The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-03-04
RoaineJ Gnns;ctancv

Radical Consistency
Senator Morton, of Indiana, has been put forward
by the Radicals Of the Senate their champion in the
matter of reconstruction. He was elected the best
man to reply to Senator Doottle's unanswerable
speech, and his argument on the occasion has been
accepted orthodox by the most extreme of the Rad
cal press Even Thad. Stevens was compelled to ad-
NIT that the honorable Senator was fully mbued with
the Radical doctrine of reconstruction In his argu
ment he stated to the Senate that if it became
sary for Congress to enfranehise class of voters
it is proper to do So for it is in the Judgment of Con
gress. To show how this gentleman has swung round
the circle within the last three years, publish
extract from his message the legislature of Indiana
in the month of November, 1865 upon that subject
while the reconstruction policy Of Mr.. johnson was
being carried He then said:
The subject of suffrage is, by the national Consu-
ton expressly referred to tie determination Of the sew
era States and it cannot be taken from them without
violation Of the letersand spirit Of that instrument
1t is fact SO manifest that it should not be called in
question by any that people who just emerging
from the barbarism of slavery not qualified to be-
come part of political SYSTEM and take part not
only in the government o themselves and their neigh
bors but of the whole United States. So far from be-
leving that negro suffrage is remedy for all
tional ills doubt whether it remedy for any, and
rather believe that its enforcement by Congress would
be likely to subject the negro to merciess per-
secutIon than to confer upon him any substantial ben
eft.
What does he say now? Why, exactly the reverse
that negroes just emerged from the barbarsm of slave
ry are fit to become legislators, and amply qualified
not only to govern themselves but their late masters
If this is not complete swing round the circle, we
are at loss to define one. .s-.u...#
AS further evidence of the geneman's consistency,
we give an extract from speech delivered by him in
the same year, on the same subject:
submit, then, however clearly and strongly may
admit the natural rights of the negro-I submit it to
the Intelligence of the people-that colored State gov
ernments not desirable that they will bring about
results that not to be hoped for that finally they
would threaten to bring about and believe would re-
suit in, OF races.
Out Of his own mouth he has convicted himself 1--WE
won't call it by any harder name) within the shoFt
space of three years. Three years ago he not in
favor of war of races. Now he defends the policy
which he then said would bring it about. Consis
tency, thou art jewell" but the honorable senator
from Indiana knows you not.
THE STATE TAX TO BE COLLECTED IN LEGAL TENDER
the late order of Gen. Hancock, relative to tie col
lection of the State tax in legal tender We have not
the ORDER and only Judge of its purport from
the remarks of the Times, which leads US to believe
that the State taxes longer to be quidaed by
State money. At least that is the construction place
upon it from the lights before US:
We are informed that the provision in the order of
Gen Hancock relative to the collection of the taxes of
the State in legal tender notes. will be explained so as
to authorize the tax collectors to receive the notes of
national banks which guaranteed by the United
States. No distinction will be made between the TWO
descriptions of currency.
There is another correction modification of the
order which think is seriously demanded. The last
clause dispenses with assessment for the present
year, and requires the taxes to be collected on the as
sessmept of 1861 The object Of this provision was to
avoid the expense of assessment But the con-
sequences will be quite serious and the loss to the
treasury heavy from any attempt to carry this provs
ion into effect. The great changes which have taken
place since the assessment of '67 will render it quite
mpractcabe and inapplicable for the present year
large amount OF property assessed last year has dsap
peared from the assessment; capital wares merehan-
disc, gross saies and incomes, have vanished and the
firms and individuals who figured the owners of this
property have become bankrupt, and their business
has passed into other hands But by the assessment of
67 this property would be assessed the property of
the then owners. 1t is obvious that the tax on prop
erty thus assessed can never be collected.
On the other hand, property, which last year figured
as vacant nontaxable property but has since been
improved and built upon, become taxable will es-
cape taxation Thus the large amount of property
sold by the city which not assessed in 1867 is now
liable to assessment and taxation in the hands Of the
present owners. Thus, too, vacant square, which
was assessed in 1867 at $40 o00 has 20 houses on
it worth $1,000 each If assessed at its present value
it would pay tax on 0,000 but the assessment
OF 1867, the tax would only be on $4,000. In this
way the loss the State would be far greater than the
expense of new assessment. There other obiec-
tons to this mode of assessment which need not be
here suggested. Enough has been said, We think to
demonstrate what we believe Gen. Hancock when his
attention is called to the subject will hesitate to
the impraeticability of satisfactory col
lection of taxes for the year 1865 based the
mcnt of 1867.