the name OF humanity, he objected.
If the tax was too onerous, take off part OF 1t.
Because business was coming back to its leglti-
mate standard, the Northern manufacturers who
during the war kept clerks to count their profits,
claimed that they were suffering from the war.
Let future generations pay their proportion OF the
nations liability. 10 open the rich mines of the
West, to set every spindle going to complete the
Pacific Railroad, was the true way to pay the debt.
he entertained none of the fears Of MS mere
financially experienced friend fro..i Rhode Island.
Let the Finance Committee stop trying to pay this
debt. Let Nost the energies OF the people, and
remove the unnecessary taxes from all industry.
In conclusion, he prayed the committee to con-
slider where this burden was ultimately to rest and
place it where it could be borne
Mr.. SPRA0UE said that, while boastfulness and
brag was being INDUCED in by the American peo-
pie, other nations had labored and prospered.
Mr.. SHERMAN denied that this repeal was pro-
posed as much for the benefit of the rebel aristo-
Gratis Of the South so often denounced by the SEN
ator as for the benefit of the four millions OF black
men. 1t was upon them that the Senate woulc
fasten this burden. Not Ohio alone, nor any par
tcular section, favored this repeal, but the whole
couuay Would they wait while people starved
lie hoped they would follow the example OF the
House, and pass the bill. Doubtless, by more
careful apportonment Of the taxes, the public
debt could be curtailed.
Mr.. FEssENDEN moved to go into executive ses
son saying it was evident action could be taken
and certainly no evil could result from postpone
ment Tor sixteen days.
Several Senators objected, when
Mr.. CoNKLING said the House had adjourned
and consequently it was useless to pass the bill.
The bill was therefore laid over.
SprAKFR CoIFAy ON RECONSTRUCTION fine