Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-07-22
From tho New York Tribune.
Another Word on the Incorne Tax

On June oath the United States Senate.
fiftJ-nlne of It's sevcnty-two members being
present. after long and sharp debate in
which all the arguments for and against
the bill re-enacting the income tax were
fully expressed, resolved that the tax
should no longer be imposed. The action
was positive aud decided, and was carried
by majority OF / of the members present,
the vote being 50 to 81.
But on July LIST, during thinly attended
evening session, with only forty-fve mem
bers present, after brief debate in which
no new arguments were advanced, the
Senate, by majority OF only four, re-
versed its deliberate action of the week
before, and resolved that the tax should be
continued. The action was characterized
by haste and an evident desire to silence
debnte upon the question. 1t Was not then
accepted as the deliberate decision Of the
Senate. 1t is not now considered as such,
and it is looked upon, to speak simply and
plainly, as fraudulent legislatOn-the
result not Of argument but of trickery-
Advantage was taken of the absence of
the Senators who Lad rersistently opposed
the tax, and it was renewed solely because
of their absence. The Senators entity of
this Legislative strategy, to use a mild term,
| though we think they will take as n com
| pIlment what we write as a reprOach, were:
Abbott, n. O., Poole, n. g..
Anthony, i. l., Pratt, Ind
Chandler, Mich, Ramsey, Mimi,
Cragin. n. H., Rice, Ark,
Drake, Mo, Ross, Kan.
Edmnnds, VT, Schurz, Mo,
Hanlin, Maine, Sherman, Ohio,
Harlan, Iowa, Spencer, Ala,
Howe, WIS, Upton, Neb.,
HOW'LL, Iowa, Warner, Ala
MOrrll, Me-, Wiley, w. w.,
Morrell, Vt. Williams, Oregon,
Patterson, N. II, Wilson, Mass.
Of the thirty five members who had pre-
Viously voted against the continuance Of
the tax, only three. Mcssrs. Abbott, An
thony aud Wilson, we've won over 10y stale
arguments to support the bill. Eleven
other OF the previous opponents of the
tax we've absent. If these eleven Senators
bad been present he bill would again have
been rejected. These absent members
were:
Amen, Miss. DuUiS, Ky,
buckingham, Conn, Ferry, Conn,
Cameron, Penn, Fowler, Tenn,
Carpenter, Wis, SltalsbsU'y, Del.
Cole, Cal, Ya.c1, H.,
Conkling, n Y
With the loss of the three hASty cor
yerts, there was still ia decided minority
against the proposed law; and that m~jo1i
ty etili exists. 1t can be and ought to be
hrf uGht out.
There is one chance rcuinining to defeat
tn" ntnsurt 10y which "a fraction Of the
Scna!e rct Ks to- impose this odious mpust,
by breach of MAJ ,onal faith. upon an i'll
digpnut people. The bill, if the reports
of disAgrecment4 i'll the House prove true,
must be returned to the Senate. Let the
Senators who are committed III opposition
to the tax see to it that the clause reno1iDg
it shalt become, III no shape or form, u
part of the law. Let the Senators who
have the power to defeat this obnoxious
tax see to it that th~ ma GRITTY is again re-
corded against it. Their opinions have
not been changed during their absence: :
the character of the tax hai not been al
tered; and it has not been made less obi
Ons. The outrage is too great to be pa
hently boruc. We do not believe the
peHple will again submit to it patiently,
and it ought not again to be levied. Will
the Senators who by their vote pledged
h'mSelves to opporo this tax permit it. by
their absence or silence, finally 10 become
II law