Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-28
The Revenue IAws-Petition of BusI-

The Revenue LAws-PetifIOn of Busi-
% " mess Men. fFtf
10 the Honorable members Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives Of the Legislature
tot Tennessee, in extra session now assembled
i'm the Capitol Of the State.
I We, the undersigned, commission mer-
chants, cotton factors and grain dealers, in
this city, do most respectfully call your at
iention TO an act passed by the Legislature
on the 18th Of March last, TO amend the
revenue laws Of this State.
And more do We particularly invite your
attention TO the fin section Of said act, and
earnestly request that you give us your
opinion in writing as to the strict construc-
ton or intent and meaning Of the fifth sec
ton of said law; and that you may more
full y comprehend our wants on this point,
we would most respectfully ask your hon
orable body TO state to us, whether il was
the intention, in the passage of the afore-
said act of the 18th Of March, 1868, that we,
as merchants Of the State Of Tennessee,
would be required 20 pay one per cent. 10
the State, and one-half per cent to the
county, on all cotton, grain, flour, pro-
visions, etc, that we might buy from the
farmers and further are expected TO pay
one per cent TO the State, and one-haif
per cent. 10 the county in which we reside,
on all sales that we may make IS commits
sion merchants, for the account and benefit
OF the planter OF producer, on cotton, grain,
-four, provisions or any OF the products of.
this State.
Our reasons for wishing your views as to
The meaning of the Law Is, that the courts
have notified as thai they would expect
and require us TO pay the revenue on the
aforementioned products, either when
buying from the planter or selling for his
account, when We are simply acting az
agent in helping the farmer to dispose of
his products. Now, gentlemen, if it was
contemplated that the one per cent. should
be paid to the State, and the one-half per
cent. to the county on the products of the
farmer, We desire 10 clearly understand it
80 from you, so that we may charge the
tax to the producer in every case, as our
uniform commission on the sales Of pro-
dnce of this State is less than what the tax
would amount to, if it is to be paid as the
Clerks of the courts now require.
Our opinion has been, and is now, that
you, as trainers Of the law, nerer cOntenl-
plated that any Of the products Of the State
of Tennessee were to be taxed when this
law was passed, or you would certainly have
so stated it. 1t has ever been wise policy
on the part Of the Representatives of this
Commonwealth to guard rigidly against the
taxing of the products of this State, and
we are fully of the opinion that il was your
fixed purpose, in the passage Of the act re-
ferred to, not to tax any of the products Of
the State of Tennessee; and, believing that
you will give this prompt attention, We re-
main your humble servants. 81
Jas Wheless & Co, G G Allen & Co, Nc
Lean & Co, S B spurlOck & Co, Bailey,
Ordway & Co, G r Parsons & Co, Madison
Stratton, Guthrie & Co, Hardcastle, Gem
nett & Co, Milton Cockerill & Co, Charles
Nelson q Co, Ewing & Co, Hugh Douglas
& Co, Reid, Chadbourne e Co, ] c French,
Thos Parkea & Co, A F Taylor & Co, L H
Lanier, Hart & Hensley, French Brothers,
French q Anderson, Hugh McCrea & Co,
Gilbert, Parkes & Gordon, Rhea, Smith &
Co, w 0 Roberts & Co, Terrass, Phillips
& Co, Massengsle & Go, Mclaughlin e
Butler, H s French, j f O'Shaughnessy &
Co. .a#
Nashville, July q, 1868.